Recently on an ABC Nightly News broadcast, news anchor, Peter Jennings, said that with their partner, beliefnet.com, ABC News had polled visitors to the Web site. They'd asked the question: Do animals go to heaven? To their surprise, this poll received a tremendous response. 47 percent of people, who live with pets, think they will meet the animal in heaven.

We were surprised and delighted, as Jennings led into the segment about the debate over whether or not animals have souls, when the camera panned a set of books on the subject. Our book, Angel Animals, Exploring Our Spiritual Connection with Animals, was included.

This news that so many people see animals as souls was pretty exciting. What felt sad to us, though, was the fact that 53 percent can look into the eyes of an animal in their home and not see a soul there. That's pretty amazing, as far as we're concerned.

So for those of you who already recognize the spiritual nature of animals, we're asking you to consider another aspect of the soul. We've observed that in addition to transcending death of the physical body, as souls, animals also make choices. Because free will is a characteristic of the soul, animals also have free will.

Even though their bodies are constrained, you'll see animals definitely making decisions. They show us what they want, prefer, and like or dislike. Animals may not always be able to exercise free will, just as humans can't do or have everything they want, but free will exists in the souls of animals as surely as immortality does.

The following story offer an example that might cause you to notice animals using their free will.

Don't Duck When Someone Asks for Help

Reuters Wire Service recently ran a story about a duck in Vancouver, British Columbia, who knew what to do when she needed help and set about doing it with great panache.

Imagine being a police officer, minding your own business, walking you beat down the neighborhood street, when you feel a tug on your pant's leg. You look down and see a duck!

That's what happened to Officer Ray Peterson. At first, he pushed the duck away, but she kept pulling on his trousers. Each time the duck got his attention, she'd waddle over to a sewer grate and stare at him as if to say, "Aren't you going to be just the least bit helpful?"

Finally Officer Peterson followed the duck. When he looked down the grate, he saw the mother's eight little ducklings. They evidently had fallen into the sewer and were bobbing around on top of the water.

To the rescue, the kindly cop called a tow truck, which helped to pull away the heavy metal grate. Armed with a vegetable strainer (instead of a pistol), he rescued the babies and returned them to their mother. The mother and her adventurous children then waddled away to swim in the much safer pond nearby.

Thanks and quacks to you, Officer Peterson. And thanks to a mother duck who made the choice of who should save her baby ducks from drowning.

NEW ANGEL HORSES WITH A MISSION TRUE STORY CONTEST

The pros and cons of horse racing are being hotly debated because of Eight Belles' tragic death after this year's Kentucky Derby. Allen and Linda Anderson, authors of a popular anthology series that includes Angel Horses: Divine Messengers of Hope (New World Library, 2006), are looking for true stories about equines that inspire rather than outrage animal lovers.

Their Angel Animals Network (www.angelanimals.net) is sponsoring the 2008 Angel Horse Contest to find the most thought-provoking horse stories and consider them for publication in their book, Angel Horses with a Mission (New World Library, Fall 2009). There are cash prizes and no entry fee. Complete contest rules and a downloadable entry form are at www.angelanimals.net/awards.html or write with SASE to 2008 Angel Horses Contest, POB 26354, Minneapolis, MN 55426.

Allen Anderson says, "By showing how the immense spirit, heart, and intelligence of horses enables them to fulfill a higher purpose, we hope the power of true stories will persuade people to challenge brutality and the practice of treating horses as disposable possessions."

The Andersons suggest considering the following questions and entering the contest by writing about profound experiences: "Has a horse performed an act of compassion, protection, healing, or heroic courage? Have you had a miraculous or mystical experience with a horse? Did a horse lead you to finding your purpose in life? Do you know a horse who has taken on the mission of giving service?"

What do dogs think about?

We've been pondering that question lately. Of course, the obvious answer is that they think about food, play, and their responsibility to sniff everything in sight. But lately we've been noticing a certain fascination, might we call it - obsession - that our dog Leaf has with ducks.

When we go on our daily early-morning walk around the lake near our home in Minneapolis, Leaf shows great interest in the spring ducks. Being a cocker spaniel, he has a strong chase instinct. Oddly enough, he doesn't always strain at the leash and try to run after the ducks. Instead, he sits by the side of the lake and stares at
them with wonderment.

