Merry Christmas ... 12 days ... singing animals

We are so fortunate to share our lives with animals. Gifted with the treasure of their company, we have a wonderful window into the world of delight! The true blessing is that they tolerate us in our learning curve...



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Caring is always in season - Carol Upton offers a winning holiday book review

The Dogs of Proud Spirit
Melanie Sue Bowles
Pineapple Press, Inc.
Hard Cover, 2010, $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-56164-478-0
Available at Amazon or www.horsesofproudspirit.org
Sale proceeds help care for the rescued
animals at Proud Spirit

Reviewed by *Carol M. Upton

And so, this was our life: challenged, but always enriched by the animals who somehow found their way to the gates of our sanctuary and into our hearts. Encompassed by our love, they loved us back. ~ Melanie Sue Bowles

There is no stronger seasonal message for animal-lovers than that found in The Dogs of Proud Spirit.

Proud Spirit sanctuary began with one horse in need on five acres in rural Florida and evolved into a 320-acre facility in Arkansas, where nearly 200 horses have come to live out their lives in peace. Melanie and Jim Bowles are the founders of Proud Spirit and this book offers incredible stories about the dogs that have also found their forever home at the sanctuary.

From Molly, the skinny hound running loose in a parking lot, to Gunner, the Corgi mix languishing in a shelter, to Dusty, the Rottweiler cross who took them past their “two dogs is enough” rule, Jim and Melanie kept adding to their pack. As happens to many with big hearts, strays continued to show up in their lives. The dogs fit in well, developed various ‘jobs’ for themselves, and got along with the horses.

Like all rescued animals, these dogs were mixed challenges and blessings. Molly and Gunner narrowly escaped death by alligators. Dusty didn’t like the existing pack and even showed initial aggression toward sanctuary visitors. Then, there were the infant hounds, dumped in a ditch, who grew into working dogs named Trixie, Trudy and Daisy.

Proud Spirit is one of the most successful, long-lasting sanctuaries for horses in the United States. These animals are not adopted out, but live their lives surrounded by compassion and kindness in an ideal environment. The stories in this book feed the reader’s soul and inspire new faith in the process of adopting and rescuing animals in need.

Melanie and Jim Bowles currently live with 72 horses, 12 dogs and one talkative barn cat. Melanie is also the author of The Horses of Proud Spirit and Hoofprints: More Stories from Proud Spirit. Visit Proud Spirit at: www.horsesofproudspirit.org

*Connect with Carol Upton at

Dreams Aloud Promotions

~ Linking your dreams to the world

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The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer ... and Doug Koktavy

"If you agree that pets are family members, you'll understand my crazy story. And if you have an aging pet or are going through a pet's fatal illness, I hope my experience helps in some small way to lessen the pain, dispel the fear, shed light on the process and provide a little peace. Most of all, I hope to encourage the realization that this isn't the worst of times; it is the richest of times." - Doug Koktavy

*A note from Wendy - Host of Conscious Living on Empower Radio: Over the years of working with animal lovers and animal caregivers and sharing their stories I have read numerous books. This book shines a light on the intimate moments still left to share as the life form you have come to know, love and cherish downshifts in preparation for transition to a higher plane.

We are very ill equipped to deal with death (and grief) in Western society. Doug manages to showcase how that might change and has two charming canine helpers assisting him in mapping a divine blueprint for that process. 

The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer is an extraordinary read -- what should be a heartbreaking story of the grief of pet loss is a journey through transformation, release and transcendence. (Note: tears will flow.)

Emerging in the midst of the sadness is a deepening awareness and connection between all involved and an expansion and awakening to a greater capacity to love.

Inspired and inspiring... a remarkable legacy from/of two very beloved friends.




Praise for Beezer and Boomer -

“What a fabulous, heartfelt, and enjoyable read (assuming you don’t mind some crying). Doug adeptly describes his transition from skillful attorney, who takes pride in controlling the world around him, to a soul-searching student who, under the tutelage of his beloved four-legged mentors, strives to live in the moment. In the genre of ‘dog vignettes’ it’s mighty refreshing to read a journey of feelings rather than simply a comical description of life with a dog.”

- Dr. Nancy Kay, author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life www.speakingforspot.com

Doug Koktavy is an multiple award-winning author, publisher and speaker. He is a Certified Counselor, Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. Doug also is a moderator of the K9 Kidney Diet Yahoo Group and the Pet Grief Yahoo Group, and he is a member of the Bone Cancer Dogs Yahoo Group. He is on the Board of Directors of Bone Cancer Dogs, Inc., a New Jersey nonprofit corporation. He also is a volunteer with Safe Harbor Labrador Retriever Rescue. Currently an attorney in Denver, he enjoys biking, running and taking quiet walks with his new black Lab, Dory.

