Sleeping With Angels: A Veterinarian's Sacred Bond of Animal Companionship [Paperback]

Alan Blain Cunningham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2003

Alan Cunningham, a Utah veterinarian devoted to the welfare of animals, shares his personal life story as it intertwines with special needs animals facing an uncertain future or euthanasia. Alan brought them into his home and heart, truly believing they are "angels on earth" who freely give unconditional, healing, and comforting love. Warm and inspiring stories and beautiful drawings of his animal family. *One Step, a cockatiel, lost a leg and wing as a baby, but grew up to inspire people. *Bruiser, a battle-scarred, tough orange tabby tomcat with feline AIDS became his companion. *Aspen, a soon-to-be three-legged Black Labrador, following amputation of one leg awoke, looked at Alan, and wagged her tail. His heart was touched. *Golden, a homeless, stray pup Golden Retriever found running loose in front of the clinic. *Moose, the shy Neapolitan Mastiff no one would buy because of an umbilical hernia. *C.C., the extremely friendly Boston Terrier, whose original family found itself in a homeless shelter. *Jaws, a loyal friend and canine companion, a cross between a Weimaraner and Doberman Pinscher, had an aggressive mast cell tumor. *Brownie, a Border Collie herding dog, became the peacemaker of the animal family. *Pug, a Boston Terrier, became the matriarch of the animal family and a beloved close companion to Alan. Veterinary Clinics are providing this book as a gift of solace to people whose ill or injured pets must be euthanized. The book's tender and caring story of animals and their special closeness to a family touches the heart and offers comfort. It includes the well-known story of Rainbow Bridge. Dr. Alan B. Cunningham is one of twenty worldwide veterinarians selected to participate in the Medical Curriculum for Professionals Program, leading to a Doctor of Medicine Degree at the University of Health Sciences Antigua. After graduating from medical school, he will be providing medical and veterinary services to rural and medically under-served areas

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Throughout my life I have been fortunate to have animal companions. No matter what, I could always depend upon their loyal and unconditional friendship. I have learned to respect their precious existence and the obstacles they must endure. Their examples have given me strength and courage to face my own challenges. My animals are a source of comfort and safety to me. In fact, I value them as guardian angels.

During our journey on the bumpy road of life, we occasionally stumble along the way. With determination, good friends (human or animal), and endurance, we can pick ourselves up and reach our goals. One step at a time.

As a lifelong student, I have come to know that science has limits, but love has no bounds. May this book Sleeping With Angels touch the stepping stones of your heart and provide you a tiny bit of comfort and strength. And may it also help you to realize that the distance between heaven and earth is a mere breath away.

About the Author

Dr. Alan B. Cunningham graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a Masters Degree in Respiratory Health Care Science. He also graduated from Utah State University with a Ph.D. in physiology and later from Oregon State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

Presently Dr. Cunningham is one of twenty worldwide veterinarians selected to participate in the flexible Medical Curriculum for Professionals Program, leading to a Doctor of Medicine Degree at the University of Health Sciences Antigua. This unique program recognizes the significant bond between human and veterinary medicine and emphasizes training doctors toward strengthening that relationship.

He is also the recipient of the Wilfred O. Foundation Scholarship. In return, after graduating from medical school, he will be providing medical and veterinary services to rural and medically under-served areas of the world.

Dr. Cunningham is a strong supporter of people-pet rehabilitation. Furthermore he campaigns for a national monument to be erected for animals that have served our country as valiant wartime soldiers. In addition to advocating physician-assisted euthanasia for the terminally ill, he also promotes public school education to youth about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.

Aside from the companionship with his beloved animals, Dr. Cunningham enjoys gardening, traveling, running marathons, and oil painting. He is an avid fan of Cirque du Soleil. He considers visiting the natural and man-made wonders of the world as one of his most worthwhile achievements. Furthermore, he recalls working as a volunteer in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as a memorable experience.

In addition to attending medical school, Dr. Cunningham currently works as a licensed veterinarian at a nighttime emergency clinic, and also as a registered respiratory therapist for Intermountain Health Care. He is a lifelong resident of American Fork, Utah.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Agreka Books; 1st edition (January 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888106603
• ISBN-13: 978-1888106602
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written by one animal lover for other animal lovers., September 8, 2003

By 

Thomas Bacon (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleeping With Angels: A Veterinarian's Sacred Bond of Animal Companionship (Paperback)

Dr. Cunningham takes us on an autobiographical journey with the animals in his life from four years of age through his ups and downs of veterinary school and into his work as a nighttime emergency vet. In a forthright style he describes the tribulations of his life as a young veterinary student trying to follow both the system and his conscience.

A gentle soul, with a level of devotion and love for his patients beyond the call, he regales us with stories about "One Step" the one legged cockatiel, and tugs at our hearts us with the story of his beloved Boston terrier "Pug."

This is a great book for all animal lovers, easy to read and hard to put down, I finished it the afternoon that I got it, with warmth in my heart and tears in my eyes. Thank you Dr. Cunningham!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars As a veterinarian, wouldn't recommend this book., February 24, 2005

By 

Amy Garrisan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeping With Angels: A Veterinarian's Sacred Bond of Animal Companionship (Paperback)

It appears the author himself gave one of the 5 star reviews. I found this book to be lacking in content that I found interesting or moving to the reader. The author does express a deep love for his pets, however this isn't a book about veterinary medicine. I got the impression he doesn't enjoy being a veterinarian. Little is said about his life working as a vet and bonding with patients. As a veterinarian myself I was disappointed and would not give this to my clients. For anyone who has read this, veterinarians in general do not recommended letting FIV cats outside, nor purchasing pets from pet stores. The author also mentions some issues of anger management and for this reason my name has been altered a bit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sleeping With Angels, February 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sleeping With Angels: A Veterinarian's Sacred Bond of Animal Companionship (Paperback)

Thank you so much for giving me a copy of your book. I can't express how much it helped me with the loss of Sophie. Nobody really understands how difficult it is to lose an animal family member unless they have experienced the closeness that Sophie and I shared. Few people have as deep a relationship with their " pets" as we had. It helped me greatly to read about your love for your animals. It made me unde4rstand that I am not alone in loving my animals as much as I do and in the immense sorrow I have in losing them.