Therapy animals can improve a person's mood, motivate a child to read, and comfort the sick--sometimes even more successfully than humans. How? Simply the act of being present, friendly, "pet-able," and attentive is often all it takes. In this introduction to therapy animals, kids will learn about the special traits required of non-human caregivers and the places where these animals work--from schools to hospitals to nursing homes. The bright pictures and fascinating text are sure to engage emergent readers and give them a deep respect for the work these animals do.

The first book to provide veterinarians with in-depth guidance on exotic animal surgical principles and techniques As the popularity of exotic animals continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important for veterinarians to be knowledgeable and skilled in common surgical procedures for a wide range of exotic species. Written for practitioners and board-certified surgeons with a working knowledge of domestic animal surgery, Surgery of Exotic Animals is the first clinical manual to provide comprehensive guidance on surgical principles and common procedures in exotic pets, zoo animals, and wildlife. Edited by internationally recognized leaders in exotic animal surgery and zoological medicine, this much-needed volume covers invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and both terrestrial and marine mammals. Contributions from a team of surgery and zoo specialists offer detailed descriptions of common surgeries and provide a wealth of color images demonstrating how each procedure is performed—including regional anatomy and surgical approaches. An invaluable one-stop source of authoritative surgical information on exotic species, this book: Provides illustrated guidance on surgical principles and common surgeries performed in exotic species Describes general principles, instrumentation, equipment, suture materials, and magnification surgery Covers a wide range of procedures such as small and large mammal dental surgery, avian soft tissue surgery, reptile orthopedic surgery, and primate surgery Includes chapters on surgical oncology, megavertebrate laparoscopy, and minimally invasive surgery techniques Surgery of Exotic Animals is an indispensable clinical guide and reference for all private veterinary practitioners; exotic, zoo, and wildlife veterinarians; laboratory animal veterinarians; veterinary students; and veterinary technicians.

Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling is the most comprehensive book available dedicated to training mental health practitioners in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). It explains the history and practice of AAT in counseling, discusses the latest empirical research, and provides an in-depth explanation of the psychodynamics of AAT within various theoretical frameworks. Readers will learn the proper way to select, train, and evaluate an animal for therapy. The use of a number of different therapy animals is considered, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, farm animals, rabbits and other small animals, and dolphins. Guidelines for implementing AAT in settings such as private practices, community agencies, schools, hospices, and prisons are covered, as well as ethical and legal considerations, risk management, diversity issues, and crisis and disaster response applications. Numerous case examples illustrate the use of AAT principles with clients, and forms, client handouts, and other resources provide valuable tools. This unique resource is an indispensable guide for any counselor looking to develop and implement AAT techniques in his or her practice.

Cats aren't a typical choice for animal-assisted psychotherapy, but Timmy and Marnia are anything but typical. Research has found that petting a cat can lower blood pressure and a cat's purr is thought to help heal body tissues and bones. But not just any cat can be a therapy cat, after all, such animals need to be friendly with strangers and willing to be touched, petted and held by unfamiliar people. They have to be tolerant ofloud voices and angry shouting, emotional distress, and sudden movements. It's a tall order for any animal,but a particular challenge for a cat. In Purr Therapy, psychotherapist and cat lover Dr. Kathleen McCoy shows how two very special cats rose to this challenge, how they helped wounded souls to heal and how they taught even her lessons in mindfulness, joyful living, and compassion. She also shows readers how animal-assisted psychotherapy works and gives them an intimate and moving inside look at how Timmy and Marina worked with patients, how their double role as animal companions and cotherapists changed lives, and how, after their untimely deaths, the grief shared by those who knew and loved them led to even more growth and healing. It's no surprise that there is a tidal wave of cat fanciers growing: even the internet prefers cats. No dog site has reached the proportions of the most popular cat sites—case in point: the mega-star Grumpy Cat who has over 2 ½ million followers! More than an internet trend, this very active market is exploding through cat video contests and festivals that are claiming the passions of millions who will benefit from—and love—Purr Therapy.