Human-Animal Interactions
A Cry Unheard: New Insights into the Medical Consequences of Loneliness by James J. Lynch, PhD. 2000. (Available from Amazon.com.)
Animals and Human Society : Changing Perspectives by Aubrey Manning, James Serpell (Editor). 1994. (Available from Amazon.com.)
Between Pets and People : The Importance of Animal Companionship by Alan M. Beck, et al. 1996. (Available from Dogwise.)
Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence : Readings in Research and Application by Randall Lockwood (Editor), Frank R. Ascione (Editor). Hardcover. 1998. Also available as a Paperback (1998). (Available from Amazon.com.)
The Healing Power of Pets: Harnessing the Ability of Pets to Make and Keep People Happy and Healthy by Marty Becker. 2002. (Available from Amazon.com.)
In the Company of Animals : A Study of Human-Animal Relationships (Canto) by James Serpell. 1996. (Available from Amazon.com.)
Interrelations Between People and Pets by Fogle. 1981. (Available from Amazon.com.)
People I Sleep With, by Jill Fineberg (Available from Amazon.com)
Humans and animals have had a marvelous and yet mysterious relationship since time out of mind. This book explores both the marvels and the mysteries through words and photographs. Dog and cats, of course, are represented, but many other species are also sharing this special quiet time with their owners – there is even a surprising special friend for a child who is allergic to fur and feathers – and it’s not a reptile, which are also photographed.
The first segment of the book, comprised of photos of some much loved critters (not all of which are animals in the strict sense of the word) and their human counterparts in their various styles of repose, is interspersed with moving quotes from many sources regarding the importance of the presence of animals in our lives. There is definitely a spiritual connection that many of the subjects seem to experience, and the closeness of the relationships is touchingly depicted. Most pet owners will admit to sharing a snuggle with their pet, but these folks are actually slumbering with their animal friend(s) – some even giving up their beds as the animals “spread out” during the night. Children and adults are snuggling with more than one species – and the different species are also enjoying the contact with each other. Although the pictures are “worth a thousand words”, and the quotes are wonderfully appropriate to each group of photos, a reader is left wanting to know more about the subjects.
The second part of the book fills that need, giving the reader the stories behind the “families” portrayed. The insight gained by learning about the subjects is quite gratifying. Each “family’s” story is unique and touching – confirming that animals can bring magic to our lives, and that animals are indeed a gift for us to treasure. But there’s more…
The third segment of the book provides examples, information and resources on the health benefits of the human-animal bond. The examples are amazing and encouraging – inspiring the reader to consider participating in the animal-assisted activities/therapy fields with their pet(s).
People I Sleep With will warm you, fascinate you, inspire you and encourage you to give your favorite critter a snuggle, too.
Carla Bramble, Coordinator, Marketing & Development
Pets and the Elderly by Odean Cusack. 1983. (Available from Amazon.com.)
Pets and Mental Health by Odean Cusack. Paperback. 1988. Also available as a Hardcover (1988). (Available from Amazon.com.)
Soul Friends, Finding Healing with Animals, by Kate Nicoll (Available from Amazon.com)
Children and Animals
Children and Animals: Social Development and Our Connections to Other Species (Lives in Context) by Gene Myers, Olin Eugene Myers. 1998. (Available from Amazon.com.)
Children and Nature: Psychological Sociocultural and Evolutionary Investigations by Peter H. Kahn, Jr. and Stephen R. Kellart (Editors). Paperback. 2002. Also available as a Hardcover (2002). (Available from Amazon.com.)
The World's Children and Their Companion Animals, Developmental and Education Significance of the Child/Pet Bond. Edited by Mary Renck Jalongo (Available from Amazon.com)
This book presents an excellent overview of the ways in which children’s perceptions of and interactions with companion animals are shaped. The book is divided into three sections: Children, Families and Companion Animals; Companion Animals in Schools and Communities; and Companion Animals in Print and the Media.
As a Delta Society Pet Partner, I was initially drawn to the chapter, “Animals That Heal: Animal-Assisted Therapy With Children.” Other Pet Partners will, as I did, certainly find that the examples of therapy successes strike a familiar chord. Not only are the vignettes touching, but Editor Mary Renck Jalongo and the other authors back them up with the scientific research that provides evidence for the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy.
While that chapter may be the most relevant to Pet Partners, the rest of the book is quite educational for those of us who volunteer with children. When we are sharing our beloved pets during therapy visits, it is sometimes easy to forget that children from other cultures and other backgrounds may have a completely different attitude from our own about companion animals. This book explains some of those differences and their origins.
At the end of each chapter is a complete reference list for anyone who wants to pursue further research into a topic. Letters and stories actually written by children about their pets are interspersed throughout the book. Some of them will break your heart, and some will make you smile. Photographs and drawings are a nice touch, too, although some of them did not reproduce well in the book.
I think it is fair to say that our Pet Partners can have a strong, positive effect on children and their attitudes toward animals. The children can, in turn, also have a surprising effect on us. As Mary Renck Jalongo says in the afterword of the book, “It is possible to marvel at the sincerity and intensity of a child’s response to another species, a response that is less tainted by the customs, routines, and habits that adults may have failed to develop or forgotten to question. If we are sufficiently open-minded, children can take us back not only to old, familiar terrain, but also into uncharted territory.” Nancy Kucik, Delta Society Pet Partner & Hand-in-Paw Affiliate Member
Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children by Gail F. Melson. 2001. (Available from Amazon.com)
