Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul_ Stories of Canine Companionship, Comedy and Courage

husband. Diane Nichols is the author of A Prison of My Own, the true story of her husband’s incarceration for the murder of his mistress and their family’s journey to forgiving and restoration (as seen on The Montel Williams Show). For more information, please visit her author’s Web site at: www.dianenichols.com. Lorena O’Connor is now a retired legal secretary. She has written and sold many stories to a variety of publications. She likes movies, music, sports and writing, not necessarily in that order. She plans to self-publish a children’s book after recovering from a serious surgery. You can reach her at: [email protected]. Born in Brooklyn, Don Orehek attended the High School of Industrial Arts and the School of Visual Arts. His cartoons have appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and Playboy—to name a few! Don has illustrated over thirty joke books, does caricatures and teaches cartooning to kids. He has won the National Cartoonists Society’s Best Gag Cartoonist award four times. Brothers Trevor and Drew Orsinger wrote The Firefighter’s Best Friend for Lake Claremont Press (www.lakeclaremont.com), an independent publisher specializing in books on Chicago. A portion of the proceeds from this book are donated to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance’s summer camp for children who suffer from burn injuries. Mark Parisi’s “Off the Mark” comic panel has been syndicated since 1987 and is distributed by United Media. Mark’s humor also graces greeting cards, T- shirts, calendars, magazines, newsletters and books, including his newest cartoon book Chew This Book with over 100 dog cartoons. Please vist his Web site at www.offthemark.com. Lynn is his wife/business partner, and their daughter, Jenny, contributes with inspiration. After graduating fromUCLA, Eve Ann Porinchak was a social worker,medical student and first-grade teacher. An active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers/Illustrators, she now writes children’s books and paints. Eve enjoys tennis, traveling, snowboarding, hiking and running with her husband and beloved springer spaniels. Contact: [email protected]. Stacy Pratt received her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and her master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. A citizen

of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma, she lives in Italy with her husband. She writes poetry and is currently researching the life of St. Valerie. Robin Pressnall is a singer, a writer and cofounder of Small Paws Rescue, a worldwide nonprofit organization (smallpawsrescue.org) dedicated to saving the “unwanted” dogs of society and finding them “forever-homes.” Robin lives in Tulsa with her husband, Dale, and their six dogs, ranging from a St. Bernard to a bichon frise. Andrea Burke Redd, DVM, received her bachelor of science degree, cum laude, in zoology from North Carolina State University in 1993. She received her doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She is currently practicing veterinarymedicine at amixed animal practice in Halifax, Virginia. She is married with two sons. She is active in her church and enjoys spending her free time with her family. She enjoys writing and has been published in Veterinary Economics magazine. E-mail her at: [email protected]. B. J. Reinhard writes to give readers hope and encourage them to live their dreams. Along with various magazine articles and stories, she is the author of an award-winning picture book, Sanji’s Seed, and two nonfiction books, Glow-in- the Dark Fish and Our Place in Space. You can reach her through: www.bjreinhard.com. Jennifer Renee Remeta has been an animal lover her entire life. Recently married, she and her husband, Nicklas, proudly own Diesel, the Great Dane, Abby, the wonderful Lab, and Pandora, the queen cat. They enjoy spending time with friends and family, and Jennifer hopes to continue her writing in the future. Debbie Roppolo is a freelance writer and a student at St. Edward’s University where she is pursuing a degree in anthropology. Debbie enjoys working with her horses, traveling and spending time with her family. She currently resides in San Marcos, Texas, with her husband and two boys. Micki Ruiz lives in South Florida with her husband, Steve. A published author, she writes short stories and historical fiction, and is (still) hard at work on her novel, a fantasy adventure. This is her first nonfiction work. Please email her at: [email protected]. Kathy Salzberg has been a professional pet groomer and owner of the Village Groomer in Walpole, Massachusetts, for thirty years. She is also an award-

