Pets Books

This is a great book for adults and children alike. We had to put our 9 year old dog down and our 4 year old daughter just did not understand. this is a such a great book. it helped both our daughter and me and my husband heal. I suggest this book for sure!

I was in Books-A-Million browsing the children's books when I picked this one up. Although I am 25 years old I was intrigued by the title and the beautiful picture on the front. I just lost my best friend, my yellow lab of 12 years, in August 2007. I read through this book and bawled the entire time. Not because it made me sad, but because it made me so happy and it was absoultely touching. It is the perfect book for anyone who has lost their best FURiend. :o) CHildren would love it and so would adults. It also talks about dogs who never had homes on earth, which was so special to me because I am an aniaml lover, not just a pet lover. I highly recommend this book for ANY age group.

Our beloved family member (dog) of 16 years recently died. We have two small children 9 & 5 who have loved her all their life. This was a great way to explain to the children what had happended. It was also good for our dogs best friend and he loved it too. Great book.

I own this book and share it whenever a friend loses a dog.

This simple book has a wonderful message, comforting illustrations, and had helped me thru the loss of many of my beloved companions over the years.

This book (and Cat Heaven) is worth keeping in your personal library, and perhaps ordering a few extra copies to share. It's the best.

"Dog Heaven" and Cat Heaven, both written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant, should allay the fears and reward the wish that dogs and cats do, indeed, go to heaven. And just how does Ms Rylant know, when the Bible makes no mention of animals in heaven?

The artist used the color palette that God gave artists--vibrant, vivid, and various! The cover illustration gives an idea of this vibrancy. It also shows the first reward God gives dogs in heavens--open fields to run and run and run in. No fences, no leashes, no limits--just freedom to run and chase and dream. There are also clouds turned inside out for the comfort of dog naps and no bad dreams!

Look at the dogs running along the banks of a lake, barking and yapping away at the hissing geese, safely paddling in the waters. And over there, peeking from behind the tree is God Himself, enjoying the sight of such sheer joy! In the kitchen God makes treats for happy dogs and never runs out.

If a dog wants to go back to Earth for a visit to his old home, an angel accompanies him. When the dog is satisfied that all is well, he and the angel return to Heaven. The strays who had no homes are given ones in Heaven, where angel children tell them what good dogs they are all day long.

If someone you love loses a dear and fine cat or dog, a gift of one of these books would do much to lessen the emotional pain of that loss. The ashes of my beloved Marie, a marmalade and white tabby, who died after seventeen precious years with me, rests in a treasure box next to my bed, while her spirit soars in Cat Heaven.

Wonderful blend of heartfelt story and the science of dog history and behavior. I laughed, I cried (like a baby!) I felt as if I knew Merle and Ted. Ted was able to give Merle the ideal life that I wish I could provide for my four legged best friends. Good job!

A must read for all dog people. While most of us can't offer the same freedomss that Merle was able to enjoy, the book teaches us to never

The book was thoroughly enjoyable, telling the story of the author's close relationship with a remarkable dog. It also had interesting material about the history, science, and psychology of the relationship between humans and dogs. I highly recommend it.

This was one of the best books about dogs that I have ever read. It would be nice if all dogs had a door like Merle's.

Merle's Door is the best book on a dog (or dogs) that I have ever read. Rather than becoming lengthy and told from a professional point-of-view that attempts to make sense of every behavior within accepted standards of dog behavior, Kerasote relates Merle's biography - and all the lessons it contains on both dog and human behavior and relationships - in a way that acknowledges and explains professional viewpoints and then provides insight into what dog owners actually go through with their dogs. This merges both views - the professional doctrine and the human experience with dogs - into a synthesis that is both moving and understandable. In fact, Kerasote's observations are the same kind that I have had with my border collie, Emmy. Both are dogs, but exhibit levels of higher thinking, emotion, and reason that profoundly exhibit traits that are human. I agree with every point Kerasote makes in his observations, and find Merle's tale to be an example for how all dogs should be able to live (within the capabilities of their humans, of course). If you have not read it, read it (with a box of tissues during the last few chapters). And I hope it brings you as much happiness, and an understanding of dogs as more than simply dogs, as it brought me.

