My Very Good, Very Bad Dog Read online

  Contents

  Foreword, Robin Ganzert, President and CEO, American Humane Association

  ~My Goofy Dog~

  1. The Great Table Caper, Ann Denise Karson

  2. Bedtime with The Moose, Liz Lombard

  3. Hungry Like a Wolf, Tina Koenig

  4. Top Dog, Christina Eichstedt

  5. A Tail-Raising Tale, Sandy Wright

  6. Every Farm Needs a Dog, Shirley M. Oakes

  7. Buried Treasure, Kimberly Crawford

  8. The Tomato Thief, Carol Andrews

  9. The Price of Protection, Nicole L.V. Mullis

  10. Backyard Buddies, Janice R. Edwards

  11. Pet Rock, Karen Cooper

  ~My Miraculous Dog~

  12. The Rainbow Bridge, Mark Rickerby

  13. Listening to Our Hearts, Stacey Ritz

  14. A Really Good Dog, Beki Muchow

  15. Making a Family, Val Muller

  16. The Birthday Miracle, Tea R. Peronto

  17. Blind Faith, Shawn Lutz

  18. Back to My Roots, Stacey Ritz

  19. One for the Road, Jessica A. Walsh

  20. The Fear Factor, Kathryn Lehan

  21. A Marine’s Mission, Cindy Lou Ruffino

  ~My Therapeutic Dog~

  22. Watchful Devotion, Cris Kenney

  23. Resting at Her Feet, Stephen Rusiniak

  24. My Slobbery, Comforting Shadow, Dallas Woodburn

  25. Best Friends, Victoria Otto Franzese

  26. Saved by the Dog, Laura Yoon

  27. Little White Dog, Courtney McKinney-Whitaker

  28. The Gift of a Caring Companion, Sarah Wun

  29. Promising Monroe, Jennifer R. Land

  30. Right, Jessica Snell

  ~My Naughty but Nice Dog~

  31. The Busboy, Jeffree Wyn Itrich

  32. Power Struggle, Kathleen Kohler

  33. A Second Too Long, Sue A. Fairchild

  34. Heidi’s Gift, Carole A. Bell

  35. His Just Desserts, Debby Johnson

  36. Independence Day, Susan Lendroth

  37. Midnight Thief, Marie Elizabeth Bast

  38. Yoga Spirit, Elizabeth Anne Kennedy

  39. The Not-So-Long Down, Lisa Timpf

  40. Pumpkin Pie, Tracy Crump

  41. Understanding the Dog, Sylvia Macchia

  ~My Heroic Dog~

  42. Dolly, the Wonder Dog, Bette Haywood Matero

  43. Amazing Onyx, Nancy Emmick Panko

  44. Because of Kasey, Emily Huseman

  45. Micah Is My Hero, Lynn Fitzsimmons

  46. Wonder Puppy, Christy Mihaly

  47. Quiet Devotion, Donna Fawcett

  48. The Biggest Dog on the Mountain, Dale Keppley

  49. Dynamic Duo, David S. Milotta

  50. The Night Coffee Woke Up, Barbara J. Hart

  ~My Inspiring Dog~

  51. A Message from Morton, Laura Snell

  52. The Dog that Lives under the Table, Jeri McBryde

  53. Golden Oldies, Peggy Frezon

  54. A Pit Bull Love Story, Christie Page

  55. Healing Oreo, Lily Ryan

  56. Runt of the Litter, Sara Etgen-Baker

  57. Meant for Each Other, Twilla Estes

  58. My Social Butterfly, Tanya Shearer

  59. How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Marsha Porter

  60. One-Eyed Lily, Susan Kimmel Wright

  61. The Crate Escape, Caitlin Brown

  ~My Clever Dog~

  62. Precious Punishes Herself, Catherine D. Crocker

  63. The Timeshare, Connie Kaseweter Pullen

  64. Seeing Red, Laurel Vaccaro Hausman

  65. Well Trained, Jeanette Hurt

  66. The Boxer Rebellion, Sharla Elton

  67. Encountering the Beast, James A. Gemmell

  68. Bailey’s Best Christmas, Melody Carlson

  69. On the Furniture, Elizabeth Greenhill

  70. Posh Poodles, Bette Haywood Matero

  71. Don’t Ever Do That Again, Molly O’Connor

  72. Plastered Puppy, Jean Haynie Stewart

  ~My Protective Dog~

  73. A Furry Affair, Jeanne Getz Pallos

  74. The Night Watchman, Angela F. Foster

  75. Juneau, Monica Agnew-Kinnaman

  76. Extended Litter, Keysha G. Cass

  77. Oreo, April Serock

  78. A Light in the Heart, Connie Kaseweter Pullen

  79. Our Guardian Angel, Dee Dee McNeil

  80. Showing the Way, Loretta Schoen

  81. Suzi Saves the Day, Lucy Beebe Tobias