The other day he registered shock on his face when the ducks he was observing "ducked" down under the water and became invisible for an entire minute. He kept looking over his shoulder at us as if to ask, "Where did they go?"

We get the impression that he has many questions, like the two-year-old boy that he is, about these amazing creatures. "How can they do it all?" he seems to be asking. "They walk, swim, fly, and even disappear."

Don't bother to tell us, because we know it's silly, but Leaf's new interest in ducks has inspired us to educate him. Linda has taken to finding interesting tidbits about ducks that she can share with him. After Leaf watched the ducks digging in the moist ground following an April rainstorm the night before, she told him, "Ducks eat bugs and worms."

With an astonished look Leaf sent Linda a distinct inner communication: "No way!" (This is an expression that he must have picked up from listening to conversations on television. If he gets in trouble for sticking his nose on the living room coffee table, he also likes to say, "Busted!")

Okay, so we're nuts. We tell our dog little known facts to make his and our walks more enjoyable. No harm in it. And we are learning more about ducks than we ever wanted to know.

What fascinates your pets?

This week's Angel Animals Story of the Week is about finding comfort with a cat who showed up at exactly the right time and place.

AN ANGEL CAT AT THE GRAVESITE
By Shawna Marzett

In 1999 I was pregnant with my son, and he was due in April 2000. A couple of weeks before I was going to have him, he passed away. This was very tragic for my family and me.

I was not doing well after my loss. We decided to have a funeral and to have my son Dorian buried at a cemetery in Santa Rosa, California. That way, I could go and visit him every day.

Then one day while I was crying on the hill at the cemetery, I looked over my shoulder and saw a gray tabby looking at me from the bushes. For three weeks the gray cat returned to watch me everyday.

One day, I drove up the hill at the cemetery and found the cat sitting by my son's grave, waiting for me. I walked over and sat down next to him. This is how our relationship started.

Each time I went to the gravesite, the gray cat would be waiting there. So I started feeding him twice a day. I made him a shelter in the trees by my son's grave, and we would meet there, rain or shine. I named him Sir Boy. He is my dear angel. He saved me from so much sadness.

Last year Sir Boy got sick. I paid a thousands dollars for his surgery and finally decided it was time to bring him home. I think he might be eleven years old. He has adjusted well to the home life.

I still visit my son. Because I have Sir Boy with me in my bed every night, safe and healthy, I only go once a week now.

BIO:
Shawna Marzett lives in Santa Rosa, California. She is 36-years-old and works as a nursing assistant at a local convalescent hospital.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Have you ever met a stray animal who found a way into your heart?

Everyone who lives with an animal knows that they communicate with their actions, vocalizing, and body language. Most animals express their feelings, wants, and needs in ways that are unmistakable, even to us dense humans.

But there is a group of people who believe that it's possible to hear animals speak and communicate with them. By listening and responding to animals' thoughts and reading telepathic images from their minds, humans are able to ask questions and actually get answers.

We happen to fall into the camp of believing that these things are possible. Animal communicators have helped us through tough spots with our pets. "What can we do to help you trust us?" we asked of our rescued dog Leaf. "Why aren't you eating your cat food?" we wanted to know from our cat Speedy.

When our beautiful yellow Lab, Taylor couldn't walk around the lake with us anymore and appeared to be in great distress, an animal communicator helped to prepare us for the fact that Taylor wanted to leave a body that no longer served and was riddled with pain.

Two dear author friends have books that we think clarify and bring into perspective this mysterious world of animal communication. Marta Williams has a new book, Ask Your Animal: Resolving Behavioral Issues through Intuitive Communication. It contains a great foreword by actress Vanessa Williams whose kidnapped dog Marta helped her to find. For more about Marta go to www.martawilliams.com.

Another author friend who writes in a delightful and entertaining style is Amelia Kinkade. Her book The Language of Miracles: A Celebrated Psychic Teaches You to Talk to the Animals takes readers on a well-lit journey with its practical tips. Her website is www.ameliakinkade.com.

As for our skill level, we seem to be able to pick up some images and thoughts from our own animal family members, but we don't have confidence yet in an ability to catch communication from other people's pets.

What about your experiences with animal communication and animal communicators? Has anyone proven to you that this form of interspecies connection is possible?

