Book Review: Heroic, Helpful and Caring Cats
Heroic, Helpful and Caring Cats: Felines Who Make a Difference. Anne E. Beall, Ph.D. Independently Published, April 29,2020, Trade Paperback, 118 pages.
Reviewed by Ed Marohn.
Psychologist and animal advocate, Anne Beall, tells eighteen stories of people and their relationships with felines. Her writing discusses the stereotype that dogs are the only go-to animals for providing love, support, and service to their human owners. In support of this misconception, when I facilitated a VA PTSD therapy group for eight years, I experienced the same dismissal of cats. The VA provided service dogs to help those with severe anxiety from combat trauma and hadn’t considered using service cats for my group.
From her book, the reader learns the valuable ability of cats to be service animals. Based on the anecdotes and the research discussed in the final chapter, it is evident that cats can be just as affectionate and devoted as dogs.
As the chapters unfold, the reader discovers heartwarming stories of how cats not only are affectionate to humans, but are trainable to serve as licensed service animals to comfort hospital and hospice patients, staff, and PTSD veterans.
In this book, cat owners share how their pets are as intelligent as dogs, how they bond with them, and how they provide empathy, love, and understanding. The chapters highlight how the feline companions help counter depression in their humans and deal with home and work issues. Like dogs, cats can sense when their human is ill or suffering and will react to comfort them by cuddling and staying with the person. The interaction between the owner and the feline is a strong tie—both needing each other.
The author also includes a detailed review of a unique and much-needed process that deals with feral cats. The TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program addresses the increasing feral cat population and resulting community issues. As a former City Council member, I saw the TNR program thrive where I live. Rather than capture cats and euthanize them, city workers would humanely trap feral cats, after which they were spayed/neutered, then released to their original location. The population of the wild animals is controlled and subsequently reduced, while diseases diminish through this humane effort.
This book is entertaining and educational, and I recommend reading it whether or not you are an animal lover. As a former dog owner, I can honestly say that after reading this book, I have learned to respect cats more than before. And I can thank Anne Beall for this.