  82. Falling for You, Katie Avagliano

  83. A Good Nanny, Allison Howell

  ~My Working Dog~

  84. Misty’s Tilted Halo, Carol Chiodo Fleischman

  85. Working for Cheese, Marian Flandrick

  86. Real Dedication, Laura Hicks

  87. Creating a Guide Dog, Marcia Lee Harris

  88. When the Dogs Come, Pat Wahler

  89. Service with a Smile, Kathryn Hackett Bales

  90. The Reluctant Volunteer, Kathleen Birmingham

  91. The Natural, Irene R. Bastian

  92. Lead Me Not…, Joei Carlton Hossack

  ~My Intuitive Dog~

  93. The Strength of Two, Heidi FitzGerald

  94. My Advocate, Tracy Falenwolfe

  95. A Familiar Face, Gail MacMillan

  96. The Dog Who Mourned, Sandy McPherson Carrubba Geary

  97. Friends for Life, Adrienne A. Aguirre

  98. At Your Service, Kristin Stuckmyer

  99. Our Rescue Dog Rescues My Wife, Sonny Cohrs

  100. Paying Their Respects, W. Bradford Swift

  101. Bella, Megan Yeardley

  Meet Our Contributors

  Meet Amy Newmark

  About Robin Ganzert and American Humane Association

  Thank You

  About Chicken Soup for the Soul

  Share with Us

  Changing the world one story at a time ®

  www.chickensoup.com

  Foreword

  Our best friends are miraculous, therapeutic, sometimes goofy, and often heroic. They can be naughty but nice, clever, inspiring, protective and intuitive. And they work to make our lives better. How did humans get so lucky to have dogs as our best friends?

  Dogs throughout history have gone above and beyond the call of duty for us humans, saving lives on the battlefield and here at home, comforting the ill, aged and afflicted, bringing hope to those who have lost it, and reminding us of the powerful, age-old bond between dogs and people.

  And the bond with our best friends inspires us to change the world through compassion, hope and kindness.

  These amazing stories will warm your heart, make you laugh and giggle out loud, and perhaps shed a few tears. And I hope the stories will encourage you to open your heart and home to adopt a new best friend from your local animal shelter or rescue group. There are millions of animals right now waiting for a forever loving home and a second chance at life. And if you can’t adopt a new best friend right now, please consider volunteering at an area shelter. Dog walkers are always needed!

  In the case of my rescue dog, Daisy, she was waiting not for her second chance but for her third chance when our family came along. As they say, the third time’s a charm, as Daisy brings us joy, humor, and unconditional love every day.

  Speaking of humor, you will be highly entertained by this new volume from Chicken Soup for the Soul. For example, can you imagine going into a coffee shop while leaving your two pups outside tied to a metal table, and then looking up to see the table bouncing down the road? That’s what happened in “The Great Table Caper” when Tyler and Zoe were left outside a café while their mom went in for just a minute. Thanks t
o the kindness of a stranger, danger was averted and the dogs, with a banged up table, were safe and sound after running several blocks. I can still picture Tyler and Zoe running down the street with the table chasing them… their middle-aged mom racing behind them.

  In “The Birthday Miracle,” a boy wants a puppy for his birthday but his single mother can’t afford one. He has already picked out a name for his dog—Rusty. But miracles do happen, as do second chances for forever loving homes! When the mom and son go to the store to get a birthday donut, which is all she can afford to give him for his birthday, a stranger approaches and gives them a precious puppy, already named Rusty. Devon and Rusty were truly meant for each other.

