Animal Vignettes: True Stories of Friendship

by Joy E. Rancatore

Feel the pawprints on your heart as you read stories of gassy puppies, feral chickens and kittens in overcoats conducting life lessons on friendship and perseverance.

In Animal True Stories of Friendship, award-winning indie author Joy E. Rancatore honors the pets that have made her a better human. This collection of animal tales celebrates the bond between animals and people with candor, humor, soul and heart.

From her earliest maybe-memory of a kitten in a stroller to the pets flanking her as she drafted these vignettes, the author acknowledges the role animals have played in her emotional development. Reminiscent of Reader’s Digest essays and James Herriot’s country vet books, each narrative showcases the power of faith and the empathy produced from bonds with pets.

Animal Vignettes is founded on gratitude for friendship. The loss of one of the author’s dearest friends led to this book’s creation as a catalyst for comfort during grief and of connection with others. Because of their heart-core foundation, these tales are best shared with friends—human and animal.

With its relatable and sensory recollections of dogs, cats, fish, chickens, hamsters, ponies, horses and more, Animal Vignettes will inspire readers to reflect on their own transformational moments with animals—furry, feathered or finned.

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2025

About the author

Legacy and identity, founded on hope-filled faith, infuse the tales of the soul written from the heart of JOY E. RANCATORE. Her Carolina’s Legacy Collection embraces everyday moments that constitute a lifetime and its heritage. Told around multiple related characters, this collection explores faith, life, death and the demons within through four mediums—novel, novella, short stories and epistolary.

An avid reader, student of human behaviors and unwitting empath, Joy absorbs emotions and spills them onto the pages of her work. Joy’s technical background includes more than two decades of professional writing and editing. Ongoing training in writing, publishing, business and counseling enables her to package soul-filled stories for her readers. An award-winning, multi-genre Indie Author, Joy believes extraordinary things await her characters and their tales.

Despite a fondness for her roles as author, editor, podcaster and speaker, Joy is a hobbit at heart with Bilbo’s zeal for mountains. She enjoys a life of quiet stillness with her husband, two children, dog and cat and more books than she’s willing to count. When daily homeschool lessons are complete, she eagerly prepares for teatime before writing your next favorite story.

Reviews

[Joy E. Rancatore]

I never planned to write this book, but what a journey it has been! This collection of 50 tales of joy, sorrow, beauty, pain, grief, learning and growth comes from my heart to your bookshelf, thanks to the many precious animals I've been blessed to call mine. Animals have made me a better human, and it's my pleasure to share their inspiration, influence and tales with you. May you be encouraged, uplifted and touched through my simple words.

[Faith Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is the literary equivalent of a warm cup of tea on a blustery evening. It is a chance to sit with the author and reminisce about love, life, loss, and laughter through interactions with fur babies. As we meet each new character, we are charmed by their personality and amused by their antics. We meet a cat with a great depth of emotion, a dog with an uncanny ability to steal food, as well as a host of other animals who will walk into your heart. Whether you are remembering your own precious pets or walking a path of grief right now, this book is a tender exploration of emotion. Laugh and cry as you curl up with these tales. Feel the emotions and come out richer when you finish the book.

[Rachael Ritchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to laugh and cry, and sometimes both at once, as you settle into this beautiful book that is part memoir, part advice for living before the face of God.

Joy E. Rancatore has bared her heart and sprinkled profound moments of wisdom into a book full of wonderful stories any animal or pet lover will savor! I read this in a few sittings, but you can read one a week for almost a whole year and use them to reflect on a memory or a tidbit of wisdom.

I definitely recommend to adult and teen readers who enjoy true stories full of mischievous pets and the truly humbling relationships built around them.

[Kitty Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title implies, this is a collection of short stories featuring animals in the author’s life. Some stories are happy, some are sad, but all include the faith and/or life lesson the author learned through that experience. A variety of animals and birds make an appearance, but as you would expect, dogs and cats take front stage. It’s a great book to have on hand, because you can read a bite or two while waiting in a doctor’s office, or for your car to be ready at a mechanic shop.