David Frei - Angel on a Leash: Therapy Dogs and the Lives They Touch

Advance Praise for Angel on a Leash

David Freis 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. Thats what therapy dogs are all about at the Ronald McDonald House New York. For our kids and their families who dont always have a lot to smile about, thats 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 youve 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 Childrens Hospital. It is truly amazing! David Frei captures what many of us know intuitively and what science has verifieddogs have a healing effect on us!

Toni Millar, Director of Child Life, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Childrens 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 peoples lives. It is evident, in this book, that this work gives meaning to Davids 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 Freithe voice of the Westminster dog showcan rattle off breed standards and facts and figures about dogs. Its 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: Vronique 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 authors 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

615.85158--dc23

2011023964

Printed and bound in Canada

17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Foreword

by John OHurley

D ogs bring out the good in good people. No one told me that. Its just an observation that Ive made after wandering deeper into the canine world and witnessing the extraordinary impact that dogs have on the world around them. I have written before that I am a better person with a dog in my lap, and I believe that more today than when I first put that thought to paper.

But I probably would have missed that thought as well as the deeper meaning of how dogs enrich our lives had I not answered a phone call nearly ten years ago. The call was from one of the executives at NBC Sports who began the conversation with the words, Woof, woof. He went on to explain that they were taking a chance and developing a dog show to air on Thanksgiving Day called the National Dog Show presented by Purina. He asked if I would host the show along with a gentleman he described as the most knowledgeable mind in the world of dogs. That tag still applies to David Frei. I said yes to the offer to host and began a tremendous and enduring friendship with David and his wife Cheri. That friendship introduced me and my wife Lisa not only to a deeper understanding of the commitment and responsibility of dog ownership but also to a deeper and more spiritual purpose for dogs as companions in medical and emotional therapy.

Through his Angel On A Leash organization, I have seen firsthand the good that therapy dogs doin the cancer wards and in pediatrics. A dogs simple presence brings an irreplaceable moment of stillness and levity to the ill and the elderly. I have watched the hollow look of a sick child turn to a twinkle and smile when a therapy dog leaps on the childs bed.

When a dog wags his tail, it is connected to his heart. When David tells these stories of the dogs he has known and the good that theyve done, they are connected to his.

I leave you in good hands.

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.

Acknowledgments

T his story isnt about me. Its about all of these great dogs and people who do good things for others every single day. They are the dogs and people of my world, and they have made this book come to life. I have so many of them to thank.

First, my wonderful wife, Cherilyn, on this road with me, the person who has taught me so much about life and about myself and my dogs and the great things that they can do and that we can do together.

My dogs, Teigh and BelleGod rest their orange-and-white soulsand Angel and Grace, who are carrying on for them.