SOUL EQUALS SOUL

Allen recently heard a special friend say that each moment in life is a snapshot in time; often gone before we are ready.  Allen was in a rushed circumstance when he heard the words. In the week of vacation he was preparing to take, he wanted to think about how this view of life applied to him, Linda, and Leaf.

During Allen's vacation days away from his job in computer software, he took care of Cuddles, Sunshine, and Leaf while Linda visited their grown children in Atlanta and then her mother in Texas.

Each vacation day, Allen took Leaf to the large dog park next to the Mississippi River.  The visits are always filled with adventure and fun, while the two of them explore trails and riverside. As they walked down the mile-long dirt path to the dog park, Allen noticed that Leaf would look directly at the faces of people passing by him.

Leaf lifted his head high and made eye contact with each person. Many seemed surprised that they are being acknowledged with eye-to-eye contact by a dog.

Was this a snapshot in time moment, when a human feels a spiritual connection with another life form, in a chance meeting, on a dirt trail?  Did each of those human beings feel a spiritual connection with a dog?

After Leaf took his snapshot of each person he passed, Allen heard comments from the people. They said things such as, "There's a lot going on with that dog," or "What a interesting personality -- such a character," and "Such beautiful eyes!"  Almost every person smiled at Leaf and then at Allen. In each person's face the eyes grew just a bit brighter and more alive.

There is a saying in ancient religious traditions that soul equals soul. Leaf and the people he passed experienced that age-old wisdom for a moment. As a snapshot in time, two souls, regardless of the physical body each inhabited, met an equal.

An individual remembers a snapshot in time for as long as possible. It becomes a moment of light connecting with light, soul with soul; of remembering what was lost, what was forgotten, and who and what we are.

But the moment slips away. The veil quickly takes its correct and proper place, covering the light, bringing each of us back to daily life.  The moment is gone, and the snapshot fades from memory before we're ready.

As Leaf moved to the next person along the trail, another moment in time, another snapshot may have been recorded in memory. Maybe not all of them faded quickly.

On Friday Cuddles, our cat, and Leaf finally had enough of Linda's absence as the end of Allen's vacation neared.  The cat and dog lay down on the back of the couch and looked forlorn.

Allen told Cuddles and Leaf that Linda would be home soon, but they wanted to see her NOW. 

Visit www.angelanimals.net/nlimage81.html to view the photo Allen took shortly before he left to pick up Linda at the airport. It is a snapshot of two souls waiting to be reunited with their missing loved one. Visit www.angelanimals.net/nlimage80.html to view an image of Leaf.

What are your memorable snapshots in time with animals?

Allen and Linda Anderson
ANGEL ANIMALS NETWORK - Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

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What are your memorable snapshots in time with animals? You can post your comments at our Angel Animals Facebook page: www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals while you're there.

ARE YOU THERE?

We attended a spiritual seminar this weekend in Minneapolis. For convenience, we decided to stay at a hotel downtown near the seminar. Allen drove back and forth on breaks to check on our pets including, our little cocker spaniel Leaf. 

Leaf's history is one of being an abandoned dog who we adopted from an animal shelter. Abandonment remains his key issue in life. Knowing Leaf's concern must be growing over the fact that he had not seen Linda for over a day, she gave Allen a sock she had worn. She said, "Give this to leaf and tell him I'm thinking about him."

At home, Allen held the socks in his hand and presented them. "This was from Linda for you," he said. Before Allen could even finish the sentence, Leaf grabbed the socks with his mouth and ran off. He plopped down on the living room carpet with the treasure in his paws. Then he sniffed the balled-up socks with Linda's scent on them.

After sniffing to his heart's content, he carefully placed himself on top of the socks to make sure they stayed with him. But eventually nature won out and Leaf left the living room and socks to eat his dinner. 

Allen placed the socks on the dog's bed so he could have them that night. Before he left the house to return to the seminar, he found our cat Cuddles curled up on the dog's bed, sleeping with the socks between her front paws.

How have your pets shown that they miss you when you are away?