I am still fininshing this book because I skipped the chapter that was about each individual illness that animals can get. I am going to go back through and read them later minus the cat illnesses as I don't have cats.

This book was well written although it gets a bit technical at times and I had to read some stuff 2x but it gave me a lot of insight on the damage that pet food does to dogs and for that matter what is really in pet food!

I would recommend it to anyone interested in improving thier pets life but wouldn't use it as my only resource I have bought several books to see what is in each of them and learn as much as I can mainly so my dogs can have a healthier lives and so I can be informed when talking to my vets who are very conventional.

The book is written by a veterinarian first trained in standard medical education. He took his education and added holistic training with experiences added by his brother who is also a veterinarian. I don't buy all the concepts presented, but it certainly gives hope to all of us who want our pets, and ourselves, to live long and high quality of life, lives.

This book is fantastic! I've gotten so many tips that have benefited my 13 year old dog. I wish I had this many years ago so I could have prevented some of the problems she is experiencing. I've already noticed a huge improvement in her health and I've only had the book for about a month.
Dr. Goldstein's approach to the health and well being of animals just makes perfect sense. I will never again feed my dog commercial dog food and I feel like an idiot for believing it was healthy for her in the first place.

If you want your dog (or cat) to live a long, healthy life, get this book!

In July of 2006 my beloved Bogey was diagnosed with TCC of the bladder. The vets that I took him to said that he probably had less than 6 months to live. I did not accept their opinions as final so I started researching alternative treatments when my mom gave me this book. After reading it I contacted Dr. Marty at his office in New york and he began treating Bogey with supplements and we changed Bogey's diet to a raw diet. Unfortunately, we lost our battle with cancer on July 7, 2007 but Bogey lived 6 months longer than any of the other vets expected him too under Dr. Marty's care. I don't believe that every treatment works for every animal but I truly believe that Dr. Marty gave me 6 extra months with my baby when other vets wrote him off. This book gives you a different perspective on pet care and it works. Bogey was living proof.

This book is more than just a "take this vitamin for this problem." He really gets you to think about wellness and nutrition as a whole and he backs up much of the information with footnotes and actual facts. This book was the final motivator for me to switch my dogs to a homecooked diet AND it finally got me & my husband on the right track with our own diets. If you want your dogs to live a good, long life without being bogged down by drugs and foods made from "rendered animals" (road kill, euthanized pets, etc) - READ THIS BOOK.

This book is about our refusal to give up our humanity in the face of war. Take the toughest, baddest trooper, insert dogs and children into the horrors of war, and watch stone-cold combatants turn into wet clay before your eyes. Quick and enjoyable read. The LTC captures the emotion and internal conflict everyone who's served in a combat zone can relate to.

It has been a while since I read this but I would probably read it again (and I don't read books twice). I'd love it if they made a movie out of it. I learned a lot about how things are in Iraq and experienced a heart warming story in the process. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a dog lover or has someone they love overseas.

I received my copy of this book on a Monday and finished it on a Friday - It was so good that I couldn't put it down and I actually broke down in tears at the end. What an absolutely fabulous read!

It has truly been a long time since a book affected me in such a way that I was experiencing a rainbow of emotions: laughing, gasping, anxiety, pausing to reflect, and becoming so emotional that the people on the subway train (where I usually have time to read) were staring at me like I was a crazy person.

I am so happy that I learned of this book and I applaud the actions of the men and women who helped bring Lava to America and to tell his story.

Jay/Lava: Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience in learning your story. You both are very lucky to have each other.

This is just one of those books that you can breeze through but really hits you in the heart. You can't help but root for this pup and, at the same time, feel thankful for the soldiers that fight for our freedom. Too touching not to read.

