Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~Anatole France I grew up incredibly shy. I struggled to make the small talk required to 'fit in' with my peers. My dogs seemed to know what I was thinking without describing my emotions or concerns and they silently stared into my soul and cuddle up beside me without asking me to explain or change to accommodate. This is where I first learned to love unconditionally. I explored the woods with a cocker/poodle, befriended the retired police dog next door (that I was told not to touch but found a gentle friend in him), and spent hours laying on the back of horse staring at the clouds while it wandered in a field. I rescued a whippit who made me feel safe through my college years and greeted me each time we separated as if we were long lost friends even if it had only been ten minutes. And I've rescued companions more times than one that ended up rescuing me. Cats, dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks and a Canada goose. And now that our children have grown and moved away, they are my constant companions breaking the silence in our home with joy, laughter and muddy paw prints. These stories from the heart are meant to inspire as well as memorialize our encounters with these precious creatures. I hope you enjoy them as we have!