You can post your comments at our Angel Animals Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals
while you're there.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network - Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

Wouldn't you like for someone, who has a lot of experience in fulfilling a dream of yours, sit down and tell you what you need to do and know to duplicate that success? That's exactly what we're offering those of you who want to write about some of the most important relationships in your life.

WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH: Writing about Pets and Animals for Love and Money is a new, downloadable, three-part, comprehensive course to guide you in writing books, articles, stories, blogs, and essays about animals for pleasure or extra income. We designed and wrote this one-of-a-kind course based on our experience as best-selling, award-winning authors of 14 published pet books.

Read more at www.allenandlindaanderson.com/

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network -Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

Published in the Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter on October 23, 2011.

MY GOLDEN RETREIVER WANTS TO PLAY
By Kaylee (Fifth Grade Student)

I am a student from the school that Linda visited to talk to us about writing. I think Linda and Allen's book is great, and you have inspired me to write more often. Thank you very much.

I told Linda and my class the story about my dog Max and how he ran into a soccer net and got all tangled up.

My dog has taught me something: That you should love dogs by what's inside not just by how cute they look or what kind of breed they are. It's what inside that counts

My other story about Max is kind of like the story from ANGEL ANIMALS when the lady's cat told her to get some rest.

Max is a golden retriever and he needs a lot of exercise. Most of my weekends I sit and play video games or am working on the computer. Well, Max doesn't like that. So he makes me go outside to get fresh air and to play.

One day, I was playing on my X-box, and Max started to bark. I said, "You need to go outside to potty." He barked some more. So I grabbed his leash and hooked him up.

We went in my back yard, and he went to his favorite place. He sat down. I said, "Go potty." Instead he started to run and he grabbed his ball and dropped it right in front of me. I threw it, and we played run, chase, and fetch for an hour.

I think Max sensed that I needed exercise.


SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Is there an animal who wants you to go outside, get some exercise, and play?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals - Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

We're sharing this story in honor of the release of our NEW book, ANIMALS AND THE KIDS WHO LOVE THEM. Visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/animalsandthekidswholovethem. The official release date is November 15, but it may be in bookstores this week, so be sure to look for it. The stories are incredible! So heartwarming and informative, too, about how children and animals connect with each other in such healing and creative ways.  -Allen and Linda Anderson

Dear Angel Animals Readers,

This is a special edition of the Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter. We only do these a few times each year when we have something new and exciting to tell you about. After all the years we've been pet book authors, we are so happy to finally be able to offer you our hearts and minds on the subject of writing about pets and animals.

Have you ever wanted the advice of someone with experience who is eager to help you fulfill your dream?

ANIMALS CAN'T SPEAK OR WRITE - BUT YOU CAN

We're using this special edition of the Angel Animals Story of the Week to introduce you to WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH: Writing about Pets and Animals for Love and Money. It is our downloadable, comprehensive course for people who want to write books, articles, stories, and essays about animals for publication or pleasure.

Never before have the authors of fourteen published pet books, many of which have won awards and become best-sellers, actually revealed the secrets of writing successfully in the specialized field of pet writing.

We are excited to finally be able to tell you about the techniques and hard-earned experiences that helped us sell over a quarter million books through retail outlets and online bookstores. Our pet writing keeps us in touch with you and thousands of others who read the online Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter.

Did you know that our books are published in multiple languages, by major publishers in New York and the United Kingdom, and sold in bookstores and online around the world?

Some of you may remember that our 2010 pet book, Dogs and the Women Who Love Them, was listed as one of the top sixteen dog books by O Magazine.

Our seminal book on animal rescue, used in disaster-preparedness training and college classes, won the prestigious American Society of Journalists & Author's Outstanding Book Award. You may have noticed our books featured on the Today Show, Montel Show, Animal Planet, NPR, USA Today, and the Washington Post, among others.

Betty White, Carson Kressley, Joe Mantegna, Richard Simmons, Tippi Hedren, Willard Scott, Brigitte Bardot, Dr. Allen Schoen, DVM, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM, and numerous other animal-loving celebrities have endorsed our books.

