HOW ANIMALS HEAL US

A moving essential book Nobody writes about Nature with more beauty and grace than Jay Griffiths Brian Eno From celebrated author Jay Griffiths comes a unique and heartfelt insight into the healing nature of our relationship with animals Pet owners and animal lovers instinctively know that animals heal This book offers the evidence drawing widely on scientific discoveries history and Indigenous knowledge We meet a pot bellied pig who saved her owner s life lions who guarded a girl from kidnappers dolphins and whales rescuing people in danger and dogs who can smell cancer and phone the Emergency Services Animal sounds from insects to birdsong and the purring of cats are directly medicinal and their presence can heal the pain of loneliness Animals including donkeys can be natural therapists for the hurt psyche alleviating trauma fear and depression In this original revelatory and exuberant book Jay Griffiths explores how animals can have a role in every level of healing from the individual to the collective guiding us in how we might create societies that are healthier fairer and kinder Wolves may be teachers of ethics monkeys and dogs can object to unfairness and bees take collective decisions Animals are irresistible medicine for a hea