This is a very touching story about an adorable, playful puppy who was rescued from Iraq by a Marine. Unfortunately, it is very poorly written, even tho the Marine who wrote the book had help from another writer. Particularly at the beginning, it is very choppy, uses past and present tense interchangeably, and tries unsuccessfully to use conversational language ("like, what I meant to say was..."). If you can get beyond the poor writing, then you'll most likely enjoy the book. Reading about the difficulties of trying to save Lava was interesting and touching. One other note to parents - despite the cute, adorable, sleeping puppy on the cover of the book, this is not a book I'd recommend for children. The language is harsh with lots of 4-letter words, and the author tells what happens to most stray dogs in Iraq and it's not something I'd want my young children to read about.

This is a beautiful horse story. It should be paired with Joe Camp's "The Soul of Horse", another beautiful horse story.The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd

Chosen by a Horse

This book is absolutely the most delightful reading I have done in quite some time. Ms. Richards story telling abilities were as refreshing as a cool glass of water on a hot and humid day. Ms. Richards story was expressed in the most honest, touching, and gentle way, it enabled me to connect to her experience almost as if I had experienced it myself. Her story telling style is clean, direct and unadorned, hence that lovely feeling I had of having read something almost pristine in the context of the written word. The story was so well told the only disappointment I might express, was that it ended much too quickly. I truly felt saddened when I came to the end, and only wished that it could have gone on longer. Happily for myself I just found out that she came out with a follow up book, which I am purchasing today, the title is "Chosen Forever". I cannot wait to get my new book and continue along this journey that Ms. Richards began to pen so beautifully in "Chosen by a Horse. I purchased numerous copies of this book and shared it with all of my friends, I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

I loved this book! I became attached to Lay Me Down. This book is perfect in demonstating horse-owner relationships. Animals in general have a way of tuning us more into ourselves by just spending time with them. A perfect book for any horse and/or animal lover!

I really enjoyed this book. What a remarkable horse Lay Me Down was, and you really got a sense of that through Susan Richards writing. I enjoyed her writing style and wit. If you like this book, you'll also love books by Melanie Sue Bowles (my other favorite real-life horse author) like The Horses of Proud Spirit.

What a beautiful story! A friend sent me this book and I finished reading it within a day. The author really knows how to write in a flowing, easy-going manner with plenty of wit and intelligence, making it easy to do so.

"Chosen By A Horse" refers to one pre-named Lay Me Down whom the author, Susan Richards rescues through the SPCA and brings back to health and a better life.

Ms. Richards had already been through a hauntingly rough childhood. In her later years, she indulged in her love of horses and had three to take care of before bringing Lay Me Down to the herd. She knows and writes about her horses as another might describe the personalities, antics and endearments of human children. One can easily picture and imagine each horse - especially Lay Me Down - the sweetest and most trusting of horses in spite of what the brood mare had suffered in her past life.

When a tumor develops near Lay Me Down's eye, Ms. Richards writes about Lay Me Down's reaction to the vet's visit and tests, "She sighed over the bucket and licked the lid of the sonogram machine. Everything she did seemed precious to me, precious and tender. For me, her terrible past was always a presence, a reminder of what it was that had survived: this sweet, kind nature, qualities so lacking in my human family they seemed like miracles to me now."

When death seemed imminent, this is written: "It was as though Lay Me Down and my childhood had merged into the same thing: losing what mattered, losing love. In a crazy way, it felt like Lay Me Down had been taking care of me ever since I got her, bringing to life parts of me that had died with my mother. By her gentle affection I felt restored to the status of someone who mattered, someone who was needed. She gave me that, a sense of family. We both had belonged to nobody, nobody who cared, and now so late in our lives, this miracle had occurred. We had come together on my farm, and for the first time, we had both been free from our fears."

The ending is especially poignant and touching.

Mr. James Herriot is an uncommon writer, possessed of extraordinary skill and a mastery of the English language. When speaking of works of fiction, he is my favorite writer. His ability to choose perfectly appropriate and descriptive words, phrases, and metaphors to verbally illustrate unique characteristics, landscapes, feelings, and situations still has me mesmerized.