Now we have meticulously gathered together experience and insights we gained since beginning Angel Animals Network in 1996. We are excited to share with other writers the shortcuts, pitfalls, techniques, and challenges of writing about pets and animals.

In today's world, we know from practical experiences that pet writing can serve as a welcomed additional source of income. Even in a down economy, with two out of three American homes having pets, and most people viewing pets as family members, the market for pet and animal books remains insatiable.

Why do New York Times best-selling authors, such as Susan Orlean, and celebrities, such as Shirley MacLaine, write animal books? These are authors who have written about many topics but they know that people today can't get enough of the unconditional love, laughter, and fascination animals bring into our lives.

Why, when so many other books are floundering, do pet books remain successful?

It's simple. Do the math.

If you have a pet, you want to read a pet book. If you don't have a pet, you want to read a pet book, because it helps to fill the hole in your heart a furry friend would occupy. That's a lot of people who want to read books, magazines, blogs, articles, essays and website content about pets and animals.

Go to www.allenandlindaanderson.com to download WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH now. You'll love the 14-day return offer.

We're introducing to you today the most unique writing book ever! And that's no exaggeration or hype.

You won't be able to match this book with any other writing book for its practical information about writing, publishing, and marketing. WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH has all the basics and so much more in its three-part course.

A 150-page Manual Filled with one-of-a-kind information about writing, publishing, and marketing that you won't find anywhere else; includes real-life examples from professional pet authors.

A 115-page Workbook Loaded with 74 exercises and writing prompts that will lead you through every phase of writing about pets.

A 10-minute Audio Recorded Podcast Our chance to talk to you about how we started at mid-life with love for our family pets and built up a business as successful pet book authors who could help animals everywhere with our writing.

Features that make the eighteen modules we wrote for you into a delightful and ONE-OF-A-KIND course are:

* how to observe and write about your pet's personality
* what your choice of a pet might be saying about you
* the noteworthy aspects of a multi-pet home
* how setting and context affects what you write about pets
* hints for making choices about dialogue and action when animals don't speak in words
* putting human-pet relationships under a magnifying glass for revealing the delicious details
* discovering the journey you and your pet are taking together
* tricks for transforming your pet writing into page-turners that people have to read
* developing a professional style and voice for pet writing
* becoming aware of animal activists' hot-button issues you haven't considered
* enhancing your pet writing (and publishing opportunities) with animal photography
* editing and rewriting with a cat on your lap or a dog at your feet
* overcoming hesitation about publishing what you write
* finding and interviewing ordinary people, authors, experts, and celebrities who love animals
* deciding on the form that best suits your writing about pets and animals
* six proven elements for writing a pet article that gets published
* how to choose an intriguing title for your pet book, story, or article
* overcoming pet-writers' block and getting unstuck
* finding time and making space for pet writing
* having realistic expectations about pet writing and publication
* how to build a pet-writing career from nothing to selling what you write
* becoming a pet expert that readers respect
* the intricate and complex world of self-publishing pet books
* why self-publishing a pet book is no longer a second choice
* finding a publisher to make an investment in your pet book and writing career
* writing a dynamite pet book proposal
* how to write, syndicate, maximize, and monetize a pet blog
* finding a reputable literary agent to represent your pet book and build your writing career
* eight signs that an "agent" may really be a con artist
* best ways to market, promote, and sell your pet book and pet writing
* why you should think about hosting a pet-writing contest
* building an amazing platform with media attention BEFORE your book is published
* bibliography of pet books for analyzing craft, styles, and formats
* benefits of having a writing coach for achieving your pet writing goals
* and SO much more...

Want to take the first steps toward mastering a form of writing that will connect you with animal-loving people around the world and across cultures?

Want to honor an animal who has meant much to you?

Want to use writing to acquaint potential customers or clients with your pet business or service?

Go to www.allenandlindaanderson.com

Join us in making the world a better place for animals and people

through the power and love of the written word. Animals can't speak or write - but YOU can.

