Coming home after a long day of work and classes is already a good experience, but getting home to a friendly dog wagging her tale so fast her whole body shakes until I set my stuff down and give her ear scratches is the best. Pets can make a bad day better and a good day great, and this is not all just a tall tale, in fact, the National Institute of Health has discovered that, "Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure". Other studies have found that animals can "reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood" (NIH). Pets do so many good things for us, and all most of them expect in return is love, attention, food, and exercise. This May for National Pet Month, I put together a collection of books about pets which celebrate the wonder of having them, and the sadness of losing them. - Logan
Sources: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets
Along Came a Dog
by Meindert DeJong, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
A stray Labrador looking for a home decides to appoint himself the protector of a little red hen missing her feet.
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The Captain's Dog: The story of the Lewis and Clark
by Roland Smith
Expedition's journey across North America from the perspective of Lewis' loyal dog Seaman.
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A Dog's Purpose
by W. Bruce Cameron
A dog searches for his purpose through all his many lives, touching several humans in amazing ways along his way.
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Homeward Bound
DVD
Three pets, two dogs and a cat, set out across a dangerous wilderness in search of their family.
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Travels with Charley
by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck embarks on a journey across the 1960s United States with his French Poodle Charley, seeing both the good and the bad of America with his loyal four legged friend at his side.
A Walk Across America
by Peter Jenkins
Peter Jenkins, a recent college graduate from New England, decides to walk across the United States with his dog Cooper. His journey of self-discovery helps better know both his nation and himself.
Old Yeller
by Fred Gipson
In this touching classic a young boy meets, and eventually befriends, a raggedy stray too clever for his own good.
About the Author
Logan is a Circulation Clerk and started working at EPL in May of 2021. He is studying History at SIUE, and he enjoys reading Fantasy and Sci-Fi in particular, but will give pretty much anything a try.