Dog Named Leaf (20 page)

There is a saying that “soul equals soul,” meaning that no matter what body we each have or our status in life, at the spiritual level we are all equal. Leaf and the people he passed had experienced that age-old wisdom, whether it registered with them or not. During a snapshot in time, their two souls met as equals. But then the moment slipped away, and the snapshot faded from memory.

I looked at Leaf and recognized him for what he is: a heroic soul from heaven in a small dog’s body.

S
EVEN-YEAR-OLD
L
EAF CURLS UP NEXT TO ME ON OUR LIVING ROOM
couch with his head propped on my knee. He has matured into a fine gentleman who is devoted and still incapable of hiding his happiness. If I lift up his ears, on their underside I can see threads of white hair mixed within the curly black. He’s getting older, and so am I. Each day I have been given to spend with him is a day I cherish. He is a fully well-adjusted member of our family.

Gently, I stroke the fur along his spine and whisper, “Leaf, you are the best.” Bleary-eyed, he looks up at me, and I feel his love. We are two souls who entered each other’s lives when we most needed the healing power of human-animal friendship.

Leaf loves it when we touch him now. Even strangers can pet Leaf as long as they don’t lurch at him and attempt to grasp his cute head in their hands. When someone displays that level of rudeness and attempts to invade his space, we show the person how to approach Leaf, or any dog, so as not to appear threatening.

My hope is that anyone who reads this book will be reminded of dogs they have loved. Perhaps these pages will inspire and nudge them into thoughts about the spiritual significance of the dogs in their lives. Maybe readers will ask themselves, as I have, Why this dog? Why now? and be enlightened by the answers.

Right now Leaf and I are two guys sitting on a couch, close buddies who have experienced the frontlines of life and have made our way together. The push and pull of the journey has stretched us. But in the end we have become stronger, more trusting and loving. We’re better at getting back up after life knocks us down. We’re ready for whatever the new day brings.

I
AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, MY WIFE
L
INDA
Anderson. Her amazing talents and experience, plus her unwavering work ethic, have brought more love to this world, especially in our appreciation for animals. She was often our anchor in life as Leaf and I faced our challenges. Linda is nothing less than outstanding in everything she touches.

I also give my sincere thanks and appreciation to my editor at Lyons Press, Holly Rubino, who saw in this book the dual journey of Leaf and me as a story that many would relate to and with her skillful editing made my story flow with precision and grace. I would like to thank the staff at Lyons Press including marketing director Shana Capozza, our efficient and enthusiastic project editor Julie Marsh, cover designer Libby Kingsbury, interior designer Sheryl P. Kober, the book’s layout artists Sue Murray and Melissa Evarts, publicist Jessica DeFranco, and executive director of editorial Janice Goldklang.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Stephanie Kip Rostan of Levine Greenberg Literary Agency Inc., our energetic, patient, and astute literary agent who believed in this book and found the right publisher for it.

A special thanks to an individual who lives by the code of unconditional love, Patty Anderson of the Dog House grooming. She became Leaf’s close friend under circumstances most would walk away from. Thank you, Patty.

Thank you Keith and Patrycia (Trish) Miller for making Leaf and us feel welcome anytime at Pampered Pooch Playground. As you know, if
Leaf has a choice for vacation spots, your place is where he wants to go. He loves it there.

Without the brilliant surgeon Dr. Eric Nussbaum, Nurse Jody Lowary, and the amazing hospital team, I might not be sharing our story. Thank you.

Leaf’s veterinarian Bennett Porter, DVM, and his team at Westside Pet Clinic, thank you for saving Leaf’s life when things could have turned out badly. Leaf is a healthy, happy boy because of your work.

It would have been so much more difficult to face my challenges without the help and support of my previous coworkers and employers. Thank you.

Thank you, Georgia Hughes and Monique Muhlenkamp, for the encouragement and help you have given us over the years.

Thank you, Heather Anderson, for teaching us how to train Leaf with positive reinforcement and a lot of fun.

We appreciate animal communicators Marcia Pruett Wilson and Mary Stoffel, who gave us insights to Leaf’s emotional state during our early months with him as he got used to his new home.

Of course, I love the Minnesota Pet PAC Group that has given Linda and me support with our books and events.