Let us help you make those dreams come true.

Sincerely,
Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network -- Where Pets Are Family

****

DUAL JOURNEYS

(Excerpted from WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH: Writing about Pets and Animals for Love and Money by Allen and Linda Anderson, Angel Animals Network, 2011. All rights reserved.)

From Part One: Writing about Pets and Animals, Module Five, The Journey -- Person and Pet

Pet books and stories, especially memoirs and personal experience accounts, depict the journey of a person and an important animal in the person's life. Readers get involved in the emotional elements of the story when the main characters -- the person and the pet --change and grow.

A simultaneous dual journey involves a person and a pet having experiences together over the same time period. Each of them moves from a beginning of their relationship to the climax and resolution of their most pressing crisis. Then the story finishes with an ending either of their time together or of the main conflict they faced.

A parallel dual journey may happen simultaneously or at different times. In this type of story the pet and person share an issue, such as fear of abandonment. Together they help each other resolve the issue. Some parallel dual journeys involve pets and people who both have the same or similar illnesses or serious challenges to battle.

A separate but equal dual journey is one in which the person or pet has significant experiences happen before or after they are together. This type of dual journey usually occurs when a beloved pet has died, and the person continues on with life, possibly with another pet.

At some point in any dual journey, the lives of the person and pet must intersect. This is when the person comes to understand the roles he and his pet are playing for each other. The discovery is likely the person's Moment of Truth in the story.

In the popular book MARLEY & ME, the dual journey structure was a logical way to tell both the author's and the dog's stories in one book. John Grogan and his wife Jennifer embarked upon a journey of getting married, finding jobs, and starting a family.

Their journey intersected with that of a rambunctious yellow Labrador retriever named Marley. The pet grew up in the course of the memoir from an untrainable puppy to an adult dog with serious issues that impacted the Grogans' marriage and family life.

EXAMPLE:

The dual journey of Marley & Me is simultaneous.

Marley's journey shows his oversized fears and drama as he becomes an indispensable member of the Grogan family.

John's journey is that of a young man who at first, is focused on a career and new marriage. He becomes a respected journalist, father, and somewhat successful tamer of Marley.

John's Moment of Truth or climax and resolution occur when Marley is about to die. It is then that John realizes and states with clarity to Marley that this ever-loving companion was a good dog.

The trick in a dual journey story is to not lose one thread while the other is unraveling and unfolding. Pet memoirs, even the best-selling books, have reached various levels of success with this dance. The best ones choose to feature events that include both the person and the animal.

Even when the animal is not part of a chapter, the person refers to the pet or remembers something that brings the animal back into the picture.

***

From Part Two: From Writing about Pets and Animals to Getting Published, Module Eleven, What Form Should Your Pet Writing Take?

Worksheet # 11-2, Try This Prompt

The Road Not Taken

Choose an experience from the period of your life when you and the animals you want to write about were together. This should be something that really rattled you and maybe even changed the entire course of your life. Write about it with as much detail as you can.

Tell how the experience moved you into another path or direction.

Now write about what your life would have been like if this experience had never happened or had turned out differently. How would it have been if the animal had not been part of it?

Compare the two accounts and see if you have a deeper insight into why you had the experience. Why did things turn out as they did? What did the animal contribute to the experience?

***

From Part Three, Publishing and Marketing Your Pet and Animal Writing, Module Fourteen, Self-Publishing Pet Books

So why bother self-publishing a pet book?

Although bookstores may have a policy of not carrying self-published books, sometimes independent and even chain stores will buy a few from local authors. They will shelve them, as long as the author will lets them return unsold the books. Don't be discouraged. Stopping by to chat with a bookstore manager can encourage him or her to carry your book or even to schedule a book signing.

But pet books have the advantage of selling to a specific niche market -- animal lovers who buy books. This means they sell well in places other than bookstores.

Here are just a few of ways that self-published pet book authors sell their books:

* Pet supply stores may sell self-published pet books, especially those written by local authors.