From time to time, we like to share an exceptional story with you. The following is from the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter, April 26, 2008 issue.

POLLYANNA, THE ANGEL CAT
By Debbie Boote

In early September 1998 I asked my youngest son Chris what he would like for his tenth birthday. Without hesitation he replied that he would like a pet but most of all a young, female calico cat.

I contacted an acquaintance who worked at a local cat re-homing center to see if they had a suitable cat who needed a home.

A few days later I had a phone call to say that a stray four-month-old female calico cat had been handed in at a center on the other side of town. She had not been claimed and would be ready to be adopted in a few days.

The day of my son's birthday came and went, and he did not show any disappointment in not getting a cat. The weekend after his birthday I told my son I was going shopping into town and went to the re-homing center to collect his cat.

I instantly fell in love with this sweet little cat named Pollyanna the moment she was put into my arms. She never stopped purring even when having her vaccinations and a microchip implanted in her neck.

When I arrived home I put the unopened box on the floor and called Chris. Even before he opened the box, the noise gave away its content. Chris and Polly bonded instantly and soon became inseparable best friends.

Nearly two years later, just before his twelfth birthday, Chris became seriously ill. He contracted flu followed quickly by glandular fever and shingles. The result of all this battering left Chris with a weakened immune system. Soon afterwards he was diagnosed with M. E., or chronic fatigue syndrome.

For many months Chris was too weak to get out of bed and Polly became a permanent fixture, curled as close as possible to him. He frequently suffered with cold, aching limbs. One day Chris told me that Polly seemed to know where he was hurting most, because she would try to get as close as possible to that spot.

During this time Chris would often feel very low and become rather weepy. Polly always seemed to sense his mood. She would gently touch his face or hand and purr loudly to try to cheer him up.

Early one morning I was in my bedroom getting dressed when Polly head-butted open the door. She started meowing very persistently and rubbing against my legs. Thinking she was just hungry I got up to follow her to the kitchen to feed her. Instead of heading downstairs she led me straight to Chris's room.

As a further complication Chris had also developed mild asthma. A recent cold had turned into a chest infection, which had seriously worsened overnight. Now, Chris was having great difficulty in breathing. Polly was obviously concerned enough about his condition to fetch me to help him.

Chris is now nineteen and has made a ninety percent recovery from the M. E. He still gets tired very easily and is prone to infection. He is now full-time at college studying art and making new friends. Polly is still his best friend. Although she spends less time in his room these days, she still watches over him.

I am certain that someone heard my son's request for a little calico cat and sent Pollyanna as an angel cat to watch over Chris in his time of greatest need.

To view a photograph of Debbie's Pollyanna visit
www.angelanimals.net/nlimage04.html/

BIO:
Debbie Boote is a fifty-year-old mom. She works for the British Geological Survey dealing with public enquiries. Debbie is also a portrait and animal artist. She is married to Sam and has two sons, Matthew, 25, and Christopher, 19, and their little angel cat Pollyanna.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Has an animal come into your life at exactly the right time to assist with healing?

Once a week we take our cocker spaniel, Leaf, to doggy day care. This allows him to socialize and get some exercise. This past Wednesday, we picked up Leaf and enjoyed hearing observations of him from the staff.

They noted that Leaf played in the large big-dog room with around twelve other dogs, all of whom were at least twice his size. (This is because he wears out the littler dogs since he's such a consummate player.) In the play room the wide-screen television stays on Animal Planet programs. None of the dogs were watching the TV that day, though. They all seemed focused on Leaf.

Two new employees watched the dogs from the window outside the main room. As Leaf pounded at the door to be let out into our arms, one of the men said that he had had a lot of fun seeing Leaf in action. While ours is always the smallest dog in the room, in many ways he has the biggest presence.

The man said that before Leaf entered the room the dogs were lying around, not really interested in playing or exploring. He said Leaf appeared to have an agenda and a method for achieving his goals. Although cockers aren't supposed to have the herding instinct, one at a time, Leaf herded the other dogs. He'd stand behind them and push with his nose and feet until they started running. Soon other dogs joined in until they all were running around the room, playing, and enjoying themselves.

The employee said that they were so amused by all this herding and watched to see what else our little guy would. They called him "the life of the party" and "the instigator," since he was the catalyst for getting the other dogs to fully participate.