"All Creatures Great and Small" is autobiographical in that Mr. Herriot is the central character of the book, though James Herriot is the pen name of the real author, Jim Wight. However, since the work is defined as a novel, then one may assume that Mr. Herriot took certain liberties in relating many of the tales he unfolds. Mr. Herriot is a veterinary surgeon, and much of his novel specifically involves dealing with particular cases of sick livestock and ailing house pets. One should not quickly conclude, however, that this story is merely about the ramblings of a country animal doctor who at times finds himself in interesting situations, as some reviewers would suggest.

Instead, my feeling is that Mr. Herriot utilized his visits to multiple and varied farms and residences in the British countryside to highlight the individual conditions, attitudes, and distinctive persons he discovered at each location. The book becomes absolutely delightful and poignant, for instance, when Mr. Herriot kindly sits at an aging woman's bedside and tenderly comforts her with his voiced belief that her devoted, loving dogs and cats are indeed possessed of souls and that she need not fear that they will again be her companions in the afterlife.

And I do not believe I have laughed out loud so frequently while reading one book. Some of my personal favorites are when his brakes go out on his car and he must navigate a steep and winding descent to the bottom of a low valley, where his next veterinary visit is scheduled, and when he finds himself on his first date with the woman he is destined to marry and the only respectable dress suit he owns is several years out of fashion and far too tight-fitting, which is partly why he becomes far too nervous and a bout of awkward conversation and actions follow. Additionally, much might be said here about the quirky relationship Mr. Herriot has with his unpredictable and explosive yet perfectly harmless and generous employer, a Mr. Siegfried Farnon, and Siegfried's younger brother, Tristan. Farnon's demanding attitude regarding his veterinary business affairs, especially in the face of Tristan's irresponsibility in mishandling assignments and responsibilities, is often the basis for much of the hilarity in the book.

In speaking of his relationships with those to whom he is closest on a personal level and the frequently visited owners of his animal patients, Mr. Herriot has an especially profound gift when it comes to praising the best characteristics that are found in the human race. He speaks with eloquent fondness when describing the beautiful traits he sees in his lovely Helen, his soon-to-be wife. And when he stumbles upon a man or woman who he feels is in ownership of certain admirable exceptionality, such as industry or thrift or honesty or discipline or gentleness, his written accolades of such persons is heartwarming and deeply inspiring.

Thus I would say that this book has everything. It touches upon the topics of death, faith, humor, love, devotion, stewardship, human strengths and frailties, prosperity and poverty, work and idleness, occupation, and the list goes on. Given that these interesting topics are handled so capably by Mr. Herriot's writing talent, I doubt that any sensitive reader would find this book to be anything but delightful and praiseworthy.

One of the best books I've read in my life. A must read. Very well written. Makes you want to write like him.

I remember seeing my high school biology teacher reading this book at her desk while she had some time to herself, while we did our thing with dissections, etc. It seemed that she couldn't get her hands off this book. And I'd wonder what the book was about. Something about creatures. Maybe it was about GOD and church and religion.

Now that I've had a chance to read this book, twenty years later, I can say that it is a wonderful book! You don't want this book to end. And now I understand why my biology teacher was so hooked on it.

This is a nonfictional book about an English veterinarian writing about his funny and sometimes dramatic profession. From how he started, to his everyday events in a small town (away from the big city such as London) to how he meets his future wife, and his gradual establishment of his veterinary life. This book is filled with funny moments that makes you pause with a smile on your face. And has its poignant moments that makes you realize its wonderful writing.

This book gives you a glimpse of what the veterinary world is like on his side, on the countryside of life, with real people and real stories, and of course, with real animals. Animals and people and veterinary work that you will come to love.

I bought this edition as a gift for a graduating vet student (every vet needs a copy in his or her office). The book is a classic, and the hardcover is suitable for gifting.