* Often libraries will buy self-published pet books from local authors and even offer them the opportunity to make presentations about their books for library patrons.

* People buy animal books as gifts for their animal loving friends.

* When someone adopts a pet or loses a pet, friends often give them a pet book.

* Pet books sell in gift shops and anywhere people buy gifts.

* Self-published authors can use part or all of their profits to support their favorite animal charities. They can donate books to animal shelter silent auctions, where animal lovers get to know the authors by seeing the books on display and reading about them in the auction brochure.

* Animal organizations sometimes buy books to give as rewards to their top donors.

* Authors sell their pet books at a discount to animal nonprofit organizations that in turn, sell the books to raise funds.

* Animal books aren't limited to being sold to the general public in bookstores. They sell in pet supply stores, at fairs, as part of workshops and speaking engagements, and anywhere people who love animals gather.

* Sometimes a pet book author strikes a deal with a pet product, or service company and the company buys the books at a discount to offer as incentives for buying their product or service.

Get creative and you'll see a multitude of places, people, and outlets that would be great for selling your self-published pet book.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Can you envision yourself as a pet writer? What will your writing do to help animals, other people, and you?

WHAT PEOPLE WHO TOOK A PET-WRITING COURSE FROM ALLEN AND LINDA ANDERSON SAY:

"I have a more hopeful feeling of being published than ever before. I was given tons of new resources and I feel very hopeful for my writing future" --GP

"Wonderfully practical with real world advice and guidance. I am excited. Adopt me! The Andersons are GREAT mentors!" --SK

"Thank you for all the quality information for the starting writer in the pet world. I now have all I need!" --BLW

"So many resources for writing and getting published. It could be used for any type of book or article." --SRT

Go to www.allenandlindaanderson.com to buy and download your three-part pet writing course now.

We welcome you to the wonderful world of writing about animals.

TALKING TO A DOG ABOUT DANGER

A family of coyotes has taken up residence in our quiet city neighborhood. They live in the wooded area of a nearby park. We see them roaming up and down alleys and between houses early morning and late at night.

Because our little cocker spaniel Leaf is a tiny fellow, it concerns us that he could get hurt if one of the coyotes attacked him.

As many of you regular readers know, Leaf has a unique personality and a mind of his own. He's the kind of guy who needs explanations. It doesn't work to give him a command. He's like a teenager in that he requires a reason. When he understands what you want and why, then he complies (usually).

So we have been looking for an opportunity to tell him about the coyote. Every night one of us goes outside with Leaf before bedtime to stand guard in case the coyote is roaming our neighborhood.

Last night, the coyote walked down the alley behind our house while Leaf was in the backyard. Our alpha dog barked at him. The coyote wasn't fazed by Leaf's bark but saw Linda watching him from our back deck. Her glare persuaded him to walk in the opposite direction.

Linda called Leaf back to her with urgency in her voice. He stood on the porch while she explained about coyotes. She said something to the effect: "He is a dangerous animal. He will hurt you. If you see him, run to the deck as fast as you can. Bark and bark and bark."

Leaf has a way of looking deeply into the eyes of the human who is talking, if he's interested in what she has to say. Last night, he was interested. He saw the coyote for himself and got a good whiff of his scent. He instinctively knew that this predator spelled trouble with a capital T.

Have you explained a situation to an animal? What were the results?

You can post your answers at our Angel Animals Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals while you're there.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network -- Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

ANNA AT GROUND ZERO

Excerpted from "Whispering Secrets to Anna at Ground Zero" by Sarah R. Atlas from ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION by Allen and Linda Anderson (New World Library, 2008). Reprinted with permission.

No billboards advertise, "Here's how to get involved in search-and-rescue work." Yet I had wanted for a long time to give this type of service. I remember watching a television program in which search-and-rescue dogs responded to an earthquake in a far-off land. The handlers and dogs worked under the worst conditions to assist those in life-and-death situations. I wondered whether I ever would be in the right circumstances to find the best dog to fulfill my dream.