At one point Leaf grabbed a tennis ball and dropped it in front of a large German shepherd who had stopped to rest. Leaf stared at the shepherd as the tennis ball sat on the floor in front of the tired dog. He was daring the dog to snatch the ball. Finally the dog took Leaf's bait, grabbed the ball, and rejoined the party.

We told the man that Leaf herds us, too. Laughing, the new doggy day care employee said that after watching Leaf that day, he believed it.

Have you seen dogs doing things that supposedly they aren't bred or don't have the instinct to do?

From time to time, we like to share an exceptional story with you. The following is from the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter, April 21, 2008 issue.

THE SEA DOG OF KARPATHOS
By Roberta Beach Jacobson, c. 2006

When the volunteer vet spotted the longhaired, one-eyed mutt sitting all alone at the harbor on the small Greek island, she figured he was waiting for his fisherman-owner to return with the day's catch. But then the next day the vet watched the same gray pooch trotting store-to-store, getting handouts from employees' lunches, mostly bits of sandwiches.

"That dog could do with a good haircut," she thought. It took her only a single dog biscuit to persuade the friendly mutt into her all-terrain vehicle. She took him to her makeshift clinic set up in a coastal garage and there, she bathed and brushed him and gave his still-matted fur a thorough clipping. Then she treated him to a flea and tick treatment.

Hours later, she returned the cleaned-up version of the harbor hound back to his old haunts on the remote Greek island of Karpathos. She observed him as he visited the fish tavernas lining the harbor area. At each stop, tourists fed the dog bits of octopus, swordfish, shrimp, or squid from their plates.

Although her days were kept busy neutering stray dogs and cats brought in by volunteers from the island's villages, the vet told me her thoughts often returned to the seafood-loving harbor mutt. She asked in shops and restaurants all along the vicinity of the harbor, but nobody claimed to own such a one-eyed dog.

The vet brought the pooch back to her clinic and got him settled down on a blanket with his very own water dish and a dog chew. He appeared to be up in years, so she named him Opi (meaning Gramps in the Bavarian dialect of German).

Opi responded favorably to his name and relaxed in his new home, maybe not understanding it could only be a temporary arrangement. In two weeks, the volunteer vet was due to return to Germany. During that time, Opi's bad eye got sewn up, and she applied salve to it regularly. A week later, the dog went under the knife so he wouldn't father any pups.

As the vet was about to leave the island, she asked me if I could adopt Opi, because what he needed most was a real home. She had a look of utter desperation on her face when she asked. I was aware she'd already adopted thirteen blind, injured, or three-legged critters from our island. Her house and yard in Germany must be full! I understood her predicament well.

It would be quite a challenge, I knew, bringing Opi home with us, where a dozen-plus rescue cats required so much of our attention. Both my husband and I had grown up with dogs in the family, so we decided maybe we could deal with a canine addition to our gang. As freelance writers, my husband and I work from home, so this allows us plenty of time with our animals. We understood the newcomer wasn't just any dog, but a proud sea dog.

Much to our amazement, Opi accepted the collection of ragtag felines as his friends. He didn't object even when kittens batted at his ears or tried to nurse on his legs. Right away it was clear the abandoned kittens viewed Opi as their hairy pillow. Every night, a few crawled into Opi's wicker basket to settle down for some shut-eye. One delicate orphan kitten named Roo found comfort as she slept atop Opi's back!

Opi soon acquired the nickname Nanny, because problem cats took to him right away and felt comfortable in his presence. Even when his dog basket was literally crawling with kittens, Opi didn't let out a single woofy complaint.

Word got around about our island's unusual kitten-minder. In summers, tourists stop by to take pictures of big-hearted Opi with some of his feline charges. Opi's photo has even made it into a calendar for his fifteen minutes of canine fame.

Opi has learned a great deal about being part of a large family. He didn't mind his first collar and quickly learned to walk on a leash. His adjustments went smoother than we'd ever imagined. Some dogs love car rides; others don't. Opi is one who can't wait to go somewhere with us in the car.

The beach is his favorite destination. That's understandable, because, before meeting us, his life was spent within earshot of the waves crashing against the rocks. All year 'round, my husband and I frequent a rocky beach to collect sacks of driftwood and pinecones to burn in our winter fires. Opi makes the most of each opportunity to run along the coastline and he's an expert at skirting the waves. When he's by the sea, he's in his element.

