Welcome to Litsy!

Brilliant book about animal mental health. Brought me to tears with numerous examples of animal abuse and brought a smile on my face for the many anecdotes of love & empathy between animals and people.
A must read to understand how mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal tendencies, affect animal wellbeing, especially in captivity. An eye opener.

This book looks at behaviors in animals that appear very much to be analogous to mental health issues in people, from anxiety to compulsive actions. It‘s very good, but very difficult to read if you love animals. (And why would you read this if you didn‘t?) It‘s making me think a lot and perhaps realign my thinking on some things.

A compelling book on the emotional and mental lives of animals. Braitman uses lots of research and case studies to examine erratic and anxious behaviours of animals such as gorillas, dogs, bonobos, whales, dolphins, elephants, mice, and many other species. The point she tries to make is that the emotional afflictions affecting non-human animals is not that far apart from what we humans experience ourselves. Utterly readable and very insightful

Some interesting ideas and very sad stories.

Did you know? Captive primates, if they are to breed, are shown videos of other primates being pregnant and giving birth so when they are pregnant themselves, it won't shock them and cause anxiety. Also, as part of the breeding program, the primates watch human mothers nurse their babies. Animals need mentors just like we do to cope with new situations. Very interesting book... Hopefully I can borrow it again and finish it.

In honor of #internationalcatday this is my sister's cat Laila. She's a tiny terror but has her adorable moments too.

So, I don't have many #booksaboutnature. I picked this one up as an ARC back in the days when I worked at a Barnes & Noble - it's not exactly "nature"-y, but it is about animals and human nature, so...haha. Gus was unimpressed by the dog on the cover of this book. #readjanuary

This book should prove especially helpful since we just recently adopted a puppy! (my older dog is not pleased, but hoping he will get used to his new brother!)