Service Animals Books

"AnimalSign To You" By Sean Senechal has transformed my training of my own therapy dogs, as well as the service dogs I train. An example of how this book has transformed my training is that my dog's can now communicate to me their needs as my co-therapists whether it is that they need water, food, a toy, a break, space, quiet time etc. Communication is key to our relationships with our dogs and this book provides an easy to follow technique that will expand our ability to respect our dogs. I highly recommend it and suggest that it be mandatory reading for ALL dog trainers, behavioral consultants,veterinarians and anyone who shares their life with a dog!

I love this book! Thanks for providing specific tools to help open our eyes to communication with our dogs.

Excellent for all people interested in canine capabilities, training and communication. We compared Senechal's book scientific content with that of other well founded reports and books and found close agreement on the concluisons and recommendations. The book is written at a level accessible to and can be used and understood by almost anyone from age 5 upwards. The author focuses on domestic horses and canines, a numerous population of intelligences who are in close day to day association with ordinary people, and capable in many cases to communicating to the people associated with them - not merely from people to non-human companions.
The author provides the extremely rare practical recommendations and procedures that even children (as well as parents and PH D candidate researchers) can use effectively to explore and confirm the observations made by the author.
The author's emotional excitement indicated in the book we eventually concluded indicated sincerity that did not in any way compromise the scientific significance of the reported findings and recommendations.

This book "goes where no one else has gone" in the field of animal communication. Sean describes methods for teaching your companion (horses and dogs are featured here, but other cooperative species should be able to learn also) to use signs to communicate with you. Yes, you read correctly - the dog or horse uses sign language to ask questions, ask for things, and to respond to your conversation. This is so much more than our critters learning to follow directions or commands - this is the real communication many of us have longed for but have been unable to implement. It will take a good bit of patience to get the process started, but if my rather elderly sheltie is in any way typical, the first signs will quickly be followed with several more - it seems that some of these guys have just been waiting for us to get smart enough to understand them! I highly recommend this book to anyone with a pet, companion, service, or working animal. Sean's enthusiasm will rub off on you, and you and your companion will enjoy a new, higher level of communication. Did I mention that I really like the premise, as well as the book?

Lee's masterful account draws you in like a spy novel, even though you already know the ending! His book provides the clear reasoning behind why allied leadership made decisions that, until this book was written, looked like blunders. As the reader learns how Marshall and his generals applied the information gained from the routine interception and decryption of high-level enemy communication, his understanding of the grand strategy of WWII will be greatly enhanced. A stunning achievement, this book will become a "must read" for WWII historians and buffs alike. Everyone who has read this book on my recommendation has been equally impressed.

It further provides clear information which soundly debunks the convoluted rationalizations of those "politically correct" Smithsonian historians and their fellow travelers who have been so eager to portray the allied side (or at least America) as the "bad guys" in the war.

Read it. It takes away the schroud of politics into the reality of a very difficult world situation, with life and death decisions, troubling potential alliances, and knowledge available to only those who could be counted on by the fingers of one hand. A must read.

Marching Orders reveals for the first time what the Allies knew about Axis plans and strategies during WW II . The combined information revealed to them by Ultra and Japanese codes is staggering. Throw everything you know about WW II out the window, for this book will teach why events unfolded as they did. Direct quotes from Axis leaders read by the Allies in real time. An amazing fountain of information that must be savored! You will never view Allied generals in the same light again!

My father used to read it to the four of us when we were little. Our favorite was the "Elephant's Child". He did great voices and everything. It was so fantastic growing up with that. When I found it at the book store I bought two copies. One for me dad and one for myself. A timeless classic.

One of my favorite memories of my youth is that of my grandfather sitting down to read to me from this book. The timeless stories mix hilarity with common sense; their life lessons appeal to all ages. My all-time favorite is the Armadillo story, from which I can still quote directly. You and your children will benefit from and find much delight in these wonderful stories. Buy this book, Best Beloved - you'll be glad you did.

this is an excellent, intelligent book that will make everyone smile. the animal stories are cute and compelling and silly...after my sister took our childhood copy of this book, i'm buying it for myself. although it is intended for children, it is written with such an intelligent wit that adults, too, will find the stories endearing. this is an especially charming book to read aloud.

If you are a social worker, psychologist, or work in criminology, this is the book for you. Loaded with facts, statisitcs, and much more on animal abuse and the connection to human violence. Includes the human animal bond and research from many case studies.

If you need proof in court; say for a domestic dispute, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

The ultimate reference book for anyone concerned about the all too common acts of deadly violence committed by youth. Recent reports claim that both Colorado shooters had a history of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is often a precurser to other acts of violence including child, spouse or partner and elder abuse. This book gives professionals, students and concerned citizens an understanding of that connectedness and emphasizes the need for a hoslistic approach to violence prevention.

