This book is dedicated to Wiley, who as a pup I

rescued from under an old vacant house in a poor

neighborhood. For the last fifteen years he has managed to

connect with our family in a magical way, with his uncanny

ability to sense our need for his companionship and love.

     The book is also in memory of the following cast of

characters: Skeeter, Bouncer, Duke, Tasha, Muffin,

Gibraltar, Astro, and Buster, all dogs that I grew up with

over the years who supplied me with a rich field of

experiences that have engraved in me an inner sense of the

extraordinary connection between a human being and his

dog.