To the American Humane Association, especially Robin Ganzert, PhD, and pet columnist and radio host Steve Dale, our special and warm thanks for all you do to protect animals and children and for selecting us to help spread the American Humane Association’s messages of kindness and respect.

Thank you, Darby Davis, editor of
Awareness Magazine,
for all the years of publishing our column “Pet Corner” and for your constant support.

For many years I spent time writing this book with the Thursday Night Writers, reading draft chapters and Leaf stories with so much positive feedback from group members. Without our weekly meetings, I don’t know if I would have been able to accomplish all that was needed to tell the story.

I also did a lot of writing at the beautiful Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. What a wonderful resource!

I want to especially thank my mother, Bobbie Anderson, who helped instill a love for animals in me at an early age. To our daughter and son, Susan Anderson and Mun Anderson: You’re the best. Much love to my sister, Gale Fipps, and my brother, Richard Anderson, and their families.

I am deeply appreciative for the years of encouragement from my friends Harold Klemp, my spiritual teacher and mentor, and his wife, Joan Klemp, who started me on and inspired me in my journey of giving service by writing books about the animal-human spiritual bond.

Bob Lawton, you were there for me, and I will always remember that special phone call when I needed it most.

With sincere appreciation for Peter and Sheri Skelskey: You’ve been an inspiration to me.

I have so many friends who helped Linda and me during my medical experiences. Aubrey and Arlene Forbes were always there for both of us. What special friends you are! The amazing Barbara Bucker is a close and dear friend who often shares her uplifting thoughts on living a spiritual life. Thank you for your friendship and support over the years, Daniel Tardent, Josse Ford, Doug and Sharon Kunin, Doug and April Munson, Tony Luppinaci, Frank Percoski, Gary Foster, Lawrence Chase, Sheila Bontreger, Alden Butcher and Anne Archer, Dale and Lyndra Antonson, Carol Frysinger, and Barbara Morningstar.

And thank you, Kristy Walker, for all your support and friendship and for the beautiful photo you took of Leaf and me.

And to Sunshine, Cuddles, Leaf, Taylor, Speedy, Sparkle, Prana, Mugsie, Brandy, and Feisty. You were our first and greatest healers and teachers.

Allen Anderson is an inspirational speaker and coauthor of a series of books about the benefits of having pets as family members. In 1996 he and his wife Linda Anderson cofounded the Angel Animals Network to share stories that convey uplifting messages about relationships between people and animals. In 2007 Allen and Linda’s book
Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster
won the American Society of Journalists Outstanding Book Award. In 2004 Allen and Linda each received State of Minnesota Certificate of Commendation awards in recognition of their contributions as authors. In 2011 they were named Partners and Friends of the American Humane Association in recognition that their mission and efforts are in alignment with the organization’s work. In addition to being
an author, Allen is a photographer and a writing instructor at the Loft Literary Center. He and his wife, Linda, live in Minnesota with their cat and bird and, of course, his buddy Leaf.

Linda Anderson is coauthor of the Angel Animals series of books and cofounder of the Angel Animals Network. She is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Linda is on the board of PetPAC, a networking group of Minnesota pet businesses and nonprofit organizations. Linda is author of
35 Golden Keys to Who You Are & Why You’re Here.
She teaches inspirational writing at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, where she was awarded the Anderson Residency for Outstanding Loft Teachers.

To connect with Allen and Linda Anderson and the Angel Animals Network, visit their website (
www.angelanimals.net
), profile, and pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Beliefnet (see below). They invite contributors to send stories and letters about experiences with animals to them by e-mail. To receive the free
Angel Animals Story of the Week,
go to the Angel Animals website to subscribe.

Visit Leaf’s Facebook page
www.facebook.com/ADOGNAMEDLEAF
and website
www.adognamedleaf.com
.

Contact Allen Anderson and Linda Anderson at:

Angel Animals Network

P.O.B. 16682

Minneapolis, MN 55416

Websites:
www.angelanimals.net
,
www.allenandlindaanderson.com

E-mail:
[email protected]

Social networks:
www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork
,
www.face book.com/allenandlindaanderson
, Twitter: @angelanimals, Beliefnet Community (Angel Pets Fan Club)