  Being that Daisy is a little white dog, I couldn’t wait to read “Little White Dog,” the story of newlyweds who rescue a little dog who ends up holding their marriage together while they go through the upheaval of moving to a new state early in their marriage. That little white dog keeps them all bonded, dishing up her daily doses of inspiration.

  I’m sure you’ve heard about dogs who love doing their daily yoga stretches. After all, they don’t call it the Downward Dog pose for no reason. In “Yoga Spirit,” an adorable pup named Spirit likes his daily yoga practice, but not for the sake of exercise. He knows that as soon as the meditation begins, he gets to steal his mom’s cucumber slices right off her closed eyes!

  Nothing is more heartwarming about the power of the bond than when dogs are real heroes. In “Dynamic Duo,” a Great Dane named Komomai and his owner rescue a drowning swimmer in the ocean off a Kauai beach. Courage comes in the form of four legs, fur and a wagging tail. And the dog didn’t even know that he had done something heroic.

  Now who doesn’t love cheese? I know I do, as does Wolfie in “Working for Cheese.” Wolfie’s owner found him abandoned in a riverbed. She adopted him, and worked with him to become a search-and-rescue dog. But Wolfie wasn’t in it for the glory. Turns out he was in it for the cheese, which he proceeded to swipe from the rescuers’ backpacks one day during a practice session while they were helping the “victim” he had skillfully found for them.

  And I adore the story of Tater, a senior dog living in a shelter who finds a forever loving home with a widow in “Meant for Each Other.” I can’t emphasize enough the tremendous value that senior dogs add to people’s lives… and they are too often left behind at the shelters.

  While this book features 101 heartwarming and hilarious stories about our best friends, there are at least a million doggone good reasons to consider adopting a dog. Each year, an estimated three to four million animals are waiting in shelters for someone to give them a safe, forever loving home. Too many never find a hero to adopt them.

  If you’re thinking about getting a dog, be a hero and consider adopting a dog from your local shelter or rescue group. You’ll be saving a life and greatly improving yours! Dogs are amazing, supportive and heroic companions who can make a huge difference in your world as a best friend, an exercise buddy, or simply as a furry face eager to greet you when you come home after a hard day.

  Your local shelter is the perfect place to find dogs of every type, size, age and personality — all waiting for a loving home. Or if you prefer a particular breed that isn’t at your local shelter, go online to find a legitimate breed-specific rescue group in need of adopters like you.

  If you’re thinking about bringing an adopted dog into your family, here are some things to consider:

  • Like children, dogs are completely dependent on their owners for all their needs—food, water, medical attention, exercise, shelter and, most important, companionship.

  • But unlike children, dogs will never learn to pour themselves a drink, fix breakfast or take their own bath.

  • Dogs never learn to look both ways before crossing a street and they can’t stop and ask for directions.

  Opening your home to a dog can be highly rewarding, as long as you understand and accept the daily responsibilities and routines that come with owning a dog. For many, the years of companionship and unconditional love and devotion they receive from their dog far outweigh the daily responsibilities.

  You may be the perfect dog owner if you…

  • Believe caring for a dog for fifteen years does not seem like a lifetime.

  • Look forward to big wet kisses when you come home each day.

  • Like sharing your house with someone who sheds, occasionally tracks in dirt, and possibly drools.

  • Don’t mind sharing your house with someone who will never clean up after him or herself.

  • Want to take care of someone every day.

  • Love a playmate who likes to chase balls and drag off shoes.

  • Don’t mind a playmate who likes to slobber on balls and toys.

  • Would like to spend your extra money on pet food, toys, veterinary care, chew bones and more chew bones.

  • Want someone to adore you even on a bad hair day.

  • Believe that spaying and neutering pets will help solve the pet overpopulation problem.

  • Can’t imagine leaving your devoted pet behind when you move.

  • Want to keep an ID tag on your pets, so they can always get back to you no matter what.

  • Enjoy unconditional love and constant companionship.

  As you make your way through this wonderful collection, be sure to look at the photos at the beginning of each chapter. You’ll meet ten soulful dogs who are part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul family — each one rescued off the streets or adopted from a shelter.

