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Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: As a pet owner quite heavily involved in volunteer animal therapy work, I recommend this book to all who are even remotely interested in animals. As a senior citizen, I would recommend it to all of my peers; I feel that I am a living legacy to pets keeping one young and healthy. I have been enlightened and entertained enough by this book that I have just ordered a copy as a gift for my personal physician. Marty Becker writes in a light and entertaining manner.....educating as he goes along. His own personal stories, plus those of many others, are fascinating. A MUST READ!
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Summary: Keeps you awake, alive and immersed!
Review: At last, a book about assistance dogs whose information is as dynamic as its writing. The Healing Power of Pets, a masterful portrayal of the science and psychology of pets, is beautifully written with content that keeps you awake, alive and immersed. Thank you, Marty Becker, for this gift of love....
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Summary: Well rounded information on pets' extra-sensory abilities
Review: Dr. Becker and Danelle Morton describe the positive effects that animals bring into our lives. They focus mostly on dogs and cats in this book and only briefly touch on other pets such as birds or rodents. They combine individual testimonials concerning animals assisting sick humans with data from researchers who study animal behaviour, and interviews with therapists who use animals for therapy. He sites several examples of nursing homes that have resident pets trained to assist in therapy sessions and discusses how these animals bring joy to lonely and/or ill elderly. More importantly, Dr. Becker details the type of pet best suited for a particular personality or illness. He candidly points out that pets are not for everyone; that sharing your home with an animal requires great commitment and sometimes expense. He outlines the required care, loving and guidance needed. For me, this was the most important point in his book. This book is well written, easy to read and absent of technical jargon. This book is not a treatise of recent scientific research on the subject of animal behavior or the use of animals in therapy. Most of the heart-warming stories are testimonials rather than solid scientific data, but anyone who truly shares a bond with an animal will appreciate these stories. I recommend this book for anyone thinking of getting a pet, who already has a pet, or who simply loves animals. I particularly recommend this book to folks who see animals only as a commodity or worker/helper/hunter. It's an enlightening book.
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Summary: Great book - not just lip service.
Review: Dr. Marty Becker's "Healing Power of Pets" should be required reading at the high school level. Too many people use their pets as commodities. If they read this book, then maybe they'd realize what a treasure animals really are. When Becker talks of his pain and humiliation after a debilitating back injury, he finds solace in his barn. How? As he watches his wife do his chores, fear, shame and embarrassment overwhelm him. But that pain eases as he is nuzzled by his horse. The soothing velvet muzzle and warm breath on his neck radiate through his body. The truth dawns on Becker. There at home, he will be healed. Becker recounts story after story of animals helping humans. The love and affection that they pour out on us is unequaled. They ease our loneliness, help cancer and heart patients, assist in recovery after earthquakes, floods and tornados. They even assist in counseling in disasters like Columbine. Dogs are used in reading programs in libraries. Fish soothe agitated, developmentally delayed people. A cat purring like a teakettle calms nervousness. The animal world offers, happiness, companionship, and most of all, responsibility. Not their's to us, but our stewardship of them. Read this fine book and learn more about yourself. Learn what you owe your pet. And, vow to lend your assistance to end animal abuse of all kinds.
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Summary: A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info
Review: The fact that this book was written by a co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" (a book that I loved) is one of the things that made me pick it up. However, "Healing Power of Pets" is more than a collection of animal anecdotes. There's a lot of good, solid scientific information woven in, too. Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has worked with Animal-Assisted Therapy programs, cites numerous studies which show that people who are bonded with their pet(s) lead longer, heathier lives. On page 74, for example, he refers to a 1995 study conducted by Erka Friedmann, a professor at the Department of Health and Nutritional Studies at Brooklyn College. She recruited 392 patients who had suffered heart attacks and were part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. Of these, 87 owned dogs and 282 did not. A year later, only one of the dog owners had died, while 19 of the non-dog-owners had passed away. In other words, people who own a dog are far more likely to be alive a year after having a heart attack. Why is this? Many reasons are given in the book: dog owners get more exercise, they take better care of themselves because they feel responsible for the dog, they relax while petting the dog, they are less lonely because of the dog, etc. Other studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal's fur lowers the human's blood pressure like a form of meditation. As a Jewish educator reading this book, I could not help but reflect on the fact that, compared to the general population, far fewer Jews have pets. In the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, especially, it is rare to see a dog in the house. One reason is because dogs were used to track and kill people during the Holocaust and other persecutions, so they have bad associations for many Jews. I understand this. Still, I found myself wondering how many of those 282 non-dog-owners in the Brooklyn College study were Jewish. (Brooklyn has a high percentage of Jews.) Are we allowing Old World fears about dogs to deprive us of a valuable form of therapy? The pet doesn't have to be a dog, however. Cats (of which I have ten!) are equally therapeutic. So are other species, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Even watching a tank full of fish can help a person to relax. The important thing is the Bond between the animal(s) and the human(s). Reading this book confirmed in a scientific way what I have always believed in my heart: this special Bond is a healing gift that God designed into the very fabric of creation.
