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Acknowledgments

This story isn’t about me. It’s 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 Belle—God rest their orange-and-white souls—and Angel and Grace, who are carrying on for them.

The breeders who brought these four-legged angels into my life: Jeane White, Patty Kanan, Cindy Huggins, Linda McCartney-Roy, and Kristyn McCartney; the veterinarians who have cared for them: Dr. Jean Dodds, Dr. Meghan Myott, Dr. Jamie Warren, Dr. Nicole Buote, Dr. Janet Kovak, Dr. Cara Horowitz, and a bunch of others at the Animal Medical Center; and the people who help us care for them daily (dog walkers and dog sitters): Emily Key, Althea Alvarez, Maria Angeles, Doug Tighe, and my in-laws, Emily and Lyle Smith.

Christi Dudzik, my mentor in therapy dog work, my vice chairman of the Angel On A Leash board, and, more importantly, my friend; and my special friends Wayne Ferguson, Larry Leib, Tom Lasley, Ranny Green, and Chris Terrell, always there for me.

Those very special Westminster Best in Show dogs, Uno, James, and Rufus, and their owners, Caroline Dowell, Terry Patton, and Tom and Barbara Bishop; also, Ceil Ruggles, Scott Sommer, Eddie Dziuk, Dan Huebner, and Aaron Wilkerson.

My leaders and colleagues at the Westminster Kennel Club: Peter Van Brunt, Tom Bradley, Chet Collier, Florence Foti, Kelly Rounds, Billy Mott, Linda Duane, and Sharon Fremer.

All of the Angel On A Leash people: Greer Griffith, Christine DeAcetis, Nancy George-Michalson, Mary Ehrhart, Stephanie LaFarge, Chuck Bessant, Richard Dienst, Barbara Babikian, Caroline Loevner, Gay Cropper, and all of the teams that visit in our facilities; and great Angel supporters Karen LeFrak, Susan Stone, Ann Howie, Val Diker, Ruth Pereira, Joe Yanek, Ron Trotta and Elly McGuire, Kristina Newman, Eric Gural, Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Michele Siegel, Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith, Gordon Magee, Mary Bloom, Toni Millar, Maggie Butterfield, Catherine DiPasquale, Peggy Schunk, Bill Sullivan, Jim Murray, Wendy Gallart, Frank Kelley, Jane Hedal-Siegel, Aimee Bench, Jeannie Schultz, Melissa Menta, Rana Komar, Steve Dale, and Bernard Clair.

Everyone at NBC Universal who is involved with the production of the Westminster and National Dog Shows: Jon Miller, Kevin Monaghan, Gordon Beck, Steve Griffith, Joe Garagiola, Mary Carillo, John O’Hurley; and Candy Caciolo and Ann Viklund of Purina.

Monsignor Thomas Modugno of St. Monica’s and Father Ray Nobiletti and Linda Woo of Transfiguration Church and School.

My Angel By My Side family: Mike and Nancy Lingenfelter, Dakota, and Ogilvie.

Delta Society, past and present: Mal Schwartz, Dr. Gregg Takashima and the board, Dr. Bill McCulloch, Maureen MacNamara, Lynnette Eastlake, Linda Hines, Jon Eastlake, Sophie Engelhard Craighead, Megan Wolfe, Carol Cullum, and all of the very special Pet Partner teams.

My friends Ben Walker, Gary and Larry Sever, Bob Clampett, Jeff High, Jeff Wohler, and Bob Main; and my sisters and brother Nancy McCormick, Susan Earley, Judy Kaplan, and Terry Frei.

Andrew DePrisco, Allan Reznik, and Amy Deputato at I-5, and my agent, Steve Sadicario: thanks to all of you for believing in me and what I do and for making this book possible.

And last, but hardly least, the bravest kids in the world: Andrea, Anthony, Jessie, Laura, Dylan, Eden, George, Devin, Millie, Mitch, Uri, Raisa, Alyssa, Deyja, Fitzgerald, and more; their parents and families; Karen, Belinda, and Maria; and the nurses and staff everywhere we visit.

And of course, the Good Lord, for blessing me with all of these wonderful people and dogs in my life. Thank you.