Thanks to everyone who voted and submitted a picture for the contest. We really appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and participation. We will publish all the winners on “Angelic Tails’” Facebook page, so stop by to see your pooch!

Submit any past and present pictures of your pooch, from a Popeye-d poodle to a Dracula-fied dachshund. We’ll pick the top five photos and post them on this page, where you can vote for the winner.

The person’s photo with the most votes will receive an autographed copy of “Angelic Tails,” along with three books: “In the Arms of Angels: True Stories of Heavenly Guardians,” “Angels and Wonders: True Stories of Heaven and Earth,” and “Guardian Angels: True Stories of Answered Prayers.” The winning photo will also be featured on Angelic Tails’ Facebook page, on this website, and in Joan’s newsletter.

Simply e-mail a picture of your dolled-up dog along with its name and a short description to rlane@loyolapress.com by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1^st. We’ll begin voting on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and announce the winner on Nov. 4. Stay tuned for a follow-up post detailing when you can begin voting.

Enjoy, and get creative with your angel dog!

OFFICIAL RULES: This contest is open to residents of the United States and Canada who are 18 years old or older. Multiple entries are allowed per household. By submitting photos, contestants confirm that they are the copyright holder for each photo, and agree to allow Loyola Press to display their photos on LoyolaPress.com, Loyola Press’s Facebook pages, Joan Wester Anderson’s website, and Joan’s newsletter. 

This contest is sponsored by Loyola Press.

Visit Angelic Tails’ Facebook page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/AngelicTails

“Angelic Tails” is a collection of 30 true stories from ordinary people who experienced God’s extraordinary grace through heavenly canine companions.
The stories challenge readers to reconsider their conception of angels—from a dog saving a newborn’s life, to a pooch protecting St. John Bosco on dangerous streets for more than 30 years.

In the end, for all who see through the eyes of faith, this book is evidence that God can use even muddy paws and cold noses to fulfill his purposes.

You can order “Angelic Tails” online at Amazon.com or Loyola Press.com—and for a limited time, Loyola Press is offering autographed copies of the book. Check out Tails’ Facebook page for more info and for pictures of our angel-like pets!

Here’s an excerpt from the chapter, “Baby’s Best Friend”:

The baby usually had a bottle about 4:30 in the morning, and on the morning of May1, Pam got up to prepare it, laying the baby on his back on their large bed, with pillows all around him and a single nightlight on.

Troy (Pam’s husband) went into the shower to get ready for work, and Bullet–Pam thought–was still drowsing near the crib. Lately he seemed to need more sleep.

But Bullet wasn’t sleeping. Suddenly Pam heard him bark, and a few seconds later he came skidding down the hallway to the kitchen, ears flapping, whining urgently and insistently.

“Bullet, stop!” Pam told him. “Do you want to go out?”

It was rare for Bullet to bark, even odder if he wanted out this early. But no. Bullet ran back down the hallway to the bedroom, then turned toward Pam. He looked up at her, and barked again, jumping off the floor, as if to say, “C’mon!” Bullet was too old to be jumping. What was going on?

The baby! Suddenly Pam realized that Bullet was trying to alert her. She hurried after the dog, following him into the darkened bedroom. What she saw stunned her…

I was working on my latest writing project, a book about angels, and having strong doubts. It was August, 1991, and there hadn’t been much national interest in angels in many years. I had some heavenly stories to share, but would anyone want to read them?

The doorbell rang and the mailman handed me a small package marked “Fragile.” It was from a fellow author in Canada, which seemed strange, since we only wrote at Christmas, and never exchanged gifts. Her card read, “I think God wants you to have this.” I opened the box and stared at a little angel figurine in a red dress. No one had known about my writing project, yet my friend followed a heavenly nudge, and the signal was clear: “Keep going!” WHERE ANGELS WALK ended up on the New York Times best seller list.

It didn’t take long before readers began sending me angels. Statues, of course, but also angel soap, picture frames, pins, shawls…with the growing interest in angels, crafters were finding new outlets for their designs and “angel stores” were opening. “It used to be that angels were only available at Christmas,” one woman wrote, “but now they’re becoming an industry!” I discovered that there was a national group called Angel Collectors Club of America (ACCA), founded in 1976, to celebrate the enjoyment and existence of angels. (A second club, Angels of the World International, similar in interests, was getting started, and I joined both) In addition to an every-other-year convention, both organizations broke up into smaller geographic groups, and scheduled local meetings when possible.

Many collectors had begun as I did, receiving a gift of an angel for a special event, then wanting another, and another…. But it was not uncommon to meet people who had been collecting since they were children. (These were the Champions—people who, if not restrained by their families, would have built room additions to display their angels!) These folks were occasionally featured in local newspapers, surrounded by their heavenly hosts, which brought new members into the folds.

Unlike many collections, angels are so diverse that almost everyone can find something to enjoy. I noticed that some members focus primarily on specific types of angels, such as the birthday series (one statue per month) or a popular set of boy angels, each playing a different sport. One woman collects angels with red hair, and others concentrate on cats or frogs! As well as figurines, specialty collectors look for vintage angel cards, buttons, cookie tins and jewelry (the thrill is in the hunt.) Angel fabric is also popular. “I couldn’t resist it even though I don’t sew,” said one woman, holding yards of angel-embossed lace. Chances are, she’ll find a fellow collector who wants it.

The majority of ACCA members, however, have eclectic collections rather than sticking to just a few categories. Looking around my office right now, I see two angel mobiles, some framed art, a Victorian lady and a doll from Kansas whose wings are made out of straw. My shelves are filled with angel books, as well as glass and paper ornaments for decorating at Christmas. Such diversity is the norm.

A typical collection among ACCA members will range from a few hundred to a thousand or more items. Usually, they cannot all be displayed at the same time. Julie Henrickson, ACCA’s current Activities chairperson, rotates her angels for whatever holiday is approaching. “I have angels for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving,” she says. “There’s enough to be always putting different ones out.” Sue Vecchiarelli, vice-president of AWI, keeps hers displayed permanently in a “huge curio bursting at the seams.” Members share poetry, book reviews, recipes, and garden tips, and search for items needed to complete a project—all angel-related. There is also the Halo newsletter, which keeps us informed about events, new products and members who need prayers and Get Well cards. And when ACCA members raise money, it’s donated to their official charity, The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I probably should have kept an orderly record and description of each angel as it joined the others in my house, as a true collector does. But no matter how many I have, that first little sculpture from my “earth angel” in Canada will always have the place of honor. Like the heavenly messengers, it changed my life.

ACCA $20 annual dues

Pauline Neff, VP

mandpneff@q.com

AWI $20 annual dues

Sue Vecchiarelli, VP

suzvecang@yahoo.com

For a Mom who loves to laugh, a copy of my latest book, MOMS GO WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD might be the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Just click on www.amazon.com, and type the book title in the long space.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWePkUWdmF8

and also on this website? It’s true! Response to the video has been wonderful, and I would love to hear your feedback. You can leave a comment below for me, and tell me what you think.

Also – don’t forget to click on this link –> What’s New? <– so you can keep updated on the most recent announcements on the site.