- Features around 50 of the most inspiring, fun, original, and interesting ideas for super pet-friendly designs for the home and other spaces - Designers and architects from around the world focus on creating many quirky and ingenious designs, including built-in cat ladders, scratchers, and walkways, private dog nooks and specialist kennels, amazing modular mazes, beautiful, sculptural birdhouses, and much more - Focus is on creating interiors, furniture, and architectural environments that are for the optimal benefit of pets and other domesticated animals, and using sustainable and animal-friendly materials What wouldn't animal-loving humans do to create the perfect modern habitat for their cherished animals? Not surprisingly, pet owners are forever seeking ways to provide the best environment to make life for their pets as enjoyable and engaging as possible. Designing the perfect architecture and interiors for pets and animals of all shapes, sizes, species, and breeds is all about creating a seamless coexistence. Showcased here are heaps of fun and unique projects created by an inventive global design community. The charming, imaginative, and inspired interiors and architectural systems presented in this book offer a beautiful combination of aesthetics and creature comfort, be they for cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chickens, turtles, horses, and many others. This carefully curated selection includes not only ingenious yet elegant built-in cat ladders, scratchers, and walkways, and private dog nooks -- even a noise-cancelling kennel for the most pampered of pooches -- but also amazing modular mazes for the busiest cat, rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster, as well as beautiful, sculptural birdhouses and charming log-cabin-style chicken coops. It also features funky cat cafés and special shelter ideas to keep both human and animal creatures calm. This delightful book presents a lovable assortment of safe and sustainable pet-friendly projects, ideal for design- and animal-conscious folk who want to turn their interiors or workspaces into the most comfortable living/playpen environments for their beloved fur-babies (and other pets) to roam and rest.

The Things I Love About ...' series shares simple examples of creating positive thinking about everyday situations our children experience. In this gorgeous new title in the bestselling series, Trace explores the subject of pets and how they bring love and enjoyment to our lives.

A study of the bond between humans and their companion animals discusses the diverse benefits of owning a pet and includes a selection of personal anecdotes and interviews with Hollywood celebrities

"Highly compelling...page-turning read" — TNC's Cool Green Science We love our pets. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other species have become an essential part of more families than ever before—in North America today, pets outnumber people. Pet owners are drawn to their animal companions through an innate desire to connect with other species. But there is a dark side to our domestic connection with animal life: the pet industry is contributing to a global conservation crisis for wildlife—often without the knowledge of pet owners. In Unnatural Companions, journalist Peter Christie issues a call to action for pet owners. If we hope to reverse the alarming trend of wildlife decline, pet owners must acknowledge the pets-versus-conservation dilemma and concede that our well-fed and sheltered cats too often prey on small backyard wildlife and seemingly harmless reptiles released into the wild might be the next destructive invasive species. We want our pets to eat nutritionally healthy food, but how does the designer food we feed them impact the environment? Christie's book is a cautionary tale to responsible pet owners about why we must change the ways we love and care for our pets. It concludes with the positive message that the small changes we make at home can foster better practices within the pet industry that will ultimately benefit our pets’ wild brethren.

For Love of Animals is an honest and thoughtful look at our responsibility as Christians with respect to animals. Many Christians misunderstand both history and their own tradition in thinking about animals. They are joined by prominent secular thinkers who blame Christianity for the Western world's failure to seriously consider the moral status of nonhuman animals. This book explains how traditional Christian ideas and principles—like nonviolence, concern for the vulnerable, respect for life, stewardship of God's creation, and rejection of consumerism—require us to treat animals morally. Though this point of view is often thought of as liberal, the book cites several conservatives who are also concerned about animals. Camosy's Christian argument transcends secular politics. The book's starting point for a Christian position on animals—from the creation story in Genesis to Jesus's eating habits in the Gospels—rests in Scripture. It then moves to explore the views of the Church Fathers, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and current discussions in both Catholic and Protestant theology. Ultimately, however, the book is concerned not with abstract ideas, but with how we should live our everyday lives. Should Christians eat meat? Is cooperation with factory farming evil? What sort of medical research on animals is justified? Camosy also asks difficult questions about hunting and pet ownership. This is an ideal resource for those who are interested in thinking about animals from the perspective of Christian ethics and the consistent ethic of life. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter and suggestions for further reading round out the usefulness of this important work.

Yes, humans and canines are different species, but current research provides fascinating, irrefutable evidence that what we share with our dogs is greater than how we vary. As behaviorist and zoologist Dr. Patricia McConnell tells us in this remarkable new book about emotions in dogs and in people, more and more scientists accept the premise that dogs have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide range of feelings including fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love. In For the Love of a Dog, McConnell suggests that one of the reasons we love dogs so much is that they express emotions in ways similar to humans. After all, who can communicate joy better than a puppy? But not all emotional expressions are obvious, and McConnell teaches both beginning dog owners and experienced dog lovers how to read the more subtle expressions hidden behind fuzzy faces and floppy ears. For those of us who deeply cherish our dogs but are sometimes baffled by their behavior, For the Love of a Dog will come as a revelation–a treasure trove of useful facts, informed speculation, and intriguing accounts of man’s best friend at his worst and at his very best. Readers will discover how fear, anger, and happiness underlie the lives of both people and dogs and, most important, how understanding emotion in both species can improve the relationship between them. Thus McConnell introduces us to the possibility of a richer, more rewarding relationship with our dogs. While we may never be absolutely certain what our dogs are feeling, with the help of this riveting book we can understand more than we ever thought possible. Those who consider their dogs part of the family will find For the Love of a Dog engaging, enlightening, and utterly engrossing.

Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne help children learn about the importance of love in this wonderfully imaginative and classically illustrated children’s hardcover book featuring four-color illustrations (with hidden details!) by Wilson Williams, Jr., and based on Gary’s bestselling The 5 Love Languages. Each child in this entertaining and playful story learns that they have a primary love language that when "spoken" by others, makes them feel loved. As the five children in the story interact with Mr. Chapman and the unique animals at his special zoo/museum/theme park/birthday party palace, they come to understand their own love language! Readers, especially children ages 5–8, are sure to recognize their own love language as the story develops, and at the end of the book is a fun quiz that will help parents and children identify their own love language. The cast of child characters in this whimsical story include: Penny, Peyton's twin sister, who receives love best when others spend quality time with her. Mr. Chapman introduces Penny to Horace, a Ragdoll Cat who just wants to be with Penny. Jayla, one of Penny's close friends, is always saying nice things about people. Her love language is words of affirmation. Jayla's perfect pet pal is Pamela, an African Grey Parrot, who repeats the nice things Jayla says about others. Kevin, one of Peyton's close friends, enjoys giving things to people. So does his special pet Chipo, a Capuchin Monkey! Sofia loves to pet the animals, and to show her love for others with special hugs. Physical touch is Sofia's love language. Snuggles