Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections [Paperback]

Susan Chernak McElroy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 1998

Susan Chernak McElroy credits her astounding triumph over cancer to the love of the animals in her life. In Animals as Teachers & Healers she shares her remarkable story along with true stories from others who have been touched by the loving energies of animals.

A woman escapes an abusive relationship by observing how her boyfriend treated her two Arabian horses . . . a German shepherd cocoons its body around a toddler during a house fire . . . a coyote gives a couple wisdom about their rebellious daughter . . . a little three-legged frog imparts a valuable lesson to a frightened nine-year-old girl. Unique and compelling, Animals as Teachers & Healers invites us to reconnect with the boundless gifts of joy, wisdom, and deep healing that flow from our ageless and intimate relationship with the animal kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Author McElroy obviously loves and has a great deal of empathy for animals. Her premise here is that animals have a more significant role in our lives than is generally accepted. Exploring the psychological and spiritual bonds between various people and animals, she reads letters and talks of her own experiences. Examining the evolution of animals in our society, she indicates that we have lost much of our ability to truly appreciate our domestic animals and those in the wild. Much discussion is devoted to the terrible destruction?and the beginning of restoration?of the wolf. McElroy does not sugar-coat her message about our role, our relationships with, and our responsibility toward the animals in our care. To some listeners, this will be a little esoteric and lacking in solid fact for their liking. Those less concerned with scientific evidence will enjoy the stories and letters that she shares. Libraries serving large numbers of animal lovers and cancer patients (McElroy includes inspiring bits about her experience as a cancer survivor) should be interested.?Carolyn Alexander, Brigadoon Lib., Salinas, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Animals as Teachers and Healers was the first book of this kind (true stories about people's healing experiences with animals) to attract events without an author! Volunteers from Adopt a Greyhound, for example, devoted their time (and their Greyhounds'--notoriously shy creatures) to discussions hosted in bookstores. The book's very personal stories prompted people to share their own stories of connection with animals. Some wrote essays. And others went right out and adopted their own greyhound after hearing about the program! What was immediately apparent at all the events I went to was how much animals relaxed barriers between people, and gave them a comfortable way to express emotion. Also, everyone seemed drawn to a different story in Animals as Teachers and Healers, and for a variety of reasons. But my own favorite story is about "Annie, the horse," which describes a young woman who is unable to stand up to her abusive boyfriend but lavishes love and affection on her horse. One day, the boyfriend comes out to the barn where she's grooming Annie and a confrontation escalates to the point where Annie's agitated. The boyfriend begins to get physical and Annie head-butts the boyfriend out of the barn! Shortly afterwards, the woman finds the strength to leave this guy, w/ Annie, of course. It's amazing how animals both humanize people and lend strength, joy, and dominion. Sad that I don't have room for so much as a goldfish, but I've got the book on my shelf!

--Christina Smith, Marketing Manager

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345421175
• ISBN-13: 978-0345421173
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #600,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animals as Teachers and Healers, December 28, 2000

By 

Margie Weeks (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections (Paperback)

As an avid animal lover, I found Susan Chernok McElroy's book to be none other than touching and heartfelt. The material she used for her writings was a great teacher and healer in of itself for me, the reader. Every story leapt off the page and affected me deeply, evoking any number of a myriad of emotions ... joy, sorrow, relief, suspense, laughter. When I finished the book (which I did quickly), I felt more inspired than I had in a long time to make the earth's animal kingdom a greater and more important part of my life, whether by working for its welfare/well-being, or simply by giving my own pets more of the love they need and deserve! I plan to give this book to every animal lover I know.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Uplifting Tribute to our Animal Friends, March 13, 2005

By 

Alijandra (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections (Paperback)

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for a good animal story. If it's happy, I cry; if it's sad, I cry harder. Animal abuse distresses me almost more than anything else.

One of my pleasures is to pick up every book I can on animals and the psychic realm. The books that focus on our intimate connections to the animal kingdom and how we may communicate with them through our intuitive thoughts and feelings are books to not only to learn from, but to savor.

I remember that pioneer in the field, Beatrice Lydecker, whose book was revolutionary when it came out years ago. It was "What the Animals Tell Me", and I was thrilled this work was available to us. The fact that there are so many books about this subject on the market now testifies to the fact that as a people we are really ready to hear the wisdom and love that animals offer. They are not just a food source or slave labor to us any longer.

Ms. McElroy does a beautiful job of bringing forth her message of healing the relationship between people and animals. She comes from a most compassionate, wise place in her understanding of why animals are with us as our companions.

If you want an example of unconditional love, be in the presence of a beloved pet. Never have I, in my life, ever received even close to that level of unconditional love and acceptance that my animal companions have shown me. [Particularly my recently deceased, Francis, who was a very evolved being inhabiting a humble life form. I am planning a future book on this soul.]

Animals are helping us evolve to the realization of our Oneness universe. We are taught by them that there is no separation between us and them. They feel what we feel. They see the spiral of life and death as part of the Wholeness of life.

The author goes into several different topics: animals as guides or guardians, healers, in the dream state or shamanic state, and through the death process. There is no dead weight in this book---all is riveting, and should be read more than once through.

Most highly recommended.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely profound and touching book!, July 6, 1999

By 

"corgibuddy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections (Paperback)

This book really touched me. The stories are profound and touching beyond words. Animals are definitely "man's best friend" and it seems to be proven over and over again in this book, with each tale telling a compelling and poignent story of how an animal touched the life of someone in need. In my own perception of it......animals are true angels, put on this earth to help us and guide us along our own journeys. We should be thankful.