winning magazine writer who has written “How to Start a Home-Based Pet Care Business” and contributed several chapters to The Dog Bible. She is currently working on The Everything Small Dogs Book and can be reached online at: [email protected]. Linda Saraco is an animal massage therapist. At her Boston-area grooming shop, she offers holistic canine services and education. Linda also teaches the InTuneGroom method of energy work, which she developed. Linda loves spending time with her dogs and hopes to publish her series of children’s books. E-mail her at: [email protected]. Valery Selzer Siegel received her B.A. in English from Binghamton University and her M.A. in Elementary Education from Adelphi University. She advocates on behalf of children in a variety of capacities, including writing inspirational picture books. Valery lives in New York with her husband and three children. Please e-mail her at: [email protected]. Stefany Lynne Smith is the founder and director of Southwest German Shepherd Rescue, a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. They are committed to the rescue, rehab and re-homing of German shepherd dogs in need, in addition to training and education. Patricia Ann Smith is director of Operations/Programs at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, Palo Alto, California. She wrote the story “Can’t Help Falling in Love” when on staff at the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Her book, Introduction to Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions will be published by Brunner-Routledge in 2005. Laura Sobchik wrote her story, “Raising a Star,” as her college entrance essay to the University of Notre Dame. She graduated from Notre Dame in 2002 and now teaches third grade in Fullerton, California. She and her family have raised eleven guide dog puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. in San Rafael, California. Five of their puppies graduated as guide dogs with a visually impaired partner and six were career-changed and now enjoy wonderful lives as pets. For more information about raising a guide dog puppy, please visit: www.guidedogs.com. Jennifer Gay Summers is a contributing writer to Whole Life Times magazine and has also written for Orange County Family Magazine. She and her veterinarian have been married for twelve years, and their menagerie includes a dog, cat, fish and beloved daughter. Jennifer can be reached at: jgsummers@

verizon.net. Debra Szot has always loved animals. She volunteers for Boxer and Boston Terrier Rescue. She became involved in rescue because of a Scottish terrier namedMacKenzie who saved her life and loved her unconditionally. She lives in Michigan with her husband, David, and daughter, Heather. Please e-mail her at: [email protected]. Audrey Thomasson left a globe-trotting writing career to move to White Stone, Virginia, population: 360. Her choices were driven by Kody, a rescued dog whose therapy included daily swims in their river. When Kody passed, she found comfort in writing his memorial, and in the process realized this magnificent companion had taught her about living. His story inspired “Animal Tails,” a public service newspaper column dedicated to pets and rescue volunteers. Audrey can be reached by e-mail at: [email protected]. Information on her pet column is available at: www.animaltails.org. Bob Toren is a pioneer in outdoor portraiture, photojournalist and a columnist for the Georgetown Gazette, Georgetown, California. He writes frequently of the cat family with whom he shares his Sierra hilltop. He is presently putting a collection of the columns together for book publication. Contact him at: [email protected]. Jackie Tortoriello currently resides in New Jersey, with her family, friends and two dogs. She’s passionate about them, spirituality, music and writing, and is fervently pursuing a writing career. Until then, Jackie is honored to be instructing the mentally challenged at a life skills program. She may be reached at: [email protected]. Anne Watkins is the author of The Conure Handbook (Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.). A full-time writer, her work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, books and Web sites. She and husband, Allen, live in Vinemont, Alabama, where they love to spoil their grandchildren, Bailey, Chelsea and Tyler. See her Web site: www.geocities.com/anne_c_watkins. Christine Watkins has been a flight attendant for over thirty years. In her spare time, she and her puppy, Maverick, volunteer with the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, California, where they visit children’s centers. Currently, Christi is studying the craft of writing and editing. Jean M. Wensink is an elementary teacher and freelance writer. She lives in

ruralWisconsin with her husband and two daughters. She loves the outdoors, music, crafts and, of course, her dogs Rocky and Snickers. Born in England, Bill Westhead received his bachelor of science degree in textile engineering from Leeds University. After working in the United Kingdom, he and his family emigrated to the United States in 1973. Retired, he enjoys writing (publishing three historical novels), community theater and several community service clubs. Contact him at: [email protected]. Dave Wiley is an information technology professional who enjoys just about anything. He likes taking on Tim-the-Toolman-like projects while achieving similar results, playing with his son, camping, hiking with the dogs, performing confirmation and obedience events with the dogs, and generally just doing stuff that helps him to avoid any type of housecleaning. He is hoping to become a writer someday when he grows up. He can be reached by e-mail at: [email protected]. Elizabeth Wrenn’s first novel will be published by NAL/Penguin in 2006. When a wife and mother in a mid-life crisis volunteers to raise a puppy for K-9 Eyes for the Blind, an enthusiastic yellow Lab helps her to find what she didn’t even realize was missing in her life—herself.

Permissions We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker, Carol Kline or Amy D. Shojai are not included in this listing.) Patience Rewarded. Reprinted by permission of Hester Jane Mundis. ©1999 Hester Jane Mundis. The Duck and the Doberman. Reprinted by permission of Eve Ann Porinchak. ©2004 Eve Ann Porinchak. Now and Always. Reprinted by permission of Susan B. Huether. ©2003 Susan B. Huether. Lucky in Love. Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Gay Summers. ©2004 Jennifer Gay Summers. Jethro’s World. Reprinted by permission of Marc Bekoff. ©2004 Marc Bekoff. The Great Dog Walk. Reprinted by permission of Anne Elizabeth Carter. ©2004 Anne Elizabeth Carter. A Christmas for Toby. Reprinted by permission of Tekla Dennison Miller. ©1993 Tekla Dennison Miller. Blu Parts the Veil of Sadness. Reprinted by permission of Margaret C. Hevel. ©2004 Margaret C. Hevel. The Haunted Bowl. Reprinted by permission of John Ray Arrington. ©1997 John Ray Arrington. You Have NoMessages. Reprinted by permission of R. Zardrelle Arnott. ©2004 R. Zardrelle Arnott. Bubba’s Last Stand. Reprinted by permission of Lisa Duffy-Korpics. ©2004 Lisa Duffy-Korpics. Some Snowballs Don’t Melt. Reprinted by permission of Debbie A. Roppolo. ©2003 Debbie A. Roppolo. Greta and Pearl: Two Seniors. Reprinted by permission of Stefany Lynne Smith. ©2004 Stefany Lynne Smith. Bullet’s Dog. Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth A. Atwater. ©2004 Elizabeth