-- Doug Koktavy shares his story and book on Conscious Living with Wendy Garrett on Empower Radio. Get the podcast or listen on-demand at www.empoweradio.com.

*As a thank you for reading this column and/or listening to the show on Empower Radio -- a special rate on the book from Doug: Enter "Holiday" in the coupon code.

You are also invited to share your story with Doug. We are an amazing earth family.

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Heartwarming tales about pets - Holiday Guest Post by Kelly Preston

Betty Boop: A Canine Christmas Miracle
by Kelly Preston

Betty Boop - image credit: Kelly Preston

Betty Boop is my ten-year-old designer breed/mutt, who came to me with severe neurological disorders. When I drove to Anaheim to pick up Betty Boop, I knew she was a special-needs dog. I also knew that I could help. I was determined to improve the quality of her health and her life with good nutrition and positive thinking. But I was unaware of her blindness, unaware of the seizures to come, unaware of the water on her brain, the necessary medicines, and ultimately the amount of care this tiny puppy would require. I was also unaware of the qualities I would soon discover in myself, qualities that Betty Boop would help reveal.


In no time I discovered Betty Boop enjoyed being held and would spend a few minutes squirming in my arms before settling on a comfortable position and drifting off to sleep. When she was truly happy, she’d cock her head and stick her tongue out slightly—staring through blind eyes. I’ve questioned my decisions a million times and have often been overwhelmed by the demands of caring for her, but when Betty Boop, all of just over three pounds, tilts her head and gives me that expression of contentment, my doubts vanish.

In 2007 we had a brain scan done to get a better picture of Betty Boop’s true condition. The staff besieged me afterwards in the waiting room with questions: What are you feeding her? How are you able to take care of her?

How is it this dog is even alive?

Seeing my bewildered expression, somebody finally let me know what the scan revealed: Betty Boop has less than one-percent functional brain matter. It seemed impossible. By everything known to science Betty Boop should not have survived past a year. Whatever it is you’re doing, the staff said, keep doing it.

In my opinion, it’s no great secret. Betty Boop simply has the will to live. She responds well to me and she eats and drinks on her own. She perks up when I come home from travel and always seems comforted by my presence and my touch.

Since business travel is sometimes unavoidable, I have come to rely on an amazing dog sitter. Caring for dogs is her passion, and she has many clients to show for it. When I’m on the road, she’ll visit three times a day to make sure Betty Boop takes her medications, in addition to being there to care for all the other members of the family.

Making sure Betty Boop gets her necessary medications continues to be paramount. Her very life depends on it. Everyone gets fed around Betty Boop’s schedule with Betty Boop getting fed last. While her Kibble floats and becomes soft enough for her, I change her bedding and begin laundry. While she eats, I sit on the steps to keep an eye on her while I give the other dogs some attention.

Betty Boop, as you might imagine, can be quite the messy eater and when she’s done, Mr. MaGoo and Carla Mae race for the leftovers. Nine times out of ten, Mr. MaGoo gets there first.

Betty Boop has moments of stunning progress. This past Christmas she broke out walking in a straight line—like a normal dog. It was our Christmas miracle. She wasn’t able to maintain it for long, but it showed me what could happen with a little nurturing, a little encouragement, and a lot of love. Her fate has been uncertain, at best, but she remains a living, breathing miracle in our lives today.


- Kelly Preston is an animal lover and author of Real Dogs Don’t Whisper. Raised on a ten-acre property in Pennsylvania, she grew up with horses, rabbits, and dogs. Mr. MaGoo is a nine-year-old Lhasa Apso and the book’s co-creator and co-writer. Mr. MaGoo has forged ahead with this project in an attempt to present the facts from a dog’s perspective. Visit Kelly at: www.realdogsdontwhisper.com

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Lil Drac -- way cute!

This little guy lost his mom. He found a friend. And he is a very cute character - full of personality. That begins to show as the video progresses.



From the YouTube home page for Bat World Sanctuary: In a world where so many look away, Bat World Sanctuary is on the front line to end the abuse and destruction of bats. We have been recognized as the world leader in bat rehabilitation for over a decade. Bat World Sanctuary was founded in 1994 and is a 501c3 non-profit, all volunteer organization with 20 rescue centers nationwide.

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