Betty White's Pet-Love: How Pets Take Care of Us

by Betty White, Tom Watson

Much has been written about how people should take care of their pets—but here is a fascinating, documented account of how pets can and do take care of people. Noted actress and animal lover Betty White draws on personal experience and the studies of leading authorities to show how science has confirmed what pet owners have known instinctively all along—that pets contribute to the health and well-being of their owners.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Animals

284 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

Betty White was an American five-time Emmy Award-winning film and television actress with a career spanning sixty years. She also appeared in radio programs, movies, theater, commercials, and was also a talk show and game show host. White is perhaps best known for her roles in the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.

Reviews

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

she loves animals just like the animals love her and the people loved her.

[Jordan Kinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had it on my shelf for many years and finally read it right after she died.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though@ this point the content is a bit dated, it was still entertaining & informative!! Made me want to read an updated version!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book was so much more than I needed, or expected, it to be. I was always planning to read Betty White’s books this year. I was planning that in celebration of her 100th birthday and instead, unfortunately, it turned into something I’m doing in her honor.

Each book has a different tone and subject which has surprised me greatly. It says a lot about someone that they can write multiple books about their life’s experiences and on different subjects entirely.

So far, I have enjoyed this book and her book If You Ask Me (but you probably won’t) best of all. That book is about her life as an actress, this book is about the bond between humans and animals.

I pictured that this book would mostly be about Betty’s pets but it’s so much more than that. I would have been happy with that book but this one was even better.

This book was actually published before Golden Girls!
Betty was widowed less than two years before this book was written and she begins by talking about how her animals got her through the loss of Allen. She talks about statistics of people losing a spouse and having their own health fail soon afterwards and how animals have been proven to lessen that.

Then we learn about animal/human bonds and the benefits of those bonds in many, many interesting situations. People in hospitals and hospice benefitting from animal visitors, people in prison, children with disabilities etc etc.

It’s absolutely fascinating. It also makes the reader want to look into how much these programs have expanded since Betty wrote this book. This must have been some pretty cutting edge information at the time.

I loved it and I’d highly recommend fans of Betty and animal lovers to read this book.

[Bonnie Linderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book & Betty summed it up just right in the end. I was surprised a non fiction book could keep my interest but this one did. Especially if you love animals & I’m sure God made them for a reason. All of them!!! The most important thing in this life is to love one another. I believe everyone can learn that though an animal became God gave them unconditional LOVE!!! Thank you Betty!!!

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.