Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.— Anatole France

Earlier this month, I had to let our family’s lovely rabbit, Oliver, be euthanized. I wish I could use the euphemism “put to sleep” but there is no awakening and the loss is permanent. The hole in my heart will eventually fill with memories. This post is dedicated to Oliver, Arrow, Dusty, Mucki, Rosette, Sunset, Frisky, and Taffy; and to all the lovely creatures that are the golden threads in the tapestry of our lives.

Anyone who has ever loved a pet understands the price we pay to have these dear creatures in our life; that we may be called upon to help them one last time, even as our hearts are breaking.

One is lucky to love an animal. One is lucky also to have limitless access to animals through great literature. We grow up on fairy tales populated by animals and continue to find them in some of the most enduring literature throughout our lives. Among the best and brightest stories involving animals are:

Fiction for All Ages
Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls
The Call of the Wild – Jack London
The Black Stallion – Walter Farley

Fiction for Adults
Watership Down – Richard Adams
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein

Non-Fiction
Marley and Me – John Grogan
All Creatures Great & Small – James Herriot
Seabiscuit: An American Legend – Laura Hillenbrand
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds – Joy Adamson
Never Cry Wolf – Farley Mowat

Written For Young Children, Loved By Adults
Charlotte’s Webb – E.B. White
The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams
The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
The Secret of NIMH – Seymour Reit
The Story of Ferdinand – Munro Leaf
Stellaluna – Janell Cannon
Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey

I think I could always live with animals. The more you’re around people, the more you love animals. — Walt Whitman