Back when Mike Leach and I were compiling “I Like Being Catholic,” I remember reading a prospective essay by a man who claimed his dog had led him to God. I immediately placed it in the “reject” pile because I thought it was, um, weird.

But now, seeing all the different inspirational stories, features, polls, and prayer circles about pets on Beliefnet.com, and guessing that “Chicken Soup of the Pet Lover’s Soul” probably sold twenty times more copies than our Catholic book, I realize this dog-loving man was on to something.

What do you think…. Does your dog or cat improve your mood? Lead you to God?