by Joan Chittister. Published by Garratt Publishing. Reviewed by Brian Rae. 

As a fan of Joan Chittister and having read many of her books it was a pleasant surprise to read her latest, Two Dogs and a Parrot, about her life with Danny, the Irish setter; Duffy the golden retriever and Lady, the caique parrot. Joan is a consummate storyteller and through her stories she invites readers to reflect on the companionship of our pets and the way their relationships with us enrich our lives. She writes of pets’ empathetic responses to their human companions and of how they can open us to an understanding and awareness of a whole other level of what it means to be alive.

While Joan highlights the bond between humans and animals she invites us to appreciate this relationship in a deeper way. She writes of the role our animal companions can have in developing our spirituality. She points out that through the experience of human-animal relationships we can grow our understanding of our interconnections within creation — a further recognition of what Pope Francis calls “sharing our common home”. Joan agrees with Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

As an animal lover and former dog owner I highly recommend this easily-read and thought-provoking book to everyone, especially those interested in reflecting on what our animal friends can teach us about living.

Tui Motu magazine. Issue 215 May 2017: 28.