Angel on a Leash. David Frei
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Advance Praise for Angel on a Leash
“David Frei’s heartwarming book Angel on a Leash shows the magic that our dogs bring to our own lives and to the lives of others when we share them as therapy dogs. That magic is called unconditional love, and it is what makes dogs so uniquely special and is how they make a difference in the lives of everyone they touch. You may see your own dog somewhere in this book, a wonderful celebration of dogs in our lives.”
—Dennis B. Sprung, President, American Kennel Club
“Smiles. That’s what therapy dogs are all about at the Ronald McDonald House New York. For our kids and their families who don’t always have a lot to smile about, that’s a big deal. In Angel on a Leash, David Frei beautifully captures what goes on at the House when the dogs are here. A great read.”
—Bill Sullivan, President/CEO, Ronald McDonald House New York
“Once you’ve finished reading this beautiful and heartwarming collection of stories, you will have a new understanding of the meaning of the bond between humans and their pets. It is a bond that heals the body and soul and is so lovingly portrayed in this book. If you have ever owned a pet or thought of owning one, you will enjoy every page of Angel on a Leash.”
—Kathryn W. Coyne, CEO, The Animal Medical Center
“I have seen firsthand how the Angel On A Leash therapy dog teams work with our pediatric patients, their families, and the staff at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. It is truly amazing! David Frei captures what many of us know intuitively and what science has verified—dogs have a healing effect on us!”
—Toni Millar, Director of Child Life, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
“David Frei gets it. Visiting with his own dogs in health care facilities, helping to create and run his Angel On A Leash therapy dog charity, or just interacting with people with his own informal street ministry, he knows how our dogs can change people’s lives. It is evident, in this book, that this work gives meaning to David’s life. I hope by reading Angel on a Leash that you, too, will be inspired to get you and your dog involved in animal-assisted interactions.”
—Christi Dudzik, President, Healing Paws, Inc.
“Of course, David Frei—the voice of the Westminster dog show—can rattle off breed standards and facts and figures about dogs. It’s one thing to know the stats, and another to understand the fundamental nature of dogs. But, going further, David feels it, and you will also. Anyone who has participated in animal-assisted therapy has seen angels on leashes performing real-life miracles. My heart was touched with both tears of sadness and tears of joy. When all was said and done, just two more words: Angel on a Leash is powerful and inspirational.”
—Steve Dale, nationally syndicated radio host, syndicated newspaper columnist (Tribune Media Services), contributing editor USA Weekend, American Humane Association board member and national ambassador
“Therapy dogs rock! Thanks to Teigh, Belle, Angel, and Grace for visiting me at the Ronald McDonald House, and thanks to David for bringing them!”
—Dylan Hartung, ten-year-old resident, Ronald McDonald House New York
Lead Editor: Amy Deputato
Senior Editor: Jarelle S. Stein
Design Manager: Véronique Bos
Art Director: Cindy Kassebaum
Production Supervisor: Jessica Jaensch
Assistant Production Manager: Tracy Vogtman
Book Project Specialist: Karen Julian
Vice President, Chief Content Officer: June Kikuchi
Vice President, Kennel Club Books: Andrew DePrisco
I-5 Press: Jennifer Calvert, Amy Deputato, Lindsay Hanks, Karen Julian, Jarelle S. Stein
Front cover photos: Children and Teigh: Ronald McDonald House New York/Neville Bean; Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill and Uno: Mary Bloom; Heather Kingsbury and Angel: Mike Kingsbury; the author and Angel: Danny Kim/New York Magazine. Back cover photo: The author and Grace from the author’s collection.
Copyright © 2011 I-5 Press™
I-5 Press™
A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press™, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Frei, David.
Angel on a leash : therapy dogs and the lives they touch / David Frei.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-935484-63-9 (pbk.)
eISBN 978-1-937049-23-2
1. Dogs--Therapeutic use--Anecdotes. 2. Working dogs--Anecdotes. I. Title.
RM931.D63F74 2011
615.8’5158--dc23
2011023964
Printed and bound in Canada
17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Dedication
To Teigh, Belle, Angel, and Grace, for letting me be the guy on the other end of the leash.
To Jessie, for her courage and her full-speed approach to life.
To Andrea, for her quiet dignity and her ever-present smile.
And to Mom. Just because.
Contents
Chapter 3 Stay Out of Their Way
Chapter 4 Just Whistle if You Need Me
Chapter 7 Therapy on the Street