Cathy Miller is a Canadian teacher and freelance writer. Delayed Delivery first won a short story contest in her hometown of Sudbury, Ontario, in 1992. The following year it was published in Christmas in My Heart 2, edited by Joe Wheeler, Review & Herald Publishing, Hagerstown, Maryland. It has since been reprinted in several anthologies and magazines.

  Lori S. Mohr is a freelance writer who dedicates her craft to enlightening humanity to the ways of responsible pet parenting. Her versatile and seasoned writing style lends itself to a variety of subject matter, including vegetarianism and celebrity profiles. She also publishes newsletters. You can reach Lori at [email protected], or by calling 1-888-4EZ-CAMP.

  Kathleen M. Muldoon is a freelance writer who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is the author of Princess Pooh, a picture book, as well as many other children’s stories and articles. The original Ralph died in August of 1996, but she continues to babble to Prissy, a four-year-old black-and-white stray who came to stay last year.

  Kathe Neyer has been a Registered Nurse for the past thirty-two years and a longtime volunteer at the Arizona Humane Society. She has been involved with the Samaritan Health Systems in Phoenix and in dog therapy programs since 1993. She is firmly convinced that the power of an animal’s unconditional love can benefit the health, mind and spirit of those whose lives they touch.

  Joy Nordquist is a therapist and life coach who helps people discover and live their dreams. She and her husband share their home with three delightful “teachers”—two Labradors and a Himalayan cat. Contact Joy at P.O. Box 1320, Carlsbad, CA 92018-1320, 760-729-5307, [email protected]

  Dr. Francine (Penny) Patterson is president and director of research of the Gorilla Foundation. She is conducting the longest ongoing interspecies communication project using sign language to communicate with two Western lowland gorillas, Koko and Michael. Reach her at: P.O. Box 620-640, Woodside, CA 94062, or by calling: 800-ME GO APE. E-mail: [email protected]; www.gorilla.org.

  Penny Porter is a former teacher and school administrator. She is one of the most successful freelancers to ever hit Reader’s Digest. She has published in a wide range of national-circulation magazines, including Arizona magazine, Catholic Digest, Guideposts, Honda and Arizona Farmer and Rancher. Penny is the author of The Keymaker: Born to Steal and Howard’s Monster as well as the biography, Eugene Gifford Grace. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband and continues to write and provide reading and writing workshops for students and adults.

  Susan Race, whose family consists of four dogs and two cats, spends most of her free time helping unloved animals through a variety of organizations in the Pittsburgh area. Susan is currently trying to help start a new organization to rehabilitate injured, ill or orphaned wild songbirds. She can be reached at 205 Chan Mowr Dr., Valencia, PA 16059, or by calling 412-898-3275.

  Roxanne Willems Snopek Raht is a registered animal health technologist from Abbotsford, British Columbia. Her life revolves around three daughters, a veterinarian husband, three cats, a cockatiel and a greyhound. She teaches veterinary assistant students, helps manage the couple’s animal hospital and writes whenever she can. You can e-mail her at [email protected]

  Herbert J. (Reb) Rebhan, D.V.M., served in the Peace Corps in Malawi, Central Africa, from July 1984 to October 1986. In addition to his duties as a mixed animal practitioner in Waianae, Hawaii, Herbert is also a marketing consultant and motivational speaker. He can be reached at P.O. Box 493, Waianae, HI 96972.

  Monty Roberts was born and raised in Salinas, California. After graduating from high school, he attended college, where he triple majored in biological science, animal husbandry and farm management. He married his wife, Pat, in 1956, and together have three children. They moved to Flag Is Up Farms in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1966, a world-class horse farm that Monty designed, built, landscaped and developed over the past thirty years. Monty’s goal in life is “to create a better world for the horse,” but he also hopes to have an impact on the human aspect of people relationships.

  Honzie L. Rodgers grew up in Texas. He served in World War II with Texas’ 36th Infantry Division. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and after the defeat of Germany and Japan, he stayed in the Army, serving in France, Germany, Alaska, Japan, China, Cambodia, Korea, Laos and Thailand. He and his wife lived in Texas until his death on August 15, 1997 at the age of eighty-two.

  Susan Roman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. She is currently in graduate school for her master’s degree. E-mail her at: [email protected]

  Dan Rosandich’s cartoons appeared in Mother’s Soul and Christian Soul. He is also under contract with One On One Computer Training in Addison, Illinois, drawing cover illustrations for their training manuals. He draws the Pete and Jack cartoon for World Fence News, chronicling the adventures of two bumbling fence company workers. Dan will fax samples to anyone interested in illustrations for T-shirts, company newsletters, magazines and books. Call and fax him at 906-482-6234.