I had been involved with my older dog in schutzhund, a sport that originated in Germany for demonstrating a dog's intelligence and courage. It involves competing in a dog triathlon that includes obedience training, tracking, and protection work. So I had some idea of the time and energy commitment required to train a dog to a high level of ability.

I decided to add a puppy to my household of two dogs. In February 1998 I went to look at a litter of German shepherd puppies from imported bloodlines. As I pondered which to choose, a little bicolored pup marched over, grabbed my pants leg, and tugged on it. I said, "I guess I've been picked." Her name was Anna. With that first connection, we would begin the journey of a lifetime.

I'd had quite a few dogs over the years, but right away I could tell that Anna was different from all the rest. She seemed to know what I was thinking before I asked her to do things. Also, she was very protective. Anna and I were in tune and so connected with each other that, even when separated physically, I felt her presence with me. This was a unique spiritual experience for me to have with a dog.

While at my job one day, I happened to have a conversation with a married couple, Sharon and Rich. They were both emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and were also involved in search-and-rescue work with their dogs. I told them about my puppy, Anna, and that she would be perfect in this type of job. They rolled their eyes, because everyone thinks he or she has a perfect dog. "Maybe your dog can find you," Sharon said, "but search-and-rescue dogs must look for strangers."

Rich and Sharon invited me to come to their house so they could evaluate my dog to see if she would be suitable for search-and-rescue training. An important trait for the dog to have is a hunting drive. They repeatedly threw balls into the woods to see if Anna would keep focused on hunting for and finding them. They also had me take Anna away after they threw a ball and return with her five minutes later to see if she continued to look for the ball. To my delight Anna tested extremely well.

Sharon and Rich spent hundreds of hours teaching Anna and me the skills we would need to become a search-and-rescue dog team. One day Rich told me that New Jersey Task Force One, the state's urban search-and-rescue team, was holding a screening for dogs and handlers to become new members. There are only twelve positions on a search-and-rescue team, so only the most talented dogs are selected to join.

Anna was six weeks pregnant when I took her through the screening process. Not only did we make it onto the team's roster but we also passed with high marks. Soon afterward, Anna had her litter. A year later, we were called to serve at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Anna at the World Trade Center

Within hours after the airplanes had crashed into the Twin Towers, Anna and I were part of the first search-and-rescue teams arriving at the World Trade Center. As we entered the search area, all that was left of the magnificent Twin Towers were mounds of twisted steel, cables, and white ash, which covered everything. At one point we were halted in our progress with the search as World Trade Center building 7 collapsed onto the pile of debris.

It was frightening with so much commotion. Normally dogs become very intense and excited as they pull ahead to begin their searches. But Anna remained quiet, even stoic, as she looked at the horrible scene in front of us. I confided to Anna that I was scared. I stressed to her that what we were about to do here was important work. She leaned against me as if she understood the gravity of the situation.

This was Anna's first mission. Although we had been through a lot of training, no amount could have prepared us for the sight that lay before us. Everybody looked like little ants against rubble piles of steel and pulverized concrete. 

It was so tough. A lot of firemen and cops bent down and cried, whispering into Anna's ears that day. Anna licked the faces of people as she listened to their sorrows and kept their secrets.

Working at Ground Zero was bizarre and eerie. Something very strange happened down there that I have not told many people. Although there were no signs of life, I could hear high-pitched cries and moaning. I saw what looked like white clouds going to heaven. I thought that the moans I heard must have been final cries of spirits leaving their bodies though they did not want to go. Yet they were finally being released. Later on, a fireman who had also worked at Ground Zero said he experienced exactly the same things.

At night we stayed in the Javits Center parking garage, sleeping on blankets on the floor. That first night, Anna and I were exhausted, and I reached over to hug her. She leaned on me and whimpered as we comforted each other.

On the last shift we worked at Ground Zero, a fire chief came up to me and said, "I know remains are up there, but we don't know where to begin searching." So I sent Anna to search in places where none of us could climb. I had to use voice and hand signals to direct her.

