Character Notes: Angels & Enemies — The Dogs

While mankind perceives itself as king of the beasts, in Biblical terms, we are but shepherds. Every animal is imbued with strengths and weaknesses that differentiate them in the animal kingdom.

I have tried to assign strength and power and dignity to my animals in my novel, Angels & Enemies.  No divine powers are more overt in its pages than those of the dogs.  I have long believed that the innocence of dogs is a manifestation of angelic presence in our lives. Until we train them otherwise, they seem to be a source of unconditional love, loyalty and comfort that arise from God’s proclivity to show his love for man.

That is not to say that dogs cannot be mean or vicious.  Evil can take any form, and does. In their natural state of innocence, dogs pose no threat of evil.  Without going off-tangent too far, I believe the same of cats and other domestic pets and animals. In Angels & Enemies, there are no cats, per se, other than a mountain lion.  It could be argued that even the lion is trying to sway the direction of a man who has deviated from a righteous path. I don’t feel inclined to show cats as an early warning signal for evil, as knowing cats, they might just stand by, curious, watching mankind’s reaction.  But who knows? If there’s a sequel, anything is possible.

In an early scene, a dog on a leash signals a diabolic presence with its barking and snarling.  It’s owner restrains her, befuddled by her behavior. She never acts like this, he apologizes, pulling her away. The demon comments, “I hate those dogs,” imparting not only his view of that particular breed of dog, but all dogs in general. This demon, and other, trigger  instantaneous reactions from dogs, as the canines communicate in their own way, through their third eye blind, an impending danger. It is their duty, as charged by the angels, to protect men from that which they cannot see.

I will talk about it further, but when I created heaven, I placed a garden of the Innocents very close to the presence of God, because the sound of children’s laughter and dogs barking was pleasing to Him. Later, as fallen angels disrupt the harmony of the universe, the dogs of heaven take to barking at a sinister presence, and God is displeased. In part, it is the barking of the dogs that initiates the response of the angels.

One of the more disturbing scenes I wrote briefly describes a demon in the midst of battle, which is so antagonized by a dog that she snaps its neck. I agonized writing it, although it was only a few sentences. I felt it was important to show the cowardice of evil as it lashed out at innocence, which apparently poses a virulent threat by its mere presence, and undefined, unspoken pact with God.

Angels & Enemies is a powerful supernatural suspense novel about spiritual warfare in the present-day, mundane world.   I am seeking representation and guidance in publishing this, my first novel.  My belief is that the book will be available on shelves in the near future.  Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.