I can't add much more than the previous reviews. How many books on Amazon have a 5 star rating with 100+ reviews? Missed this one during school and read all three of Herriot's books in my 40's. Truly lovely, wise, and transporting. I will make sure my children don't wait as long as I did to discover these classics.

Wonderful and inspiring stories of a country vet are humorously written but also deliver a good amount of practical veterinary insight. It's nice to read from the point of view of a kind-hearted yet practical country animal lover.

Not only was the book very pleasing to the eyes, it held my full attention to keep reading non-stop! Fascinating information about the spiritual level of these beautiful birds was also revealed. WOW! Much kudos and thanks to the AUTHOR for enlightening me.

I'm thrilled that my neighbors love this book. The kids just love the birds! And my older friends love it when they received in Christmas.

It's such a lively and vivid portrayal into the bird "characters" that I feel they are my true great friends.
The author has successfully conveyed her love for these birds to her readers and made them a part of their lives.

This is the best book you can get to give as a gift honestly :)
Would appeal to many, many people, regarless the age or even if you believe they don't care much about birds or things like that, you would see that they will love it!

This book surely shows the love animals have inside and the beauty of their inner souls.

A boy and his horse.


In something of a change of pace, a horse book that may just be slightly more directed at boys than girls, although the plot stays fairly similar.

Boy helps out horse in island shipwreck situation. Horse returns the favour. Horse of course is an impressive specimen and can do the fast running thing quite nicely.

So, off to the races then go.

Strange in a way that I loved this book so much when I read it in fourth grade, because, ironically, in real life, horses kind of scare me. I think Walter Farley's book is magical and I hope others who read it find as much meaning as I did in the story of a boy named Alec Ramsey, who survives a shipwreck and befriends a magnificent black Arabian stallion. Yes, this enduring classic is basically a fantasy, but sometimes it takes fantasy to create a book that is capable of touching the human soul in the exact way this one does.

What would you do if your horse saved you from the frightening death of drowning? Then what would you do if that horse was taken away from you? That is exactly what Alec thought of in the fictional book The Black Stallion written by Walter Farley.

Alec was on a ship back to his homeland, when the ship got in contact with a glacier. No one even thought of about saving that horrible, kicking, horse in the stables. Though Alec knew it was the right thing so he went into the stables and saved the horse. As they jumped off the ship, Alec was too weak to swim. So the stallion swam miles with Alec at the end of the stallions lead rope, until they saw land. They were stuck on that island fighting to survive as their friendship grew between them. One day a ship came and saved them. In a couple of days they would be at home. The stallion was named The Black and was kept in an older barn behind Alec's house.

I couldn't put this book down. This whole series was amazing. Anyone who loves horses would love these books. This book made me happy, nervous, and sad. It also made me cry. I think everyone should experience these feelings when you read a book.

-Courtney Dommer

This book is a must-read for any child. When I was young I read lots of Jack London books and I also read the entire Walter Farley Black Stallion series. Walter Farley's books are written in a very simple style, easy for young readers to understand. The movie is a timeless classic & was so well done. Some children will find the movie slow (no talking during the whole island sequence) but if your child appreciates beautiful images, and is horse-crazy, they'll love the film. I now own a black Arabian stallion of my own...so be careful, Black Stallion books can cause a lifelong horse addiction!

I greatly enjoyed this book when I was younger, and I still like it. However, in recent years I have come to realize how prejudicially obsessed Walter Farley was about Arabians. Even in his book The Great Dane Thor, the horses only briefly mentioned in the book were Arabians. He didn't seem to realize that there were other breeds in the world. For instance, he had the Black's daughter, Black Minx run in the Kentucky Derby--a race exclusively limited to Thoroughbreds.

In recent years, I have also realized Farley's poor writing stile. Not only did he not do research, but he presented his views as FACT, not opinions. For instance, ALL horses are intelligent, but especially ARABIANs; ALL horses are more sensitive than people and can find water by smell in a desert...or land in an ocean. Among horses, Farley stated on no uncertain terms that Arabians are by far the most superior, and that among Arabians, The Black was king.

