Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs

By June Cotner

“Delightful . . . filled with accounts of the many magical moments these dear companions provide . . . and their impact on our days and our doings..” —Spirituality & Practice

Featuring heartwarming passages by a renowned inspirational author, this gift book celebrates puppy joy, the “welcome home” wag of the tail, unbridled affection, bittersweet love for an aging pet, and the sublime moments shared between humans and their canine companions.

“My dogs are my life. Let this book be a great part of yours..” —Doris Day, actress and founder of the Doris Day Animal Foundation

“A moving and tender book of poems, prose, and prayers that gracefully honors our dog companions. Page after page, I found my heart opening even more to the deep love I share with dogs and how much they mean to me. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll call your dog over for a full-body hug. I heartily recommend this book to dog lovers everywhere!.” —Marty Becker, DVM, resident veterinarian on ABC’s Good Morning America

“Anyone who lives with dogs knows how special they are and how much they affect our lives on a daily basis . . . In this anthology of poems, prayers and prose by famous and lesser-known writers, Cotner has gathered words that convey the sacred connection dogs and their humans have with each other..” —Best Friends Magazine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781449488390

June Cotner

June Cotner is the author of the celebrated Graces, Bedside Prayers, Get Well Wishes, Animal Blessings and Family Celebrations. She lives with her husband, two wayward dogs, and two stray cats in Poulsbo, Washington, just outside of Seattle.

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Also by June Cotner

Amazing Graces

Animal Blessings

Baby Blessings

Back to Joy

Bedside Prayers

Bless the Beasts

Bless the Day

Christmas Blessings

Comfort Prayers

Earth Blessings

Family Celebrations

Forever in Love

Garden Blessings

Get Well Wishes

Graces

Gratitude Prayers

Heal Your Soul, Heal the World

The Home Design Handbook

House Blessings

Looking for God in All the Right Places

Miracles of Motherhood

Mothers and Daughters

Pocket Prayers

Say a Little Prayer: A Journal

Serenity Prayers

Soar! Follow Your Dreams

Teen Sunshine Reflections

To Have and To Hold

Toasts

We Are Women

Wedding Blessings

Wishing You Well

Dog Blessings

copyright © 2017 by June Cotner. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever

without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

a division of Andrews McMeel Universal

1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

ISBN: 978-1-4494-8839-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017932231

Editor: Patty Rice

Designer, Art Director: Diane Marsh

Production Editor: Erika Kuster

Production Manager: Tamara Haus

Digital Production: Kristen Minter

ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES

Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the Andrews McMeel Publishing Special Sales Department: [e-mail].

CONTENTS

A Letter to Readers

Thanks

one

A Dog’s World

Skijoring with Kane

Good Dog

Queen of Canine Capers

Off the Trail

Mother of Dog

At Limantour Beach

When Dogs Go Astray

Dog Running with His Man

Daisy

Outside, Wanting In

When Opportunity Knocks

Sweeter Than Honey

The Science of Faith

Lost Dog

Unleashed

Dog Outside a Grocery on Broadway

Reflections on a Dog’s World

two

Puppies

Puppy Love

Puppy Dog Welcome

Puppy Days

Higher Learning

His

three

Our Bond

Homecoming

Rescue Dog

Love at First Sight

Comfort Zone

Living with Animals

Dog Days

The Greeting

Our Dog

A Dog

Perspective

Ever Faithful, Ever Friends

Reflections on Our Bond with Dogs

four

Devotion

Furry Shrink

Dog Training

A Note for My First

Rescue

He Knew

A Dog’s Life

The Guardian

Guide Dog

The Cats and My Dog

A Prayer for Dogs Who Serve

Dear Companion

Reflections on a Dog’s Devotion

five

Aging Gracefully

Old Friends

Dog Walk

My Elderly Dog

Restricted Travel

Besty

Hiking Old Dog to the Alpine Lake

Our Old Dog

New Tricks

To Let You Go Gently

Old Dog

His Final Season

six

Partings

If It Should Be

A Goodbye Prayer

Rainbow Bridge

Pet Heaven

Summerhill, August 1, 2003

Ceremony at Dawn

Best Friends

Elliott and Amelia

A Dog’s Parting Prayer

If This Were Egypt

The Last Time

Retriever

Dog Memorial

Dogs in Heaven

seven

Reflections

Poem for a Lost Dog

Higher Power

My Daughter’s First Word

The Nature of His Knowing

Blizzard

Lessons from Dogs

Caring for a Sick Dog

Lessons Learned Post 9/11

Reflections About Dogs

eight

Prayers, Blessings,

and Inspiration

The Blessing

Doggy Prayer

Dog Owner’s Prayer

A Blessing

Prayer for My Best Friend

Dog Blessing

Voices from the Shelter

3 A.M. Feeding

I Depend on You

I Have Brought My Dogs to the Woods

Lessons

Dogs as Spiritual Messengers

Author Index

Permissions and Acknowledgments

About the Author

A Letter to Readers

What would the world be like without dogs? Who would be there to walk with us at night, protect us, play with our kids, share our joy in life, and teach us how important it is to smell everything before engaging with it?

My life has been measured and defined by my dog companions. When I was a child, my black cockapoo, Pixie, was always by my side. My mom died when I was eleven, and I remember many nights crying into Pixie’s soft fur. Pixie would look at me with the most compassionate expression—as if she understood I was devastated.

Two golden retrievers, Sundance and Shalimar, came into my life as a young adult. Sundance, the male, was reserved, noble, and dignified. Shalimar, the female, boiled over with enthusiasm. She died suddenly of unknown causes at age eight. My heart broke as I watched my four-year-old son place a Band-Aid on one of her eyes to make her better. When we buried Shalimar in the backyard, Sundance curled up on her grave and let out a mournful howl. After Shalimar’s death, I wrote a poem, Shalimar’s Golden Rules, which is framed in my office and includes the line, Never turn down a tummy rub!

A little golden fur ball named Peaches soon joined our family. And a year later came Thunder, a German shepherd. He had an extremely loyal, at your service demeanor and followed me wherever I went. In contrast to Shalimar’s gusto and enthusiasm, Peaches was incredibly calm and frequently curled up

Reviews for Dog Blessings

[jonteuph · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book, touches the heart of every dog owner, you will certainly cry.

[katerobinson-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Disclaimer: I have a poem in this collection and honored to have it published with so many other interesting poems, prayers, and prose about dogs. This is a collection sure to warm the heart of any reading dog lover.