More Great Dog Stories: Inspirational Tales About Exceptional Dogs.

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

We share our cities and villages, our homes, sometimes even our beds with our cats and dogs. Given such close proximity, it is not surprising that we think we know our pets. Perhaps more surprising, even amazing, is how well they know us.

These two little collections of memories and stories make the point that every cat and every dog is special, and gives examples of the enduring two-way bonds that can develop between human and pet. There are tales of therapy animals (both dogs and cats), service dogs, breed-specific rescue groups, mutts, abandoned cats, and snippets of cat lore. Some of the stories recall the tragedies of neglect, illness, and injury, and the mutual support pets and humans can share. There are stories of people who care, and of those who need caring for, and receive it from a cat or dog.

The collections are of stories in which animals demonstrate the characteristics we value in humans—loyalty, resourcefulness, ingenuity, faithfulness, and the offering of unconditional love. The stories make the point that every animal has the potential to add value to our lives, and that pets bring much love and joy to those receptive to their magic. The sentimental, emotional subject is somewhat tempered by the narrative approach; nonetheless, these are unsophisticated stories designed to tug at the heartstrings.