Over the past thirty years there has been a tremendous growth in interest in the multidisciplinary field of human-companion animal interactions and relationships. The increased interest in human-pet relationships is not surprising considering that pets are kept in at least half of the households in Western societies. What is so special about the relationships people have with their pets? Are we very different from our ancestors in the way we feel about animals? What does pet keeping tell us about ourselves and our relationships with people? Can pets be good for our health? Does having pets help promote empathy for other humans? Companion Animals and Us brings together some of the newest research from a wide variety of disciplines including anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, and human and veterinary medicine to explore these and many other questions. This book will provide fascinating reading for anyone interested in understanding more about the human-pet relationships.

People often form strong attachments to the animals in their lives, and sometimes the connection is so deep that pets put their lives on the line for the ones they love. Angel, a golden retriever belonging to 11-year-old Austin Forman of Boston Bar, BC, intercepted a cougar as it leapt at her owner and Lulu, a pot-bellied pig, halted traffic on the shores of Lake Erie and led a rescuer to her owner, who was suffering from a heart attack.

Natural healing for pets has emerged into the mainstream-veterinarians across the nation are now providing acupuncture, chiropractic, and other alternative methods. With Energy Healing for Animals, acclaimed animal communicator Joan Ranquet offers an essential guide for anyone seeking to enhance their pet's health, longevity, and quality of life-and deepen their bond with a beloved companion. "Animals are so receptive to healing energy," explains Joan, "that they're often easier to work with than our fellow humans. In this engaging do-it-yourself pet therapy resource, this gifted healer offers a broad spectrum of guidance and tools to help our animal companions with behavior issues, pain relief, anxiety, and overall well-being. Here she presents practical instruction in pet Reiki, massage, feng shui, chakra systems, acupressure, Healing Touch, and much more-including breed-specific guidance for cats and dogs.