This book is the ideal graduation gift for anyone earning degrees in psychology, criminology, social work, education, or anthropology. It is a must read for veterinary and medical school graduates. The perfect end-of-the-year teacher appreciation gift is Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence Readings in Research and Application edited by Randall Loockwood and Frank R. Ascione.

This is truly the definitive book on the subject of animal cruelty and human violence. Nationally renowned experts, Dr. Randall Lockwood and Dr. Frank Ascione have put together an excellent resource for anyone concerned about violence. All the information you could ever need is finally in one place! Whether you are a social worker, police officer, teacher, student, researcher, concerned parent or neighbor, this book will provide you with information on how animal cruelty is connected to child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, youth violence and even murder. Because of this important book, animal cruelty is finally beginning to be recognized as a serious crime, as well as a predictor or indicator of other criminal behavior. A MUST HAVE resource!

This book explained what I had always thought and felt but not heard in the churches or religion class. It explained in solid descriptions that compassion and love are rooted in the the Scriptures - and that is what vegetarians/vegans practice. It created common ground explaining that vegetarianism/veganism is based on teachings in the Bible. It was very easy to read - clear and concise.

The "according to the Bible" in the subtitle made me fear that this was going to be another boring Bible study, or a pile of Bible quotes, but oh no - the book turned out to be a gem. Theologically sophisticated, yet always accesible, the book argues for ascribing rights to animals -- including the right not to be killed and eaten -- based on the primacy of love, or the dominion of love, which according to the author should be our overriding ethical and theological principle, one that is grounded in the Bible, "God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 Joh 4:16).
I think many readers will be surprised, as I was, by how stong a case the author manages to make for animal rights, basing himself on the Bible.
The author's prose is excellent.
Pelle Strindlund, Sweden

The Dominion of Love:
Animal Rights According to the Bible

By Norm Phelps
Lantern Books
www.lanternbooks.com

Review by Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns

Is there any basis for animal rights in the Bible? In The Dominion of Love, Norm Phelps, the spiritual outreach director of The Fund for Animals, responds with this question: is there any basis in Hebrew and Christian scripture for human rights? His answer is yes and no. The concept of "human rights" does not actually appear in the Western religious tradition. Human Rights is a product of 18th century Enlightenment philosophy, an idea that to this day is rejected by many governments throughout the world. Rights is an "implementing mechanism," says Phelps, created to enforce the ethical teachings of love and compassion expressed by the Golden Rule-teachings that "individual conscience" has failed to implement. Now in the West, he says, we are living in the early years of an Enlightenment for the Animals. Where does the Bible fit in?

Our culture is imbued with its teachings, everything from an eye for an eye to love your enemies to love your neighbor as yourself. Phelps focuses on the concept of loving your neighbor to urge that we enlarge our understanding of who our neighbor is to include our nonhuman animal brothers and sisters. Even if the Bible does not explicitly include chickens and cows in the ancient notion of one's neighbor, there is enough in the substance of biblical teachings and scattered passages to invite such a reading and the implementation of this reading into our daily lives and protective laws. Does not Matthew 23:37 cite the mother hen as an example of protective love where it says "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings"?

Does the Bible support animal sacrifice and meateating? Yes in some parts, and with equal relish, here and there, it supports human slavery, rape, ethnic cleansing and other barbarisms we no longer countenance. "When we read in the Bible stories of God commanding or condoning the killing of animals," says Phelps, "we should remember these tales of barbarities that God is accused of ordering against human beings. . . . Why should Biblical verses that show divine approval of animal abuse set an everlasting precedent while passages showing divine approval of the murder of men, women, and children do not?"

Phelps concedes that his approach to the Bible involves picking and choosing-to an extent. But he legitimately argues that he is picking and choosing biblical passages that support the Bible's fundamental ethical call to love God, love Creation, love your Neighbor, and Be Merciful. A stumbling block is what he calls the "aristocracy theory" of creation, the idea that "man" alone is made in the image of God and is thus entitled to "reduce the rest of the earth's population to serfdom."

But even if one nurses an exalted view of humankind, to whom an All Powerful has ironically granted a host of "concessions," it doesn't follow that post-Flood morality need be one's own endpoint on Earth and a license for savagery. Rather, says Phelps, if we love creation, "we will nurture it, comfort it, care for it." The "dominion" he sees as alone hopeful consists in a conscious decision "to love God concretely by protecting and nurturing" all of our neighbors. If Judaism and Christianity do not encourage spiritual growth and a widening of human moral sympathies and obligations beyond the obscurations of history and self-centeredness, including animals "in the fullest unfolding of morality," what good do they bring?

The Dominion of Love includes valuable Appendices that identify specific biblical verses relating to the Human Treatment of Animals arranged under convenient subheadings, and Suggestions for Further Reading. These likewise are subdivided for easy follow-up together with a bibliography and highlight of books of related interest from Lantern Books.