A. Atwater. Daisy Love. Reprinted by permission of Kathleen R. Salzberg. ©1997 Kathleen R. Salzberg. Devotion. Reprinted by permission of Marjie C. Livers. ©1994 Marjie C. Livers. Dixie’s Kitten. Reprinted by permission of Anne Culbreath Watkins. ©2001 Anne Culbreath Watkins. Bashur, the Iraqi Dog. Reprinted by permission of John Fenzel, Jr. ©2004 John Fenzel, Jr. After Dooley. Reprinted by permission of Gary Russell Ingraham. ©2004 Gary Russell Ingraham. When HarryMet Kaatje. Reprinted by permission of DavidMichaelWiley. ©2003 David Michael Wiley. Gremlin, Dog First Class. Reprinted by permission of JaLeen Alice Deardurff. ©2004 JaLeen Alice Deardurff. My Blue-Eyed Boy. Reprinted by permission of Alexandra Mandis. ©2004 Alexandra Mandis. The Subway Dog. Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Lombard. ©2004 Elizabeth Lombard. “Dog” and Mr. Evans. Reprinted by permission of Andrea Lynne Burke Redd ©2003 Andrea Lynne Burke Redd. Calvin: A Dog with a Big Heart. Reprinted by permission of Max Edelman. ©2004 Max Edelman. Fate, Courage and a Dog Named Tess. Reprinted by permission of Susanne E. Fogle. ©2004 Susanne E. Fogle. In Her Golden Eyes. Reprinted by permission of Diane Elaine Nichols. ©2003 Diane Elaine Nichols. Ballerina Dog. Reprinted by permission of Jacquelyn Tortoriello. ©2004 Jacquelyn Tortoriello. The Dog Who Loved to Fly. Reprinted by permission of Leigh Anne Jasheway- Bryant. ©2002 Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant.

Locked In. Reprinted by permission of Margaret Loud Charendoff. ©2004 Margaret Loud Charendoff. The Telltale Woof. Reprinted by permission of Eleanor Whitney Nelson. ©2004 Eleanor Whitney Nelson. Moving Day. Reprinted by permission of Maureen R. Ruiz. ©2004 Maureen R. Ruiz. Refrigerator Commando. Reprinted by permission of Samuel DavidMinier. ©2004 Samuel David Minier. The Offer. Reprinted by permission of Inner Ocean Publishing. ©2002 Jean Houston. Sammy’s Big Smile. Reprinted by permission of Gayle Delhagen. ©2004 Gayle Delhagen. Phoebe’s Family. Reprinted by permission of Stacy Elaine Pratt. ©2004 Stacy Elaine Pratt. A Canine Nanny. Reprinted by permission of Christine Lee Henderson. ©2004 Christine Lee Henderson. Two Old Girls. Reprinted by permission of Atreyee Day. ©2004 Atreyee Day. A Dog’s Love. Reprinted by permission of Kelly Elaine Munjoy. ©2003 Kelly Elaine Munjoy. Lady Abigail. Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Renee Remeta. ©2004 Jennifer Renee Remeta. Willow and Rosie: The Ordinary Miracle of Pets. Reprinted by permission of Audrey Lee Kovach-Thomasson. ©2003 Audrey Lee Kovach-Thomasson. At Face Value. Reprinted by permission of Linda Marie Saraco. ©2004 Linda Marie Saraco. Abacus. Reprinted by permission of Meghan Cecelia Beeby. ©2004 Meghan Cecelia Beeby. Dog Days of School. Reprinted by permission of JeanM. Wensink. ©2004 JeanM. Wensink. Raising a Star. Reprinted by permission of Laura Sobchik. ©1998 Laura Sobchik.

