In this delightful and heartwarming book, America's premier pet columnist, Michael Capuzzo, presents remarkable true stories celebrating the powerful and nurturing bond between people and their dogs.  Drawn from history and literature as well as from dog lovers--both famous and not so famous--from all walks of life all over the world, here are unforgettable tales of hope, heroism, and healing that capture the unflagging nobility of our oldest, dearest, and truly best animal friend.  Inside you'll meet: Angus, the Labrador retriever who died while his master, a stained-glass artist, was working on the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.--so his master memorialized Angus by working his beloved pet's name into the National Cathedral's stained glass and into cathedral windows up and down the eastern seaboard. Patches, the collie-malamute of Tacoma, Washington, who rescued his owner from the icy waters of Lake Spanaway, jumping in three times and towing him twenty feet to safety. Bobby, the young mutt so devoted to his master, he lay on his master's grave for over a decade, until his own death. Brownie the stray--adopted by an entire street of merchants, he was nobody's dog and everybody's dog, living happily and independently for fifteen years.  His headstone in Daytona Beach says it all: "Brownie 1939-1954.  A good dog."   Woodie, the stubby little collie-mix who leaped down an eighty-foot cliff, crushing her hip, and remained at the side of her unconscious owner until help arrived. Inspiring, poignant, filled with laughter and tears, and always entertaining,Our Best Friendsis a book whose deeply moving stories will touch your heart and lift your spirits even as they offer you the opportunity to develop a greater appreciation for and understanding of your own best friend.   From the Hardcover edition.