Pets at the Library

For thousands of years and across all cultures pets have occupied an important place in human society, from the deified cats of Ancient Egypt, to the humble goldfish swimming in a bowl. Research is also suggesting that pets have a beneficial effect on humans with pet owners enjoying a longer lifespan with lower stress levels and blood pressure. Pets form an important part of many of our lives so it is not surprising that books about pets, choosing them, caring for them, and books about particularly remarkable pets, feature strongly here at the library.



We have many non-fiction books about choosing and caring for pets ranging from general titles like The Encyclopaedia of Pets and Pet Care, to books about specific animals including dogs, cats, birds and fish, including the different breeds of each. Alternative Pets by Robin Stewart looks at keeping some less common pets including rats, axolotls, and lizards. So whether you’re after the everyday moggy, or something more exotic, there’s bound to be a book to help with your decision here at the library.


Books about our lives with animals are also hugely popular with our readers. The books of Yorkshire vet James Herriot including All Creatures Great and Small and It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet are perennial favourites with their heart-warming stories of life in the Yorkshire dales, their inhabitants and the pets and livestock they keep. Famous naturalist Gerald Durrell has written many books about his love of animals and the story of his remarkable life and contribution to conservation is portrayed in the DVD My Family and Other Animals. More recently Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan tells of the lessons he and his family learnt from their thirteen years with a good natured, but apparently untrainable, Labrador.


We have many books about remarkable pets that have made an amazing contribution to the lives of the people around them. Making the Rounds With Oscar by David Dosa is the incredible story of a cat living in a U.S. nursing home who seemed to know when people were going to die and would stay and comfort them until they passed. Cleo: the Cat Who Mended a Family by New Zealand author Helen Brown tells of how a small black kitten helped mend the broken hearts of a family after the tragic death of their son. A particulate favourite amongst many librarians is Dewey: the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron which tells of a small ginger kitten who was abandoned in the returns slot of the Spencer Public Library in Iowa, and came to have a profound impact on the library’s staff and patrons.


Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper is about an incredible kitten who grew into a loyal, loving, yet feisty cat, despite infection robbing him of sight at a few weeks of age, and the inspiration the author took from his zest for life. A Lion Called Christian (available as both a book and DVD) is the story of two Australians who bought a lion cub as a pet while living in London. When he grew too big to live in the city they made the decision to release him onto a reserve in Africa, going on to experienced an incredible reunion with him as an adult lion. And to show it’s not all about cats, Paddy the Wanderer by Dianne Haworth is the true story of an Airdale Terrier who became a national identity during the Depression, renowned for his independent spirit and love of travel including trams, sailing ships and even a Gypsy Moth.


In his book Kindred Spirits veterinarian Allen Schoen writes about his career and gives advice on caring for animals, but also gives many examples of the incredible bond that exists between humans and animals and the things we can learn from them. Why Animals Are Smarter Than Us gives a number of examples of animals displaying amazing examples of navigation, communication and some uncanny signs of precognition. In Ask Now the Beasts, Ruth Rudner looks at our relationship with wild and domestic animals and the lessons we can learn from them about how we live our lives.


Our books on choosing, keeping and training pets will help owners ensure that both animal and human get the best out of the relationship. While sadly there are too many cases of animal neglect and cruelty, for most people pets are a delight and treated with the care and respect they need and deserve. We are richer for sharing our homes with pets, and while we give them food and shelter, they give us so much more. Pets can become a trusted companion, a comfort, part of the family. Pets add greatly to our lives so it should be no surprise that books about them can be as inspiring, heart-warming, funny or moving as books on any subject.

Jon Adams
Comunity Outreach Librarian
Masterton District Library