The Angel by My Side: The True Story of a Dog Who Saved a Man and a Man Who Saved a Dog

Relates how a golden retriever named Dakota became an invaluable companion for Mike Lingenfelter during his recovery from two serious heart attacks and open heart surgery.

Michael Lingenfelter is an accomplished engineer and has worked on a number of very visible and important public construction projects in his 40-year career. A member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and several professional societies, he holds 17 patents for his work worldwide. Mike and his wife, Nancy, have four children and seven grandchildren. They reside in Huntsville, Alabama, where Mike works for Parsons Transportation Group, a division of Parsons Engineering. David Frei is known to millions of television viewers as the longtime co-host of USA Network’s annual telecast of the popular Westminster Kennel Club dog show. He has enjoyed much success in the dog show world, but he is proudest of the fact that his Brittanys, Teigh and Belle, are registered therapy dogs that visit people in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice every week. Dave is president of Smiling Dog Public Relations in Seattle, where he lives with his wife, Cherilyn.

Dakota was Mike’s very special golden retriever service dog with unique, life-saving talents. He was named 1999 Service Dog of the Year by Delta Society, elected to the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation Animal Hall of Fame, and chosen as Humanitarian of the Year by the National Sertoma Club of Dallas (the first nonhuman recipient in history).