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An engaging and science-based examination of people and companion animals, this book shows how their lives are inextricably intertwined, what the impact has been on culture and on society, the reasons people go to great lengths to care for and protect their beloved animals, and why the grief when they are lost is so profound and unique. Anderson, a longtime animal welfare advocate, also shows how we conversely ignore the suffering of some animals. She explains what can be done about this dissonance and what the future holds.

Beginning with the history of the human-animal bond, which dates to the Paleolithic era, Anderson takes us through the evolution of domestication and surveys companion animals around the world. The biological, behavioral, and psychosocial bases of the relationship between humans and their companion animals are examined, as is whether the companion animals are adversely affected as they are embedded into the human world. The expansive and unusual therapeutic benefits of companion animals is included as well, as are ways they are protected, ranging from medical efforts to legal battles over wills and custody.
Anderson incorporates news stories, interviews, and the latest research showing the psychology behind this relationship that scientists have dubbed the human-companion animal bond. Research shows why these mainly nonverbal creatures can become surrogate children, friends, and even therapists of a sort. Current studies focused on animal intelligence, loyalty, and sensitivity are shared here. Those same qualities are shown at work in new and vital roles for companion animals, from animals in therapeutic settings to dogs teamed with soldiers, police officers, and rescuers. Anderson also explains how losing a pet can shake or shatter our mental stability, and how and why that has led to public services, funerals, and cemeteries for pets. The book closes with a discussion of the dissonance between our indulgence of some companion animals, while the suffering and maltreatment of others is ignored.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface(p. ix)
• Foreword(p. xiii)
• Acknowledgment(p. xvii)
• Note to the Reader(p. xix)
• Introduction: A New Era for Companion Animals(p. xxi)
• 1 Companion Animals in America and Around the Globe(p. 1)
• 2 Genesis and Nature of the Bond(p. 18)
• 3 Why We Choose Certain Animals As Companions(p. 44)
• 4 Roles That Animals Play in Our Lives and How We Influence Each Other(p. 66)
• 5 Embedded with Humans-Animals in the Human World(p. 82)
• 6 Pets As Medicine(p. 119)
• 7 Protecting Our Companion Animals(p. 142)
• 8 When Love Hurts(p. 162)
• 9 Love Gone Bad(p. 181)
• Series Afterword(p. 201)
• Notes(p. 207)
• Bibliography(p. 229)
• Index(p. 239)

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CHOICE Review

The human-animal bond has been a hot topic in recent years and journalist Anderson offers an insightful overview. She addresses both the practical and scientific sides of this compelling subject, touching on the wide range of complex relationships humans have with their companion animals and the roles they play in each other's lives. Anderson looks at the history of humans' relationships with their pets, companion animals in America and globally, bonding with animals, types of pets, pets as medicine, protecting one's pets, grief and the loss of pets, and the mistreatment of animals. This well-organized, well-rounded book provides excellent background, complemented by quality resources for further information, compiled by Anderson in her research. Readers will find it entertaining and informative, with lots of pictures and examples of companion animals assisting humans and touching their lives. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates, general readers, and professionals/practitioners. S. J. Bryant Michigan State University

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

P. Elizabeth Anderson is a national award-winning author and journalist with more than 17 years experience in clinical research and 30 years in activities to promote and protect companion animals. She has written for publications of Duke University Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Public Health Service. Prior to writing this book, she was a writer and editor for the Humane Society of the United States. She co-authored an earlier book, Emotional Longevity , with her husband, Dr. Norman B. Anderson, CEO of the American Psychological Association.