National Pet Month, celebrated in May, is a special time to recognize the joy and companionship pets bring into our lives. Whether you’re a proud dog parent, a devoted cat lover, or the caretaker of something a little more exotic, this month is all about showing appreciation for our animal companions. It can also be a chance to spoil your furry, feathered, or scaly friends with extra love, treats, and adventures. It is also an opportunity to promote responsible pet ownership, spotlight pet adoption, and recognize the many benefits pets provide us, like improving our mental and physical well-being.

This time reminds us not only to cherish the animals in our homes, but also to advocate for those still waiting for a loving family. During this month, pet lovers across the country come together to volunteer at shelters, support local rescue organizations, and share heartwarming stories about their pets. 

Whether it be for pet care and training, breed research, or just a tale to warm your heart, Salina Public Library offers books, videos, and more to help you make the best of you and your pets’ years.

Non-Fiction

Don’t Shoot the Dog: The Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor
“In her groundbreaking approach to improving behavior, behavioral biologist Karen Pryor says, “Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement.” Now Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and reveals how this art can be applied to virtually any common situation.”

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
“A naturalist and adventurer discusses the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals who have profoundly affected her, exploring themes of learning to become empathetic, creating families, coping with loss, and the otherness and sameness of people and animals.”

Decoding Your Cat: The ultimate experts explain common cat behaviors and reveal how to prevent or change unwanted ones by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Delve into the science behind feline behavior. Drawing from the latest research, the book offers practical strategies for understanding and addressing common behavioral issues, aiming to enhance the well-being of both cats and their owners.

 

The Book of Animal Secrets: Nature’s Lessons for a Long and Happy Life by David B. Agus, MD.
“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The End of Illness comes an ingenious guide to what our fellow animals can teach us about living longer, healthier, happier lives. Mother nature has a lot to teach us, if only we open our eyes.”

Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die by Jon Katz
Jon Katz offers a compassionate exploration of the profound grief that accompanies the loss of a beloved pet. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, he guides readers in navigating this emotional journey, encouraging honest mourning, self-forgiveness, and the celebration of the enduring bond shared with their animal companions.

Rethinking Rescue: Dog Lady and the Story of America’s Forgotten People and Pets by Carol Lynn Mithers
The chronicles of the transformative work of Lori Weise, known as the “Dog Lady,” who has spent decades assisting low-income and unhoused individuals in Los Angeles by keeping them and their pets together. The book challenges prevailing biases in the animal rescue movement, highlighting how systemic inequities often overlook the needs of impoverished pet owners and proposing a more inclusive, compassionate approach to animal welfare.

Fiction

A Man & His Cat, Volume 1 by Umi Sakurai
The first volume in the much anticipated manga series introduces readers to a chubby, overlooked cat named Fukumaru, who has spent his days in a pet shop, waiting for a chance at love. His fortunes change when an older man named Kanda adopts him, and together they embark on a heartwarming journey of companionship and healing, finding solace in each other’s presence.

What a Dog Knows by Susan Wilson
Ruby Heartwood, a traveling psychic, has spent her life running from her past. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she gains the ability to hear a dog’s thoughts, leading her to a small town where she begins to confront her past and forge new connections.

The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine
A quiet Manhattan block near Central Park becomes the backdrop for a series of interconnected stories about love, loneliness, and the unexpected connections formed through canine companionship. As the seasons change, five residents—each with their own quirks and desires—are drawn together by their dogs, leading to blossoming friendships and romances that transform their lives and their community.

St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin
Join Maeve Stephens, a 36-year-old sportswriter, as she faces a series of personal setbacks—including job loss and a public breakup—leading her to move back to her childhood home in Timber Creek, Washington. There, she discovers that her late birth mother, Annabelle, has left her a house, a vintage VW Beetle, and a spirited cat named Sherbet, prompting Maeve to unravel family secrets and find unexpected companionship in a tight-knit community dedicated to rescuing animals.

Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator by Homer Hickam
The author recounts the uproarious 1,000-mile journey of his parents, Homer and Elsie, who embark on a road trip to return an alligator named Albert to Florida. The tale is a delightful mix of improbable adventures, including encounters with bank robbers, moonshiners, and literary legends, all while navigating the complexities of love and marriage.​

Blue Skies by T. Coraghessan Boyle
T.C. Boyle delivers a darkly comic and eco-conscious novel that follows the misadventures of a California family grappling with climate change’s absurd extremes. From a Florida influencer’s ill-fated pet snake to a mother’s quest for insect-based cuisine, the story satirizes the chaos of a world where environmental collapse meets human folly.