During the five years Opi has been in our family, we've rescued two younger dogs. We didn't plan it that way, but their youthful presence forces Opi to get out of his basket more often and romp around. He'd acquired a bit too much bulk around the midsection the first year with us, but now he plays with his dog pals and stays trim.

The three of them fit side-by-side in the back seat when we drive to the beach. No question about it, Opi is top dog; the guy in charge. He understands the ways of the sea better than any of us. The seaside is in his blood.

Our first beach outing together, Opi watched in disgust as the pair of junior canines raced straight for the sea and started drinking the salty water. They learned their lesson by having sore bellies afterwards and only tried that stunt once. Opi probably could have warned them not to drink the water, but chose to let them find out for themselves.

Lots of dogs are cute, but being cute and smart equals one lucky dog! If Opi is wiser than I am I won't venture to guess, but most of humankind could learn a lot from a pooch who gets along with everybody, large or small.

For a photo of Opi and a cat he cares for go to www.angelanimals.net/nlimage05.html

BIO:
Fellow Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reader blogger, Roberta Beach Jacobson, is "The Cat Lady." Her blog is located at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/catlady/ Roberta is an American author and humorist who has contributed to 40+ books including the story, "Dog Day" in our book ANGEL DOGS: Divine Messengers of Love (2005). Her websites are www.RobertaBeachJacobson.com and
www.AnimalWelfareKarpathos.org.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

What unlikely combinations of animal species and animal caregivers have you known?

This wonderful Angel Animals story is about a woman's first cat who gave her a reason to live and saved the life of her mother.

PUDDIE GAVE ME A REASON TO LIVE
By Marguerite Vlielander, Brasschaat, Belgium

I always had a close and special contact with animals. They were not just playmates; they were my most important teachers. They taught me the real meaning of friendship, unconditional love, and loyalty. They paid attention to me and worried about me. They taught me the real value of life. Their love was and is Love with a capital L.

My parents loved animals, dogs, and horses, but my mother did not want a cat in the house. My dearest wish was to have a cat. That dream only materialized twelve years ago when my mother gave in and let me bring Puddie into my life -- my beautiful, gray, half-Siamese, forever-cat with emerald-green eyes.

A friend of mine had a lovely Siamese princess. Her lover was a beautiful, big tomcat who was black and proud. I could imagine why she fell in love with him. Four beautiful kittens were the result.

I went to see the kittens when they were four weeks old. One adorable tabby kitten looked at me. I heard a soft meow. I knew he was my special boy. We were meant for each other. Two weeks later Puddie came home with me. It would have been too soon to separate him from his mother, but the kittens lived in a garage full of dirt and oil, and I did not dare to leave him there any longer than necessary.

At that time, I had anorexia, a life-threatening illness that takes so many victims. I was looking after my parents whom I loved. It seems an easy job, but I promise you, it wasn't. I wanted to be a veterinarian but I couldn't let them down by going away to study. I loved my parents and am still thankful the Lord gave me the strength to look after them till the end, so they could stay home, surrounded by their beloved angel animals.

When Daddy died, I was very weak. A few weeks after the funeral I heard a voice. It was Daddy who told me: "My child, now you have to start fighting or you will be with me much too soon." Suddenly I realized how ill I was. I promised that I would fight and win. And so I did. I am free of the anorexia devil now. It was a very hard fight. But I had Puddie and my shorthair collie Karma to help me.

The only reason I survived was because of them, especially my wonderful angel boy, Puddie, who was (and is) wonderful. He taught me the importance of eating well and how to love myself. He taught me to relax and take time off to play.

How glad he was when I started gaining weight. He would say to me, "You worry, mummy, but don't you see how much more you can do already? You feel stronger and happier. What will happen to us if you aren't there anymore? Please, please eat. I love your lap much more now because it's softer. I have more to love. And my love is unconditional. Even if you will get fat, I will love you. So stop worrying and lets take a snack."

I listened to him. I knew he was right. Weight is so unimportant.

Puddie not only saved me but he also saved the life of my mama when she was more than eighty years old. She was an invalid, and her bed stayed in the living room, so she could always be with us. One night she fell out of her bed. It should never have happened. At night, we always put a screen around the bed just to prevent that.