  Roberta Sandler is an award-winning freelance lecturer and travel/lifestyle/features writer. She is the author of Guide to Florida Historical Walking Tours (Pineapple Press). She can be reached at 1773 Harborside Circle, Wellington, FL 33414, or by calling 561-795-1106.

  Laya Schaetzel-Hawthorne is an artist, choreographer, speaker and healer who has worked throughout Europe and North America. Her hands-on energy healing work and movement-voice teaching have dovetailed into her “SomaSoul” personal and spiritual integration practice. She can be reached at P.O. Box 1366, Fairfield, IA 52556.

  Diane M. Smith is an award-winning freelance writer and a certified veterinary technician whose particular interests lie in the fields of feline health and nutrition. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including Cats magazine, Cat Fancy and CATsumer Report. She is a member of the Cat Writers’ Association. Diane lives with her husband, David, and four cats.

  Steve Smith is one of America’s bestselling outdoor authors. The author of more than a dozen books, he is the editor of The Retriever Journal and the managing editor of The Pointing Dog Journal.

  David E. Sykes is the co-founder and director of the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation. He is also president of a mail-order company affiliated with the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation, that sells healthy and natural pet-care products. He has been rescuing companion animals for ten years and his love for these animals seems to have no limit. For information about the foundation or company write to: P.O. Box 886, Fairfield, IA; 52556 or call: 800-501-1100.

  Dawn Uittenbogaard works for Village Northwest Unlimited, which is a home for disabled adults, and manages a pet store and kennel. She is married and has two adult children and a house full of pets, of course. This is her first-ever published story. She has lived in rural Iowa her whole life. Dawn can be reached at 3578 Nettle Ave., Sheldon, IA 51201.

  Roberta (Rusty) VanSickle, M.S.W., is a certified disability specialist and a published author of disability articles. She has extensive experience in the vocational rehabilitation field. She coordinates an Internet Stroke Support Group for survivors and caregivers. Visit the group’s site at [email protected]

  Jennifer Warnes is a two-time Grammy winner and singer of three Oscar-winning film themes who has spent two decades making music for the heart, mind and soul. Contact her at: 2532 Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 500, Marina Del Rey, CA 90291; or at: http://www.jenniferwarnes.com. Her e-mail address is [email protected] No song demos are accepted.

  Jeff Werber, D.V.M., has been a practicing veterinarian for over fourteen years, during which time he has become one of the nation’s foremost media veterinarians. He has served as the on-air pet expert on ABC’s Home Show, Mike and Maty and Leeza. He currently hosts his own show, Petcetera, on the Animal Planet Channel and is the pet expert on CBS Morning News in Los Angeles. He can be reached at 310-559-2530.

  Marion Bond West has written for Guideposts for over twenty-five years and is a contributing editor. She has authored six bo
oks including The Nevertheless Principle and is an inspirational speaker. Her pets are a fifteen-year-old “pound cat” and Red Dog who “found her” and, a golden retriever-Lab mix. Marion may be reached at 706-353-6523, or by writing to 1330 DeAndra Dr., Watkinsville, GA 30677.

  Diane Williamson grew up in the Midwest and graduated from the University of Iowa. She is an avid reader, journal writer, and lover of gardening and animals. She and her family love life in the country with their many pets. “Camp Williamson” provides pet care for many furry friends when the need arises from their owners.

  Richard Wolkomir, in collaboration with his wife, Joyce Rogers Wolkomir, is a contributing writer for the Smithsonian magazine and a frequent contributor to other magazines, from Reader’s Digest to National Geographic. The Wolkomirs’ book, Junkyard Bandicoots & Other Tales of the World’s Endangered Species, was published by John Wiley.

  Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D., is a professional speaker and one of the nation’s most respected voices in the field of human potential and personal effectiveness. She is the author of fifteen books translated into twenty-nine languages, including the award-winning Values from the Heartland, Gifts of the Heart: Stories That Celebrate Life’s Defining Moments and Taste-Berry Tales, from which her story is adapted.

  Rosamond M. Young has written fourteen books in all and is hard at work on another cat tale. The publisher, J.N. Townsend Publishing, specializes in books for animal lovers. For a catalog or information, write to 12 Greenleaf Dr., Exeter, NH 03833, or call 603-778-9883/800-333-9883.

