Excerpts from

HAPPY TAILS: Inspirational Stories for Dog's Best Friend

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever noticed that a dog’s tail is his Geiger counter of happiness? It radiates the joy in his heart as his master approaches. Your dog probably knows the joy of your presence, too. And when you reach down to caress his sweet face, your simple touch causes him to prance, dance, and sing your praises.

Do you also know the joy of being in the presence of your Master– Almighty God, the Lord of all creation? He is the one who provides all your needs; keeps you safe through the storms of life; forgives you in spite of all the things you’ve done wrong; loves you even more than you love your dog; and wants to adopt you into His family. It is my hope that you’ll meet Him in the pages of this book.

At the heart of Happy Tails you’ll read a story of rescue and restoration as the loving adoptions of Mac and Bo parallel the testimony of all believers who have been adopted into God’s family and the permanent, loving home He has prepared for us.

Happy Tails is divided into three sections.

"Rescued by the Good Master" introduces you to the work of canine rescue groups and Mac and Bo, two English Springer Spaniels adopted by my husband and me after they landed in a rescue program.

Through the life events of Mac and Bo, "Life with the Good Master" illustrates how much God loves us and wants us near Him on good days and bad. Bo would tell you, "Happy is the dog whose tail wags for the Good Master for he shall walk in freedom." Mac would be more apt to say, "Happy is the dog whose tail wags for the Good Master for he shall be forgiven."

In the last section, "In Search of the Good Master" offers expert insight into the heart of rescue dogs; Web sites to lead good masters to good dogs available for adoption; and man’s road to rescue and adoption into God’s family.

As you read Happy Tails you’ll enjoy recalling similar dog tales from your own experience; discover practical solutions to doggy dilemmas like getting "skunked;" and in a quiet moment when your dog rests his head on your lap you might even take a moment to rest your head in the everlasting arms of your Good Master.

Sprinkled throughout you’ll find Scripture verses from God’s Word; training tips from foster mom and obedience instructor, Christi Cooper; quips, quotes, and sage advice; suggestions for items to fetch for your dog; and other anecdotes.

It is my hope that as you read this book you will not only be encouraged to adopt your next dog but to ask God to adopt you into His family. For the dog who finds a permanent, loving home with the Good Master wags a happy tail.

RESCUED BY THE GOOD MASTER

Every dog in a rescue program is there because people care enough to offer them hope, help, and healing. They choose to exercise their God-given dominion over animals by coming to their rescue and loving them.

As in the parable of the good Samaritan, these generous benefactors come alongside dogs who have been beaten, abandoned, or broken in spirit to restore them to good heath, pick up the tab, and find them good homes. My dogs, Mac and Bo both benefited from such care, but Mac’s expenses exceeded the routine physical with heart worm check, up-to-date vaccinations, and neutering. His hip repair totaled $1,700.

Nobody knows why Mac ran loose on a busy Atlanta street. He had no collar or I.D. chip to help locate his owner when he fell victim to a hit and run driver and lay helplessly on the side of the street. Although many people must have witnessed the accident, they passed by, not wanting to get involved. Only one compassionate woman stopped to lend a helping hand. In her great mercy, she picked him up, put him in her car, drove him to her vet, then contacted English Springer Spaniel Rescue. Thus began Mac’s journey to restored health and a new home.

Bo’s case was different. As a puppy, Bo was a Christmas present to a family who loved him and let him live inside with them. When he grew to 50 pounds at six months of age, Bo was tied to a tree in the back yard with only a shed to crawl under for shelter. There he cried for five years for his family to love him again. When his owner decided he didn’t want Bo to spend another harsh winter out in the cold, he called English Springer Spaniel Rescue to come get him.

Many other animal rescue groups provide similar services. Specific breed groups rescue dogs of their own breed, while other rescue groups take in dogs of all breeds including mixed breeds. All of them are the good Samaritans of the dog world who provide safe havens for lost or abandoned dogs until loving and permanent homes can be found for them.

Since their adoption, Mac and Bo have blessed us with their love, joy, and faithful companionship. There is nothing they could ever do that would make us not love them. There is nothing they could ever do that would make us mistreat them. And there is nothing they could ever do that would make us abandon them or turn them over to somebody else.

We love Mac and Bo the way God loves us– unconditionally. He adopted us into His family for the same reasons we adopted Mac and Bo. He wanted to provide for us a loving environment where we can develop trust, rest in His mercy, and learn to walk with the Master.

God loves you unconditionally, too. There is nothing you could ever think, say, or do that would make Him not love you. And He is the only one who can provide the hope, help, and healing for your deepest need.

Thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You want to adopt us into Your family. May dog lovers everywhere respond to Your love with joy.

From Happy Tails: Inspirational Stories for Dog’s Best Friend
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2008) Linda H. Winn

I welcome your comments at lhwinn@comcast.net