  And if inspiration strikes after enjoying these stories and looking at the photos, please visit your local shelter to adopt a new best friend. There is no greater love than that of a dog. And remember that the qualities and personality you want in a dog are more important than size and appearance. For example, an older Shepherd mix might do better than an energetic Terrier in an apartment or with an older person.

  Chicken Soup for the Soul talks about how their books are “changing the world one story at a time” and we appreciate that very much at American Humane Association. Not only does this book advocate for all the wonderful dogs who are waiting to give back to their adoptive families, but the royalties from this book will help support the work that we are doing at AHA to promote dog adoption and animal welfare. It’s the right thing to do for Man’s best friend.

  ~Robin Ganzert, President and CEO, American Humane Association

  My Goofy Dog

  Fun fact: The cartoon dog Goofy was created by Walt Disney Productions in 1932. His original name was Dippy Dawg.

  The Great Table Caper

  Fun fact: In most U.S. cities, to protect both people and dogs, “leash laws” require that dogs in public be on a leash that is less than six feet long.

  Early one fine spring morning, Tyler (a large Golden Retriever), Zoe (a large red Doberman) and I (a woman of a certain age) headed out for a walk. Our destination was the lake in the neighborhood. First, though, we visited the local coffee shop so I could get a cup of tea to drink as we walked.

  I tied Tyler and Zoe, who were very sweet and obedient dogs, to the base of a metal table that was in a cordoned-off area for the restaurant next door. When the restaurant was closed, I often tied them to a table. As usual, I turned to look at them before going in and said, “Be good. I’ll be right out.”

  It was a Saturday morning, and very few people were about or in the coffee shop. After getting my tea, I went over to the condiment station to doctor it with some sweetness. My back was to the door. While stirring in the sugar, I had slipped into a bit of absentmindedness. All of a sudden, a man’s voice boomed from behind me, bringing me out of my reverie. “Someone own those dogs out there?” he called out.

  Leaving my tea, I sprang to the door. Outside, mayhem reigned. Tyler, Zoe and the table were gone. Tables and chairs were knocked over. The black straps that cordoned off the area along with their metal stands were on the ground. I ran to the middle of the street. Tyler, t
he table, and Zoe — in that order — were running away as if the devil himself was chasing them. The metal table bounced, making a loud noise, which caused Tyler to run faster.

  I ran after them, yelling, “Tyler, stop! Stop, Tyler, stop!” I could see that Tyler was the instigator since he was in the lead. He looked back at me, then at the table, and then back to me. His eyes said, “Mom, I can’t. There’s a table chasing me!” He kept running.

  Zoe looked back at me, and her eyes said, “Mom, he’s gone crazy; I don’t know what to do.” She was definitely at his mercy, and Tyler was at the mercy (in his mind) of the table.

  I continued to run after them and yell at Tyler to stop. He’d look back at me, wanting to obey, but then he’d look at the table that kept chasing him and continue running. He’d swerve toward a parked car, causing the table to swing out, and I’d pray, “Please don’t hit a car.” Thankfully, he’d correct his course to the middle of the road and somehow avoid hitting any cars with the table.

  I was not in shape to be running full tilt, and I had no idea how long the “table chase” was going to last. It appeared as if the threesome was headed toward our home, but there were six or so blocks still to go with a couple of parking lots, woods, and busier streets along the way. And poor Zoe, she had no choice but to run. I think she had her senses about her and would have stopped if she could, but as Tyler was in the lead, she was an unwilling accomplice. When I called out, she’d turn her head to look back at me, and with her eyes would say, “He’s gone mad. Help me.”

  A few blocks into the run, with me huffing and puffing, it occurred to me: I could be mad and frustrated, or I could laugh. I chose to laugh, which made the running even more aerobic. But the absurdity of a woman of a certain age running after a dog who thinks he’s being chased by a bouncing table was too much.

  Soon, I was winded and could feel my heart beating fast. Then another thought came, “Oh, my God! I’m going to die of a heart attack chasing these dumb dogs and a table. What a stupid way to die. I hope my family will get a good laugh out of it.”

  The dogs crossed a grassy median that sent the table bouncing and swinging even more. The trio was headed to a parking lot with several cars in it. Tyler came close to a new red truck, and I thought, “I’m going to be buying a bumper today.” Luckily, he veered away from it just in time.