Review by Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns (www.upc-online.org)

This book is so good. He walked like a cat, then a pig in the mud, then a bunny. It is an old book, but it is very good.

I gave it five stars because it is a caldecott honor book. It is about a boy that is trying to walk like lots of animals. Then he does something special. Read the book if you want to know.

This book is about a young boy on a farm who tries to emulate the walks of a number of animals. It was a 1966 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book. Pre-schoolers will love it.

This was one of the first books I ever read by myself, and I frequently used to go look for it in the library to re-read it. One of the more endearing books in my memory.

I came across an old copy of this book at a thrift shop. After reading this book to my 4 year old son it became a favorite of his.

A strange object falls into the middle of the woods where a group of animals inspect it and wonder what it is. Soon a boy comes to get it and takes it back to the football feild. The animals follow and watch from a distance as the boys play football. Then the animals have an a brilliant idea to play their own game of football. What will they use for a the ball?

This is a great book for 2 to 6 year olds and any child learning to read.

Both of our sons love sports. And both have loved this book. It's simple, easy to understand and easy to enjoy. I, and my boys, like it because the stars are the animals, and the little boys that play football. The pictures are simple and descriptive enough to convey the message and the story moves along quickly enough to keep short attention spans occupied. We've read Kick pass and Run hundreds of times in the last 4 years, and now that we own a copy of it ourselves, we'll probably read it twice as often.

My parents enjoyed reading this book to me and my brother almost 50 years ago. Now I am thrilled when my two kids ask me to "read it again Dad!" Margaret Wise Brown bent the norm when she wrote this book. Mister Dog, aka Crispin Crispian, lives a great life and shares it willingly with rabbits, cats, other dogs, and a charming little boy. Brown was indeed wise to ask Garth Williams to do the illustrations because they illuminate the book, as well as the room in which you may be sitting to read the book, with warmth, delight, and amusement. If only this classic could be re-printed . . . more families could cuddle up to this tale of play and cooperation.

One of the most whimsical, quirky, endlessly entertaining (for the parents as well as the kids) books I've found (this one at a yard sale). Politically incorrect, Mister Dog lives in a 2-story doghouse, eats strawberries, walks himself, and smokes a corncob pipe. He meets and adopts a little boy who also belongs to himself, and the two independent souls begin to live together cooperatively and happily. Indescribably charming. One of Ms.Brown's best, and should be revived for all of us jaded parents who have to read the same story over and over again. This one holds up and makes us smile every time.

I've had Mister Dog since i was a baby and loved it and still do. Unfortunately I've come to believe that i have the last remaining copy and its missing the back cover and have been hoping to get another copy. It is a great book, it gives great advice, the last page is brilliant.

Knowledgeably written by a professor emeritus of food science, Milk: Its Remarkable Contribution To Human Health And Well-Being is a scientifically researched and presented response to modern-day claims downplaying or even attacking the health of milk as a food. Unashamedly pro-dairy consumption, Milk backs its fervent emphasis upon the importance of regularly consuming dairy products as part of a balanced diet with research, statistics, and modern scientific wisdom on everything from the nutritional benefits to the flavor of milk. Directly addressing and rebutting animal rights activist advocacy against milk - to the extent of comparing the animal rights advocacy movement to that of a religious movement driven by faith rather than reason - Milk may be passionate in its own advocacy yet its defense of a widely useful, inexpensive, and nutritious foodstuff seems to clearly be needed in the wake of so many media attacks against it.

This book contains everything you ever wanted to know about milk and more. Written by someone with extensive knowledge and background, the author demystifies the myths about milk and explains its benefits in clear, easy-to-understand language. The book offers good, solid information about a food vital to health; it's great for students, teachers, families. This is a book for everyone!

Milk is a fascinating read. Dr. Patton has excellent style and is easy to undestand (it's been quite a while since my last biology class). I am more convinced than ever of the need to get milk.

This is my very favorite book for young children 2 through 5. Mitchell is a wonderful character. The story is sweet and happy. The illustrations are adorable. Highly, highly recommended.

This is such a sweet story with opportunity to show children how to encourage others. Our 2 year old loves it and asks for it over and over. Why is this not on the classics list yet?

I'm giving this a book a 5 star based on the reaction of my 3 children to the book when each of them discovered it at the age of 3-5 years old. The message and illustration is clear and folksy. A gentle, faithful mailman (who happens to be a dog) and longs for his own mail, delivers a birthday package to Bobby Beaver on a cold and rainy night, then gets a bad cold. His get well letters come in a big sack of mail and there ends the tale. The type is large enough for the child to eventually read on their own and they want to!! This book is similar in tone, simplicity and clarity to Maurice Sendaks Little Bear, or Mazy the Mouse. A quiet refuge for the young and their protectors in an often hectic world. I'm surprised there aren't more books and merchandise for this character, it should be and probably will be a classic one day.