She showed interest in two spots. She wasn't certified as a cadaver dog, but as closely as we had worked with our search-and-rescue dogs, we understood their body language. Anna stared back at me with intensity until I acknowledged that she must have picked up the scent of remains. Then she walked back down from the area, and I pointed out the locations to the fire chief.

By this time Anna's tongue was turning purple, her breathing was labored, and her eyes looked listless. She was showing signs of heat stroke. I called my task force leader and said that my dog needed medical attention and IV fluids. As I walked back to the vehicle for Anna, a man held up a picture and thrust it toward me. He said, "Please, have you seen my son? Don't leave my son. He's down there somewhere."

I tried to explain to the distraught man that my dog was exhausted, and other dogs were coming. The heat was unbearable from fires still burning. The man pulled something out of a brown paper bag and showed it to me. "This is my son's shirt," he said. I got emotional and had to turn away. Our task force leader explained to the man that rested search dogs were en route to the site.

After I made it to the search and rescue vehicle, I heard a call on the radio. A voice confirmed that the searchers had located the remains of two victims in Anna's search area.

After September 11

Following our service on September 11, we packed our belongings and said good-bye to fellow rescuers, well-wishers, and janitorial staff who had become like family. We thanked the police officers who guarded us and the Salvation Army volunteers who fed and consoled us.

Then we boarded busses with our tired dogs, their coats thick with soot and an awful smell that would be almost impossible to remove. As our bus pulled out of the Javits Center garage and headed down the West Side Highway, we passed people who began to cheer and shout, "Thank you. Thank you. You are our heroes."

Upon returning to our home base at the Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station, we were greeted by scores of television reporters who pushed microphones toward our faces. Families rushed to hug us. The U.S. Navy band played, and the New Jersey State Police performed "Amazing Grace" on their bagpipes.

Later

In 2007, for the first time, my foundation was able to give two $500 grants to assist search-and-rescue dog handlers whose dogs were unable to work or had died due to age, illness, or injury. Our goal is to give ten $1,000 grants per year to help handlers replace K-9s.

Not a day goes by without my thinking of Ann. I began Search and Rescue Dog Foundation in her honor, to help my fellow volunteer search-and-rescue workers and to encourage young people to perform this type of service. I think Anna would have liked that.

Visit the following to see an image of Anna and Sarah.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150289594094845&set=a.10150289593854845.343361.84755854844&type=1&theater

BIO:

Sarah R. Atlas from Barrington, New Jersey, is a member of the New Jersey Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue Team. She shares her life and home with search-and-rescue partner Tango; her other canine partner, Kaylee, a human-remains recovery dog; and Szara, who is a pet-therapy dog. Sarah is founder of the nonprofit 501c(3) charity, The Search & Rescue Dog Foundation, Inc. To learn more, visit http://www.sardogfoundation.org.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Has a dog inspired you to selflessly serve the greater good?

ANIMALS AND 9-11

On this 10th anniversary of one of the saddest days in American (and world) history, people need the comfort of animals more than ever. Animals remind them that goodness, kindness, and love still exist.

In the aftermath of the events on September 11, 2001, there was a tremendous increase in adoptions from the New York area animal shelters. Grieving and frightened people sought the solace that can only be found in the paws and wings of animal companions.

Roselle, a yellow Labrador guide dog, who was a little over three years old, showed tremendous grace under fire. She led her blind charge, Mike Hingson down 78 floors of the New York World Trade Center. For one-half hour Roselle guided Mike and a group of employees to the ground floor and then to running out of the south tower as it collapsed behind them. Hingson is reported as saying, "She [Roselle] never hesitated. She never panicked."

Search and rescue and bomb-sniffing dogs rummaged through the rubble and alerted their handlers in an attempt to save as many lives as possible. These dogs worked until their paws became bloody, and veterinarians on the site administered first aid.

One of the dogs succumbed to smoke inhalation. Firefighters carried this hero out of the ruins on a stretcher and hurried him in an ambulance to an animal hospital. There, he was treated, released, and readily returned to work.

Do you know animals who gave comfort after September 11?

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