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 , 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. 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