Rating:
Summary: A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info
Review: The fact that this book was written by a co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" (a book that I loved) is one of the things that made me pick it up. However, "Healing Power of Pets" is more than a collection of animal anecdotes. There's a lot of good, solid scientific information woven in, too. Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has worked with Animal-Assisted Therapy programs, cites numerous studies which show that people who are bonded with their pet(s) lead longer, heathier lives. On page 74, for example, he refers to a 1995 study conducted by Erka Friedmann, a professor at the Department of Health and Nutritional Studies at Brooklyn College. She recruited 392 patients who had suffered heart attacks and were part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. Of these, 87 owned dogs and 282 did not. A year later, only one of the dog owners had died, while 19 of the non-dog-owners had passed away. In other words, people who own a dog are far more likely to be alive a year after having a heart attack. Why is this? Many reasons are given in the book: dog owners get more exercise, they take better care of themselves because they feel responsible for the dog, they relax while petting the dog, they are less lonely because of the dog, etc. Other studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal's fur lowers the human's blood pressure like a form of meditation. As a Jewish educator reading this book, I could not help but reflect on the fact that, compared to the general population, far fewer Jews have pets. In the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, especially, it is rare to see a dog in the house. One reason is because dogs were used to track and kill people during the Holocaust and other persecutions, so they have bad associations for many Jews. I understand this. Still, I found myself wondering how many of those 282 non-dog-owners in the Brooklyn College study were Jewish. (Brooklyn has a high percentage of Jews.) Are we allowing Old World fears about dogs to deprive us of a valuable form of therapy? The pet doesn't have to be a dog, however. Cats (of which I have ten!) are equally therapeutic. So are other species, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Even watching a tank full of fish can help a person to relax. The important thing is the Bond between the animal(s) and the human(s). Reading this book confirmed in a scientific way what I have always believed in my heart: this special Bond is a healing gift that God designed into the very fabric of creation.
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Summary: A Tool for Bonding & Healing
Review: There are so many losses we deal with throughout our lives. Relationships, jobs, dreams. And most certainly we lose those close to us - friends, parents, pets. And many times just a a mere 'change' is a loss. For me, any book that opens my awareness or raises my conscious level is a tool for healing. Certinly this is true with Dr. Marty Becker's, "The Healing Power of Pets." It stengthened the bond I have with my puppy, Nubble - while it opened an awareness to all the dogs (and people) we play with at the huge dog park in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the process it healed spots I was unaware I could heal as I still have such vivid memories of pets from my past. And they are linked to my memories of life. Marty's book gave a new sheen to the memories of these beloved critters that honored me with their unguarded love. His book enhanced the memories, enhanced those bonds. Pets, as life, carry a resonsibility. This book adds honor and respect to that responsibility. This book has become a great gift for me to offer. To friends going through any changes or loss, this offers hope. And to friends just becoming "parents" of a critter, this book enables them to be aware of the potential they have for bonding with their animals in a love of a higher level. Allows them to know of the prize they hold in their hands. Pets are merely a form of life. Bonding better with a pet allows us to bond better with people, with life...and with ourselves. Thanks for the magic, Marty!
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Summary: This Veterinarian Gives 5 Paws Up!
Review: This book reminded me of why I chose veterinary medicine as a career - my role in nurturing the powerful bond between pets and humans allows me to experience benefits that will last a lifetime! I am challenged by the thought that my care for pets transcends the line between the species, and enhances the lives of humans as well!! This book is very well-written, with easy readability. Dr. Becker's style is humorous, poignant, and effective. It is also very practical - the pet selection section is one of the best I have seen, and is a fun way to choose YOUR perfect pet! This book is a MUST-READ if you are: * An animal health-care professional - you will be reminded of the importance of your job - your care for animals doesn't end there - it translocates to their owners as well! * A HUMAN health-care professional - you will be challenged to think in new ways how to care for the physical and mental well-being of the people you care for - You will be amazed when you harness the power of the Bond at your patient's improvement in health and spirit! * An animal lover - reinforces what we all know - there is something absolutely magical about our relationship with our pets! Pets deserve a hallowed place in our homes and our hearts! * A person in pain - I urge you to consider Dr. Becker's sage advice - you will be blessed in experiencing the unconditional love and healing power that a pet may bring to your life!
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Summary: This important book is a delight to read.
Review: Those of us who share our lives with animals know first-hand the "healing power of pets," yet it is still impressive to read example after example of the well-documented benefits gained by utilizing the bond between human and animals. And to top it all off, Dr. Becker presents this material in a heartwarming and interesting manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
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Summary: A reader from WI
Review: We all have a sense that our pets make us feel better but Dr. Becker actually did the research and explains how, for example, our animal companions lower our cholesterol, settle our blood pressure, and generally improve our lives. What is refreshing is that he also looks at our pets' lives and shows how we affect them (and how we can make them feel better). This is a respectful, intelligent book about a bond that many of us feel, but few of us understand. -Clea Simon, author, "The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats"
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