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of tired of that. I'd like to see the Black lose a race or two, or sire a dud colt. The Island Stallion was the same--in fact, when the Black met Flame, the fight between them was a draw because they were both FLAWLESS Arabians, so perfect that neither could beat the other. It was a satisfying end when I was little, but now it annoys the fire out of me. I have read most of the series, and it is always the same: The Almighty Arabian wins out over man, nature, or other horses...and here is one once-avid reader who is sick of it.

As both a dog and cat owner, and a would-be everything-else owner, too, I love this book! I have several "Chicken Soup" books, plan to add several more to my collection, but this one is probably my favorite so far. It keeps you between tears and laughter from beginning to end. All pet lovers will see themselves and their furry, feathered or finned friends somewhere in here, I'm sure!

Most of the series of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' has the kind of warm and fuzzy story that many find endearing and sweet. They are not 'deep' most of the time, but do point to things beyond themselves; for my own use, I often find sermon illustrations and stories within the pages of volumes of Chicken Soup -- as chaplain at a retirement centre, many of the stories help people to recall happier times, and help them deal with their present situation.

This particular volume involves stories with animals. The relationship between animals and people of all ages can make for some of the funniest, most heart-warming, most sad, and most meaningful stories. There are contributing authors of some note (Barbara Bush, James Herriot, Jimmy Stewart, Gilda Radner, Art Linkletter) among other authors who had stories to tell and volunteered them. Much in the manner that Readers Digest accepts unsolicited stories from amateur authors, so does the Chicken Soup series. Often the most meaningful stories are those that happen to people who are not professional writers.

Few animals are left out here, as many animals have come to be companions with humans over the centuries. Dogs and cats feature prominently, as do horses and other farm animals, but there are also wolves, birds, dolphins, deer, wild turkeys, gorillas and even a Christmas mouse. The stories cover a wide range of topics, including pets as friends and healers, animals as rescuers and performers of other amazing feats, animals whose companionship meant a lot, and finally on the sadness and meaning of saying goodbye to an important family member.

Each of this stories can easily be read in a short time. This makes it a good source for 'falling-asleep reading', for use in public speaking and preaching opportunites, for shared reading-aloud times, and for simple enjoyment and entertainment. Many of the stories here are ones that stay with you; the story about the wild turkeys and the story of the Christmas mouse are stories I use again and again in my chaplaincy, and they are always appreciated.

The editors of the primary series 'Chicken Soup' are Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen; for purposes of this volume, they are joined by Marty Becker and Carol Kline, authors and animal-professionals in various capacities.

My cats give their paws-up to this!

Most of the series of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' has the kind of warm and fuzzy story that many find endearing and sweet. They are not 'deep' most of the time, but do point to things beyond themselves; for my own use, I often find sermon illustrations and stories within the pages of volumes of Chicken Soup -- as chaplain at a retirement centre, many of the stories help people to recall happier times, and help them deal with their present situation.

This particular volume involves stories with animals. The relationship between animals and people of all ages can make for some of the funniest, most heart-warming, most sad, and most meaningful stories. There are contributing authors of some note (Barbara Bush, James Herriot, Jimmy Stewart, Gilda Radner, Art Linkletter) among other authors who had stories to tell and volunteered them. Much in the manner that Readers Digest accepts unsolicited stories from amateur authors, so does the Chicken Soup series. Often the most meaningful stories are those that happen to people who are not professional writers.

Few animals are left out here, as many animals have come to be companions with humans over the centuries. Dogs and cats feature prominently, as do horses and other farm animals, but there are also wolves, birds, dolphins, deer, wild turkeys, gorillas and even a Christmas mouse. The stories cover a wide range of topics, including pets as friends and healers, animals as rescuers and performers of other amazing feats, animals whose companionship meant a lot, and finally on the sadness and meaning of saying goodbye to an important family member.