  Lynne Layton Zielinski enjoys the friendship of her seven adult children, the magical inspiration of thirteen grandkids and the loving partnership of her husband of forty-one years. Formerly a nurse, now a business owner and always a people-watcher, Lynne believes life is a gift from God, and what we do with it is our gift to God. She tries to write accordingly.

  Permissions

  We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are public domain, or that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker or Carol Kline are not included in this listing.)

  Delayed Delivery. Reprinted by permission of Cathy Miller. ©1997 Cathy Miller.

  Frisk. Reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press, Inc. ©1994 James Herriot, D.V.M. From James Herriot’s Cat Stories by James Herriot, D.V.M.

  Becky and the Wolf and A Different Kind of Angel. Reprinted by permission of Penny Porter. ©1997 Penny Porter.

  Friends. Reprinted by permission of Karen Del Tufo. ©1997 Karen Del Tufo.

  The Puppy Express, An Experiment in Love and The Deer and the Nursing Home. Reprinted by permission of The Richard Parks Agency. ©1984 Jo Coudert.

  When Snowball Melted. Reprinted by permission of Bonnie Compton Hanson. ©1997 Bonnie Compton Hanson.

  Heartstrings. Reprinted by permission of Susan Race. ©1997 Susan Race.

  Home and Dog of War. Reprinted by permission of Joe Kirkup. ©1997 Joe Kirkup. Innocent Homeless. Reprinted by permission of Lori. S. Mohr. ©1997 Lori S. Mohr.

  Priorities and The Rescue. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster from Out of Harm’s Way by Terri Crisp and Samantha Glen. ©1996 by Terri Crisp and Samantha Glen.

  Pepper’s Place. Reprinted by permission of Dawn Uittenbogaard. ©1997 Dawn Uittenbogaard.

  Sparkle the Wonder Dog. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster from It’s Always Something by Gilda Radner. ©1989 by Gilda Radner; 1990 renewed by The Estate of Gilda Radner.

  Pet Love. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow & Company, Inc. ©1983 Betty White and Thomas J. Watson.

  Little Lost Dog. “A Long, Long Way” by Donna Chaney, January 1983 appeared in Positive Living Magazine as “Little Dog Lost,” November/December 1997. Reprinted with permission from Guideposts Magazine. ©1982 by Guideposts, Carmel, NY 10512.

  The Gift of Subira. Reprinted with permission by publisher Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Florida, from Taste-Berry Tales by Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D. ©1997 Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D.

  The Dog Next Door. By Jimmy Stewart as told to Richard Schneider, June 1992. Reprinted with permission from Guideposts Magazine. ©1992 by Guideposts, Carmel, NY 10512.

  The Joy of the Run. Reprinted by permission of W. W. Meade. ©1997 W. W. Meade. A version of this story previously appeared in Reader’s Digest magazine.

  Summer of the Raccoons and The Price of Love. Reprinted by permission of Fred Bauer in the September and August 1992 Reader’s Digest. ©1992 Fred Bauer.

  Things We Can Learn from a Dog. Reprinted by permission of Joy Nordquist. ©1997 Joy Nordquist.

  Birds, Bees and Guppies. ©Newsday, Inc., 1996. Reprinted with permission.

  The Star of the Rodeo. Reprinted by permission of Larry Paul Kline. ©1997 Larry Paul Kline.

  Life Lessons from Lovebirds. Reprinted by permission of Vickie Lynne Agee. ©1997 Vickie Lynne Agee.

  Cheyenne. “A Pointer Named Cheyenne” by Catherine Moore, October 1995.

  Reprinted with permission from Guideposts Magazine. ©1995 by Guideposts, Carmel, NY 10512.

  The Gift of Courage. Reprinted by permission of Roxanne Willems Snopek Raht. ©1997 Roxanne Willems Snopek Raht.

  Saddle Therapy. Reprinted by permission of Bill Holton. ©1997 Bill Holton. Excerpted from Woman’s World Magazine.

  Kitty Magic. Reprinted by permission of Lynn A. Kerman. ©1997 Lynn A. Kerman.

  The Golden Years. Reprinted by permission of Yvonne A. Martell. ©1997 Yvonne A. Martell.

  Swimming with Dolphins. Reprinted by permission of Roberta (Rusty) VanSickle. ©1997 Roberta (Rusty) VanSickle.

  There’s a Squirrel in My Coffee! Reprinted by permission of Bill Goss. ©1997 Bill Goss.

  Finders Keepers. Reprinted by permission of Leona Campbell. ©1997 Leona Campbell.

