Pets are now considered family members, and at the same time, profound changes are taking place in veterinary medicine. Procedures formerly available only for people are now also options for animals, giving rise to both tougher decisions and higher costs. To help the millions of pet lovers in the U.S. navigate this new landscape, Shannon Fujimoto Nakaya carefully lays out the issues people may face when confronted with a pet's health crisis and considering whether to pursue a particular treatment. She shows how each decision involves understanding the medical condition, treatment options, and potential outcomes - as well as one's own priorities and resources. The book explores the human-animal bond, healthy living and graceful aging, understanding diagnoses and options, managing needs and expectations, and more. Delivering much needed solace and guidance, it makes this uncharted territory more manageable for the many pet caretakers wanting to do the right thing for their loved ones.
Caring for animals was not just a career choice; it was a calling. I entered the veterinary field in 1982 as a teenaged volunteer. I knew then that I wanted to help and to heal animals. That same goal has motivated me for twenty years even as my role within the veterinary profession has changed and continues to evolve.
Besides healing patients, I have long aspired to do something that would more broadly benefit animals and the humans who care about them. Three years ago, I began writing about one of the most important things I do as a veterinarian -- help people to make decisions on behalf of their animal companions. Thank you to New World Library for publishing Kindred Spirit, Kindred Care: Making Health Decisions on Behalf of Our Animal Companions.
Besides managing a house call practice and a website, I currently divide my time between Massachusetts and Hawaii, caring for patients and continuing to develop my skills as a healer. I live with two tortoises, three birds, two goats, one dog, and one human.
