Mutual rescue : how adopting a homeless animal can save you, too

Summary: "Anyone who has an adopted dog or cat knows the delight and comfort pets bring to everyday life, and most of us are aware that their presence can, in many cases, be transformative. When Carol Novello began working at Humane Society Silicon Valley, she discovered daily evidence of the life-changing impact homeless animals have on people--how they could lift moods, enhance physical well-being and improve people's ability to communicate and connect. Inspired by these hopeful, heartrending examples, she began gathering more stories and, through the Mutual Rescue initiative, she and her team set out to share them. [This book] is a collection of these real accounts from people whose lives have been forever altered by giving a home to an animal in need. Each chapter explores one aspect of pet adoption and the many ways it expands and enriches people's lives. Through anecdote, observation, and scientific research, Novello lays bare the beautifully complex roles that pets play when they become part of our families...This illuminating look into the potential of pets to shape our lives and open our hearts will transform the way you think about homeless animals and their place in the world."--Jacket.