  Seeing. Reprinted by permission of Kathe Neyer. ©1997 Kathe Neyer.

  Guardian Angels. Reprinted by permission of Richard Wolkomir. ©1997 Richard Wolkomir.

  A Real Charmer. Reprinted by permission of Lynne Zielinski. ©1997 Lynne Zielinski.

  Socks. Reprinted by permission of Steve Smith. ©1997 Steve Smith.

  Jenny and Brucie. Reprinted by permission of Cerie L. Couture, D.V.M. ©1997 Cerie L. Couture, D.V.M.

  An Extra Ten Minutes. Reprinted by permission of Mary Marcdante. ©1997 Mary Marcdante.

  The Language of Horses. Reprinted by permission of Monty Roberts. ©1997 Monty Roberts.

  Lucky to Be Alive. Reprinted by permission of Christine E. Belleris. ©1997 Christine E. Belleris.

  Turkeys. Reprinted by permission of Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. ©1993 Bailey White. Excerpted from Mama Makes Up Her Mind by Bailey White.

  Tiny and the Oak Tree. Reprinted by permission of Dennis K. McIntosh, D.V.M. ©1997 Dennis K. McIntosh, D.V.M.

  The Captain. Reprinted by permission of David Sykes. ©1997 David Sykes.

  The Woman Who Took Chickens Under Her Wing. Reprinted by permission of Earl Holliman. ©1997 Earl Holliman.

  Miracles Do Happen. Reprinted by permission of Paul H. King, D.V.M. ©1997 Paul H. King, D.V.M.

  Darlene. Reprinted by permission of Sara (Robinson) Mark, D.V.M. ©1997 Sara (Robinson) Mark, D.V.M.

  The Little Dog That Nobody Wanted. Reprinted by permission of Jan K. Stewart Bass. ©1997 Jan K. Stewart Bass.

  Buffalo Games. Excerpts from WINTERDANCE: THE FINE MADNESS OF RUNNING THE IDITAROD, ©1994 by Gary Paulsen, reprinted by permission of the publisher.

  Doctola. Reprinted by permission of Herbert J. Rebhan, D.V.M. ©1997 Herbert J. Rebhan, D.V.M.

  A Mother’s Love. Reprinted by permission of David Giannelli. ©1997 David Giannelli.

  The Eyes of Tex. Reprinted by permission of Mrs. Honzie L. Rodgers. ©1997 Honzie L. Rodgers.

  The Christmas Mouse. Reprinted by permission of Diane M. Smith. ©1997 Diane M. Smith.

/>   Juneau’s Official Greeter. Reprinted by permission of Roberta Sandler. ©1997 Roberta Sandler.

  Simon. From Two Perfectly Marvellous Cats: A True Story, by Rosamond M. Young. Reprinted by permission of J. N. Townsend Publishing. ©1996 by J. N. Townsend Publishing.

  The Ugly Pupling. Reprinted by permission of Angel Di Benedetto. ©1997 Angel Di Benedetto.

  Babblers Anonymous. Reprinted by permission of Kathleen M. Muldoon. ©1997 Kathleen M. Muldoon.

  A Damaged Dog. Reprinted by permission of Roma Ihnatowycz. ©1997 Roma Ihnatowycz.

  A French Cat. Reprinted by permission of Jean Brody. ©1997 Jean Brody.

  Tailless Tom. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster from All My Patients Are Under the Bed by Louis J. Camuti. ©1980 Dr. Louis J. Camuti, Marilyn and Haskel Frankel.

  The White House Dog. ©1990 by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy. By permission of William Morrow & Company, Inc.

  Barney. Reprinted by permission of Gregg Bassett. ©1997 Gregg Bassett.

  Mousekeeping. Reprinted by permission of Faith McNulty. ©1997 Faith McNulty.

  The Cat and the Grizzly. Reprinted by permission of Dave Siddon and Jane Martin. ©1997 Dave Siddon and Jane Martin.

  Fine Animal Gorilla. Reprinted by permission of Francine (Penny) Patterson, Ph.D. ©1997 Francine (Penny) Patterson, Ph.D.

  Forever Rocky. Reprinted by permission of S.C. Edwards. ©1997 S.C. Edwards.

  The Lone Duck. By Marion Bond West, April 1992. Reprinted with permission from Guideposts Magazine. ©1992 Guideposts, Carmel, NY 10512.

  Soul to Soul. Reprinted by permission of Carolyn Butler, M.S. and Laurel Lagoni, M.S. ©1997 Carolyn Butler, M.S. and Laurel Lagoni, M.S.