Heaven Sent

A horse that communicates through dreams, a dog that gives Reiki treatments, and a cat that brings the joy of Christmas back to a family in mourning. These are just a few of the incredible animals that come alive in Heaven Sent, through the words of the owners who love them.

Whether they are large or small, have hooves or paws, or bark, meow or neigh, these beautiful beings enriched and even transformed the lives they touched. And though they arrived under different circumstances--some from pet stores, others from shelters, and still others from the street--they always seemed to show up at just the right time to lend support and ease their owner of challenges and hardships.

We often believe we've rescued our pets when the truth is they've rescued us in return. They are our saviors and our angels; our children and our teachers; our healers and our best friends. Some are only with us for a short while, others for a decade or more, yet it never feels quite long enough. We grieve their loss, but we never forget the gifts they gave us while they were here.

If you've ever experienced the unconditional love of an animal, you will certainly resonate with the twenty-four authors who contributed to this anthology. Their stories will make you laugh, they'll make you cry, and hopefully they'll remind you just how blessed you are to have-or to have had-the companionship of your loving pet.

Our hope is that this collaboration will warm your heart and awaken a few new animal lovers at the same time. One thing's for sure, after reading these stories you'll see that our animals are more than just our furry friends. Indeed, our pets are heaven sent.


Contents:


Foreword: When the Right Time is Near, the Right Love Will Appear


by Pam Baren Kaplan


Introduction: The Inspiration Behind This Project

by Shanda Trofe


Chapter One: A Reason to Live

by Jennifer Benton


Chapter Two: And God Had a Plan

by Margaret-Maggie Honnold


Chapter Three: Angel Blue Eyes

by Lisa A. Clayton


Chapter Four: Bella Means Beauty

by Rosemary Hurwitz


Chapter Five: Best. Cat. Ever.

by Mari Cartagenova


Chapter Six: Big Ole Boy

by Sandra Hanshaw


Chapter Seven: Buddy Teacher, Protector, and Forever Friend

by Dena Hanson


Chapter Eight: It All Started With the Mice

by Jodie Harvala


Chapter Nine: Jasper: The Barn Cat That Wasn't

by Marilynn Wrigley


Chapter Ten: Jewel. A Diary of Presence

by Katherine Glass


Chapter Eleven: My Spirit Horse

by Janice Story


Chapter Twelve: Our Earth Angels

by Georgia Nagel


Chapter Thirteen: Our Four-Legged Guardian Angel

by John Newport


Chapter Fourteen: Rose and Her Six Kittens

by Linda A. Mohr


Chapter Fifteen: Ruby

by Cher Rue


Chapter Sixteen: Sam-A Shaman Disguised as a German Shepherd

by KC Miller


Chapter Seventeen: Sassy Mare Companion

by Jani McCarty


Chapter Eighteen: Sebastion The Story of Us

by Jennifer Wheeler


Chapter Nineteen: Taylor Made

by Raina Irene


Chapter Twenty: The Bud Man

by Debbie Schmitz


Chapter Twenty-One: The War Dog

by Wendy Rose Williams


Chapter Twenty-Two: Wally

by Gail "GG" Rush Gould


Animal Charities Dear to Our Hearts