Stories and Readings About Animals

Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover's Soul by Canfield, Hansen, Kline and Becker, Health Communications, Inc.,
ISBN 1558747109 (1999)
From the publisher:
This book is a joyous and inspiring collection-- sometimes poignant, sometimes amusing, always filled with the special and incredibly unconditional love only cats and dogs can give. The stories in this collection celebrate those lovable furry, four-legged creatures that bring out the best in all of us, inspiring us to be happier, kinder, more understanding and more loving. Readers will discover that many of humanity's greatest heroes, healers and teachers are not humans at all, but those amazing cats and dogs that brighten all our lives.

Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections by Susan Chernak McElroy, Random House, Inc., ISBN 0345421175 (1998)
The author, a former veterinarian's assistant in Oregon, attributes her recovery from cancer to the love of her dog, Keesha, and a stray kitten, Flora. McElroy presents a collection of heartwarming and inspirational stories about animals interwoven with her reflections and observations. The stories are tributes to the lives of beloved animals who accompanied their human companions through illness, divorce and other crises, including death. (summarized from a review in Publisher's Weekly)

Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp, Broadway Books, ISBN 0385317018 (1999)
Caroline Knapp is a 38-year-old writer whose living companion and primary love object is Lucille, a 2-year-old shepherd mix. Knapp sleeps with Lucille; walks her three times a day; has held birthday parties for her "in which Frosty Paws, a canine version of ice cream cups, are served"; and has "written off or vastly reduced my involvement in activities that don't include her -- shopping, movies, trips that involve air travel." Pack of Two is Knapp's paean to her human-canine love affair. (summarized from a review by critic Laura Green)

Kinship with All Life by J. Allen Boone, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 0060609125 (1976)
From the publisher:
Is there a universal language of love, a "kinship with all life" that can open new horizons of experience? Example after example in this unique classic — from "Strongheart" the actor-dog to "Freddie" the fly — resounds with entertaining and inspiring proof that communication with animals is a wonderful, indisputable fact. All that is required is an attitude of openness, friendliness, humility, and a sense of humor to part the curtain and form bonds of real friendship.

The Dogs Who Came to Stay by George Pitcher, Dutton, ISBN 0452275539 (1996)
From the publisher:
This is a true account, as true as I have been able to make it, of how two dogs, Lupa and Remus, entered my life and changed everything. So begins a story, simply and endearingly told, about dogs, the people who care for them, and love. It tells how one late autumn day, a frightened, wild, black and tan stray slunk into the backyard of a home shared by two middle-aged bachelors. She had come to hide and have her pups, and no one guessed that this unpromising looking animal - a creature the "experts" said could never be tamed and could never trust - would become the regal, dignified canine called Lupa, who, along with her clever, clownish pup Remus, would take up residence in the handsome Victorian house on a Princeton side street ... and in so many hearts.

Animal Angels: Amazing Acts of Love Compassion by Stephanie Laland, Red Wheel/Weiser, ISBN 1573241423 (1998)
From the publisher:
Animal Angels tells of the dogs who look after cats, cats who befriend mice, and other supposed enemies in the animal kingdom who actually live in true harmony together. The stories of the devotion and unconditional love between animals and humans is also inspiring and heartwarming.

Peaceful Kingdom: Random Acts of Kindness by Animals by Stephanie Laland, Red Wheel/Weiser, ISBN 157324094X (1997)
From the publisher:
In these true, heartwarming stories, you will meet remarkable beings - not only dogs and cats, but gorillas, dolphins, bears, seagulls, rats, and even a pig - who have performed amazing acts of love and compassion. You'll also learn fascinating facts about the inherent kindness of animals toward humans and one another.

All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat by Suzy Becker, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., ISBN 0894808249 (1990)
Humorist Suzy Becker shares the insights of her sage cat in the form of irresistible full-color cartoons. Proving what all cat fanciers suspect about their own pets, Becker's perspicacious and penetrating cat is fount of wisdom. Her book covers everything from grooming, health, and diet to being completely well-adjusted.

James Herriott's Cat Stories by James Herriott, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312113420 (1994)
From the publisher:
What better match of author and subject than James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian and storyteller, and the adorable feline friends who delight so many millions of cat lovers around the world? Between these covers, teller and tales finally meet in a warm and joyful new collection that will bring delight to the hearts of readers the world over.

Every Living Thing by Cynthia Rylant, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 0689712634 (1988)
From the publisher:
Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes - when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life.

Old Dogs Remembered by Bud Johns (ed.), Synergistic Press, Inc., ISBN 0912184124 (1999)
From the publisher:
This is a collection of more than forty unforgettable essays, poems, and short pieces of writers' remembrances of their faithful dogs. Each piece is a loving tribute to man's best friend. Among them, E. B. White paints an eloquent and humorous portrait of his dachshund in the essay "Bedfellows," while John Updike weeps for his family's young friend in his poem "Dog's Death." James Thurber's three contributions joyously praise dogdom, and Daniel Pinkwater releases his malamute, Albert, into sleep.

Angel By My Side by Mike Lingenfelter, Hay House, Inc., ISBN 1401900216 (2002)
It was 1995, and Mike Lingenfelter was ready for his life to be over. Two serious heart attacks and open-heart surgery had taken away most of the good things that he had in his life. However, his doctors still held out hope for him, and they were still trying to find ways to motivate him to get out of the house and exercise. Their vision was that an energetic dog on a leash might do that for Mike. And so it was that this golden retriever named Dakota, who had been rescued from death himself, came to help Mike with his rehabilitative therapy.

Angel Whiskers: Reflections on Loving and Losing a Feline Companion by Laurel Hunt (ed.), Hyperion Press, ISBN 0786865784 (2001)
From the publisher:
Anyone who ever loved a cat knows the pleasure and comfort these feline companions can bring and anyone who ever lost a cat knows the deep sorrow brought on by their passing. This elegant tribute to cats past and present features classic poetry and short stories by authors both famous and unknown, as well as vintage photographs and drawings.