Each of this stories can easily be read in a short time. This makes it a good source for 'falling-asleep reading', for use in public speaking and preaching opportunites, for shared reading-aloud times, and for simple enjoyment and entertainment. Many of the stories here are ones that stay with you; the story about the wild turkeys and the story of the Christmas mouse are stories I use again and again in my chaplaincy, and they are always appreciated.

The editors of the primary series 'Chicken Soup' are Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen; for purposes of this volume, they are joined by Marty Becker and Carol Kline, authors and animal-professionals in various capacities.

My cats give their paws-up to this!

I didn't quite know if I was going to make it through this book. Through about the first 8-9 stories, I kept on crying. I was thinking "This is ridiculous. I can't read one doggone story without crying after I read it." I kept thinking of my dog, Shep, who died a couple years ago at the age of 91 and how badly I want another dog. There is a dog beach by my house so usually everytime I see a dog, Shep pops up to mind. I pretty much had sunglasses on when I read this book in public so people wouldn't think I was completely crazy. Somewhere towards the middle, I hardened up and was ready to read this book without blinking a thousand times.
These were wonderful stories about everything from cats, dogs, snakes, bears, gorillas, and birds. I enjoyed every last one of them except for the one about Bush's dog. It was very impersonal and told the whole story like it was some sort of nursery rhyme. That was the only reason the book got four stars. I don't even understand how that story made it past submissions.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul is a fantastic book for anyone who has a special place in his or her heart for animals. The book was made up of many different stories describing the special qualities that make our pets and furry friends unique. I rated this book a 5 because I found myself crying one minute and laughing the next. There are stories that will make you giggle, one in particular describes buffalo playing a game on ice. It made me realize that there are many things about animals that we don't understand- and never will. Who would have guessed that buffalo play games? The book also included stories that sent tears down my cheek. The story that stands out the most in my mind is a story about how far a mother cats goes to save her kittens. The love of the mother cat can relate to human mothers as well, they will do anything to protect their children. I believe that animals are fantastic teachers. One story in the book talks about how a gorilla helped to rescue an injured (human) boy after he fell into her area in the zoo. The author of that story explained that what is truly amazing about the gorilla is that she helped the boy without caring about recognition. She helped the boy because she wanted to, she didn't know that recognition was even a part of the act. That is exactly what us humans can learn from these animals. We need to help somebody because it's the thing to do, not because we want to be remembered as a hero.
I would recommend Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul for anyone who enjoys animals or just wants to read a book that make you warm and fuzzy inside. The stories in the book will show you exactly why pets are teachers, healers, heroes and friends. You will realize how special they really are.
Also check out Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul for stories about teenagers that will inspire you.

What a sweet book. Nothing spectacular here except Gracie. If you love dogs, you'll love this story.

This is an extremely well written true story of a man needing some new direction in his life and the adorable dog who brought it to him. This book is full of humor but doesn't sway away from the real emotions of life. As I neared the end of the book, I really felt left down. If this would have turned into an online journal, I would read it every time something new was posted. This is a must read even if you don't own a dog (I don't but love them just the same).

This was a wonderful book to read and will be a great one to re-read in the years ahead.

The relationship between Gracie and her people is touching, and such a good example of how treating each other, including our canine friends, with respect and genuine love, is the very best way to live. I am so thankful that Dan empathized with Gracie and that he worked to learn how he could help her live life to her fullest. His willingness to change and do what was needed to provide the best environment he could provide for Gracie is an example of selfless love. And look at the overflowing benefits that came to her, him and the rest of their household from that love!

I have told all of my friends to buy this book. It is superb. Thanks Dan and Mark!

It definitely is a wonderful, beautiful and incredibly moving book. But, it also is a really, really funny book. I laughed out loud. The author is extremely funny. His love story about Gracie is absolutely a delight. It's a wonderful tribute and a very funny book despite the fact you know that it's going to be sad at the end. When I was done reading it, I just felt blessed to have shared in this experience.

Add a box of kleenx to your shopping cart before buying this book. You'll fall in love with Gracie. You'll laugh with her, cheer her on, and even cry, but they will be tears of joy that will touch your soul.