Customer Reviews
Scholarly & Compelling Revelations 
2008-03-13
If you are interested in the ways animals and humans have found ways to help and heal one another -- then this is the book for you. I am deeply impressed by the layers of information and deeply researched examples of ongoing pet and human partnerships in living well, healing, and transcending personal tragedy. If I were to offer one book to both the pet lover who is already persuaded at the amazing gifts of animals, and to the skeptic who isn't sure that pets do more than entertain or receive our projections -- this would be the book. It is a serious book with beautiful, remarkable stories and scientific efficacy to support its claims.
Healing Power of pets 2007-01-06
The book arrived in an excellent condition at the promised time.
As this was a present for a friend it was greatly appreciated
Susan
Every Review Of Twenty Are All 5 Stars - The Book Is Great 2005-05-08
I am a dog lover in particular and a pet lover in general. Pets definitely have healing powers. The interaction between human and pet is healthy. In terms of my love for a dog the benefits are extensive. This book is scientific and gives the evidence that proves the healing power of pets. It is not speculation. As you read the book you will learn of the many ways in which your interaction with pets will maintain and enhance your good health.
A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info 2003-11-16
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.
Well rounded information on pets' extra-sensory abilities 
2003-02-11
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.
A reader from WI 2003-02-08
ncreasingly, medicine is recognizing the special relationship between pets and people as one of the most powerful weapons in fighting disease, treating chronic conditions, and coping with troubling times. In fact, many doctors are routinely 'prescribing' pets for their patients. The Healing Power of Pets explores these phenomena in greater detail, combining revolutionary scientific discoveries with deeply moving, personal stories of the unique bond between pets and their owners. The stories are of people who have learned how to triumph over chronic pain, paralyzing phobias, sedentary lifestyles, and life-threatening conditions-showing us that the best medicine might be that furry tail-wagging pet at your side.
The science behind intuition 2002-06-10
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"
Great book - not just lip service. 2002-06-06
The author has certainly done his homework and researched his issues in detail. A great book for anyone who is interested in pets. Well worth the money.
Healing Power of Becker and Pets! 2002-05-25
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.
This important book is a delight to read. 2002-03-29
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.