Star Power. Reprinted by permission of Mary Elizabeth Klitz. ©2004 Mary Elizabeth Klitz. Max. Reprinted by permission of Susan Marie Boyer. ©2004 Susan Marie Boyer. A Lesson from Luke. Reprinted by permission of Christine Watkins. ©2004 Christine Watkins. Honey’s Greatest Gift. Reprinted by permission of Barbara J. Reinhard. ©2004 Barbara J. Reinhard. Puppy Magic. Reprinted by permission of Aubrey H. Fine. ©2004 Aubrey H. Fine. An Angel in the Form of a Service Dog. Reprinted by permission of David Ball. ©2004 David Ball. Good Instincts. Reprinted by permission of William Twisse Westhead. ©2004 William Twisse Westhead. A New Home. Reprinted by permission of Elisabeth Ann Freeman. ©2004 Elisabeth Ann Freeman. Judgment Day. Reprinted by permission of Millicent Amy Bobleter. ©1998 Millicent Amy Bobleter. Mound of Dirt. Reprinted by permission of Paula Margaret Gramlich. ©2004 Paula Margaret Gramlich. The Last Puppy. Reprinted by permission of Roger Kiser. ©1999 Roger Kiser. Dad’s Right Knee. Reprinted by permission of Carol M. Chapman. ©2004 Carol M. Chapman. Just Like Always. Reprinted by permission of Lorena O’Connor and Boy’s Life. ©March 1997, published by the Boy Scouts of America. A Smile from Phoebe. Reprinted by permission of Beth McCrea. ©2004 Beth McCrea. Tears for Sheila. Reprinted by permission of Laurie Michelle MacKillip. ©2004 Laurie Michelle MacKillip. Harry and George. Reprinted by permission of Margaret Pearson Cunningham. ©2004 Margaret Pearson Cunningham.

Gentle Giant. Reprinted by permission of Robin Elaine Pressnall. ©2004 Robin Elaine Pressnall. A Familiar Road. Reprinted by permission of Pennie Karlene DeBoard. ©2000 Pennie Karlene DeBoard. Saying Good-Bye to Dingo. Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth S. Wrenn. ©1999 Elizabeth S. Wrenn. Just an Old Golden Retriever. Reprinted by permission of Audrey Lee Kovach- Thomasson. ©2003 Audrey Lee Kovach-Thomasson. Nothing That Can’t Be Fixed. Reprinted by permission of Pamela Sue Jenkins. © 2001 Pamela Sue Jenkins. Ana: From Rescued to Rescuer. Reprinted by permission of Wilma Melville. ©2004 Wilma Melville. Scouting Out a Home. Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Anne Coates. ©2004 Jennifer Anne Coates. Brooks and the Roadside Dog. Reprinted by permission of Shannon McCarty. ©2004 Shannon McCarty. Can’t Help Falling in Love. Reprinted by permission of Patricia Ann Smith. ©2002 Patricia Ann Smith. The Miracle of Love. Reprinted by permission of Valery Selzer Siegel. ©2004 Valery Selzer Siegel. The Dumpster Dog Finds a Home. Reprinted by permission of Debra Jean- MacKenzie Szot. ©2004 Debra Jean-MacKenzie Szot. The Parking-Lot Dog. Reprinted by permission of Wendy Wienckowski Kaminsky. ©2004 Wendy Wienckowski Kaminsky. Two Good Deeds. Reprinted by permission of RosemarieMiele. ©2002 Rosemarie Miele. The Promise. Reprinted by permission of William Rolla King. ©2004 William Rolla King. Canine Compassion. Reprinted by permission of Edward H. Kostro. ©2004 Edward H. Kostro. Busted! Reprinted by permission of Lynn Mary Alcock. ©2004 Lynn Mary

Alcock. Pudgy. Reprinted by permission of Joyce Anne Laird. ©2004 Joyce Anne Laird. Felix, the Firehouse Dog. Reprinted by permission of Lake Claremont Press and Sharon Woodhouse. Excerpted from The Firefighter’s Best Friend: Lives and Legend of Chicago Firehouse Dogs, Lake Claremont Press. ©2003 Lake Claremont Press and Sharon Woodhouse. Beau and the Twelve-Headed Monster. Reprinted by permission of John Ray Arrington. ©1997 John Ray Arrington. Sled Dogs without Snow. Reprinted by permission of David Michael Wiley. ©2004 David Michael Wiley. Lucky Wows the Sheriff. Reprinted by permission of Mariana T. Levine. ©2004 Mariana T. Levine. A Dog’s Day in Court. Reprinted by permission of Sr. Mary K. Himens, S.S.C.M. ©2004 Sr. Mary K. Himens, S.S.C.M. The Bravest Dog. Reprinted by permission of Sherry Cremona-Van Der Elst. ©2002 Sherry Cremona-Van Der Elst. Pedro the Fisherman. Reprinted by permission of Robert C. Toren. ©2004 Robert C. Toren. Angel’s Angel. Reprinted by permission of Wendy Bugher Greenley. ©2004 Wendy Bugher Greenley. Take Me Home! Reprinted by permission of Ed and Toni Eames. ©2004 Ed and Toni Eames.