Every night I checked up on mama at five in the morning. That particular night I was woken up at three by Puddie growling loudly while pulling my covers. I thought he had heard some fox or stray cat prowling in the surroundings and I wanted to turn back to sleep, but he didn't stop.

Then I got the point and rushed to mama's room. She was lying unconscious on the cold floor. I phoned for the ambulance at once, and one hour later mama was safe in the hospital. She had many bruises and was in shock but was not seriously hurt. Only thanks to Puddie it all turned out well. If not for him, mama would have died on that cold floor.

Indeed, cats are small wonders. Bob, a friend of mine, has diabetes. When he gets into a fit of hypo -- and often you don't feel that coming when you are asleep -- Pio, his wonderful Siamese, wakes him up. She won't calm down before her papa has gone downstairs and takes some sugar. It's a fact that dogs can be especially trained for that purpose to anticipate an epileptic attack. I am sure cats would even do better.

BIO:

I had a lovely youth on a manor of 1800 hectares, where my father was the steward. I loved working on the land, took long walks with the dogs along the river, went horseback riding and swimming. I was a very happy child, surrounded by my animal friends. I have always been in close and special contact with them. They were my most important teachers. They paid attention and worried about me. They taught me the real value of life.

My cats now are Puddie, my beautiful king-cat, the first of my eight cats, followed by Luckje, Donsje, Mickje, Chummeke, Daimke, Catje, and Tommeke. I have had thirty years of anorexia and was saved by the unconditional love of my angel animals. Not all angels have wings.

Now I dedicate my life to helping cats in distress. I write and give information about them, advise people how to keep their kitties happy, and promote spaying and neutering, one of the most important things to prevent unhappy cats. It is my profound wish that my new book PURRING ANGELS may help cats by informing people. Part of the proceeds of will go to kittens in distress.

On our site www.rietkat.be you can read all about us, and if you want to order PURRING ANGELS, you can do that at www.trafford.com/4dcgi/view-item?item=19980

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Have cats or other animals taught you what is most important in life?

Sometimes a book comes along that we feel we must bring to your attention. Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals by Karen Dawn (Harper, April 29, 2008) is one of those books. It is a successful attempt at bringing information about the animal rights movement into the mainstream world.

The book is colorful, illustrated with cartoons and photos, easy to read, and insightful. If you have ever wondered what exactly are the animal rights issues that get people so emotionally involved, this book gives an overview and lets you decide for yourself what to think and believe.

Dawn writes in the book that her intention is "not to fight with my readers and win the battle for animals rights, and not to force my values on others. The idea, rather, is to tell you everything you wanted to know about animal rights but were afraid to get into a fight about, and to let you weigh that information against your own values. You can decide what practices you find acceptable or not, and how you might avoid supporting what you cannot condone."

Publisher's Weekly gave Dawn's book a starred review and called it a "cogent and thoroughly researched overview of all the major issues in animal rights, past and present." Library Journal called it, "sensitive and informative" and a "highly recommended riveting text." Gloria Steinam writes, "With wisdom and insight. . . [a] bridge between worlds for both the committed and the curious." Actor David Duchovny says, "Give this book to somebody you know who doesn't know." Matthew Scully, author of Dominion, says, "This book is a fast read that can change your life forever."

The author, Karen Dawn, writes the daily e-newsletter DawnWatch that alerts 20,000 readers to coverage of animal issues with information on how to praise or pan the media for its accuracy and attention. She writes opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post, has hosted her own radio series about animals on Pacifica stations in Houston and Los Angeles, and been a guest on MTV.

What we especially like about this book is that with Karen Dawn's positive track record with the media, she actually has a chance of getting these important messages out into the public. The more we all support her, the larger audiences she can reach. She chose to write in an authentic style and user-friendly presentation that is not preachy or holier-than-thou.

Karen and her publisher are to be commended for presenting hard-to-take information about animal cruelty in medical and cosmetic testing, the abuse of animals for entertainment, and the practical reasons for vegetarian and vegan food choices in ways that will be easier for most people to consider without becoming defensive.

For more information about Karen Dawn's new book and one of the greatest promotional videos you'll ever see, go to www.ThankingtheMonkey.com.