Book Review: Vets and Pets (veterans)

Vets and Pets: Wounded Warriors and the Animals that Help Them Heal, by Dava Guerin and Kevin Ferris (Skyhorse Publishing, $21.99, 232pp HB, 2017)

All the Vets and Pets stories are about pets (and vets) but some of the animals are more than pets: they are service dogs. . . .

The first half of the book features service members and their dogs (all branches are represented eventually- combat tours and not) while the second half focuses in on other animals, a rare book to do so but stories we should be aware of.

We loved the chapter titles many of which reflected the branch of service and a quote about the relationship with their pet: Chapter 5, The Army Captain, Isaac Has Been Waiting for His Special Person

The Writers

Authors Dava Guerin and Kevin Ferris are experienced authors and also experienced at working together on a book. However, each chapter appears to have been written by committee in that, though it will progress chronologically for the most part, it really seems to jump around too much. This has helped us to decide not to read other books by the same authors. For example, it seems we are reading about a relationship rather than experiencing it.

The astute reader might do well to skip Chapter 16, the final chapter. Its purpose is to summarize how to be a good animal caretaker but the veterinarian who spends a few pages on training mixes up positive reinforcement training and traditional force-based methods.

Simply the Best!

However, Chapter 8, "The Navy Dog Handler," is almost the best chapter this reviewer has ever read that describes the close bond between dog and human.

And The Other Half

Cats and birds of prey and horses and pigs! All can help veterans just as veterans can help rescued animals be they cats or birds of prey or horses or pigs. Pets for Patriots* is an organization that works with animal shelters and veterans who want pets, though a couple of other rescues are mentioned (TADSAW for one). 

Veterans can also spend a couple of weeks at or volunteer at an animal sanctuary: both benefit.

And The Theme is. . . .

They don't have to be dogs, though: this is perhaps the theme of Vets and Pets. We think of dogs first because they are the first animals we think of when we think of service animals plus they are often cuddly which can be important for veterans who don't have family or close friends but mucking out horse stalls and riding horses who don't cuddle can be just as healing.

*and our local (Maryland) service dog organization for veterans merits a mention also, in the first chapter - Canine Warrior Connection and its veteran founder, Rick Yount