Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures: True Stories of Animal Visitations
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
We sometimes hear about ghost stories. It seems that many people appear to friends, family members, and even strangers after they die. However, what if the ghost isn't a person at all? What if the ghost is a fondly remembered pet?
My dear dog, Barney, really started something when he decided to visit me after his death. I was hesitant at first to mention it to many people, but I started writing this book after finding out that many other people had experienced similar "visitations."
This book contains fifty true stories of animal visitations. After their pet's passing, owners report they still saw, smelled, felt, and/or heard them doing what they typically did in life, illustrating the strong bond and communication between owner and pet. This book is filled with compelling and uplifting stories.
"Arf Angels" tells the whole story from beginning to end and then beyond in a sensitive, charming, sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, and loving way. If you have had a similar experience, these stories can validate your feelings and offer consolation.
*In one story, Sandy wrote, "Yogi's visit was so profound that I knew it had meaning. His passing has led me on a spiritual search of my own. I am eager to learn and be enlightened."
*In Megan's story, Paula shared some of their life together.
"Christmas and family birthdays were especially happy times. Megan was always there to sing Happy Birthday or her favorite Christmas tune, Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer. She was quite talented, in the singing department, and seldom missed a beat. We often sang together for no special reason. She would follow me around, while I did household chores, as we sang. Megan seemed to sing just for the joy of it."
Later, Paula said, "About two months after Megan's death, I walked into my son's room, and there were paw prints on the bed. The prints always appeared in the same place where Meg used to lie. All my grief welled up. I missed her so. After I was able to give it some thought, I was consoled that she had come back. The prints continued to appear for a while and then stopped."
*Vickie, who was both physically and sexually abused, tells a touching story.
"When I was 11 years old, I had a wonderful horse. He was the first horse I had, and he was a Golden Palomino. He really deserved the name Pretty Boy, and he was destined to be my savior.
I was both sexually and emotionally abused by my father as I was growing up. When I was racing on the back of Pretty Boy or grooming him in the barn, I felt no one could reach me. For the first time, I knew freedom."
She was devastated when her first love, David, died, and then she found out that Pretty Boy had brain damage and would soon have to be put down. It was only after Pretty Boy appeared to her, after his death, that she felt free from her abusive past.
"After a time, I was ready and needed another horse in my life. One summer night, I was out in the barn cleaning, Burt, my new quarter horse's stall. As usual, everything went smoothly, but then Burt began to act as though he was spooked. I tried to calm him, but he pawed the ground and shook his head. Burt had never done this before.
I finally looked out over the pasture and saw an image. It was Pretty Boy and David, my true love, was on his back. They stood there for the longest time, and it was as though they were telling me to go to my future. I was still watching as Pretty Boy and David disappeared into the night. At that moment, I knew they would always be by my side."
*A woman, in an abusive relationship with a policeman, was able to move out after her dog, Bear, intervened and took a punch that was meant for her.
"I feel, we were meant to be together. She was my best friend and had a definite purpose in my life. She helped me deal with my mother's death, and I credit her with saving my life.
I spent four years in a very abusive relationship. I lived with a police officer and felt it would be useless to report the abuse. How could I call the cops when he was one? There were many times he put a gun to my head during a drunken rage. I accepted the abuse and didn't have the courage to leave.
During one rage, Bear stepped in and took a punch to the snout. That was the first time he hit Bear, and that was the last time he touched either of us. I took my dog and left my own home."
*A beloved cat, whose spirit remained behind after her passing, helped her owner overcome her fear of death.
"For weeks after her death, Mitzi visited me every night. I felt her circle around several times and then lie down on the bed. I told her every night that it was OK. She finally went on ahead to Rainbow Bridge where all beloved pets wait for their owners. I never spoke of her nightly visits for fear I would be locked up. I found out many years later, after I had moved out and my parents moved into what had been my room, that Mitzi continued her nightly romps on their bed. My mother never noticed it, but my dad did. He accused my deceased grandmother of being the night visitor, but I corrected him.
… Owning pets over the many years has helped me overcome the fear of death that I had growing up. Mitzi helped me come to a feeling of acceptance several years ago. I wonder if she knew just how much love and comfort she gave me. Thank you Mitzi."
"Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures" is a must-read and will appeal to all people who have ever loved a pet and offer hope to those who have experienced the loss of one.
From the Publisher
This is Anita Perry's first book, but we hope there will be many to follow. She was a newspaper writer for a number of years and said it was a natural progression, combining her love of animals and writing.
After the death of her dog, Barney, who had been a close companion for almost sixteen years, she felt that his spirit remained behind. A few months after his appearance, she related her experiences to Barney's veterinarian. He said that many people had confided in him about an animal's return. There were many accounts where they saw, heard, felt and/or smelled their deceased pet again.
She was encouraged, and felt that she had to pursue the subject further. She conducted over 2 years of research to validate, collect, and share stories in this one of a kind book. Ms. Perry relates that she definitely was not a believer before Barney's visits, but is now eager to share these stories with anyone who will listen. Those who enjoy reading about Animals, Pets, Religious or Spiritual subjects, Inspirational, Nonfiction, and Short Stories will find something to please their tastes. Added to this are pictures, of forty-three of the animals in question, to accompany the fifty short stories. You needn't feel pressured to finish the book in one sitting but it may be difficult to stop at just one story. This book may be the only one that is devoted totally to after-death encounters with animals.
Many, who contributed to the book, found that they learned important life lessons through sharing their life with a pet. One woman was able to overcome her fear of death, while another was led on a spiritual search. One woman, in an abusive relationship, learned to value herself more when her dog intervened and took a punch meant for her. Most felt comforted and reassured by their pet's visits. We hope you will enjoy and find value in these personal accounts of "animal visitations."
Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures: True Stories of Animal Visitations
Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures: True Stories of Animal Visitations,Anita Perry,Authorhouse,0759654360,Agriculture - General,Death, Grief, Bereavement,Essays,Pets,Agriculture & Farming,Animal ghosts,Self-Help,New Age
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