Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

by Sharon Sakson

“I am highly impressed. . . . Paws and Effect is a great book for all dog lovers!”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation “So meaningful and straight to the heart, Paws & Effect sheds a whole new light on our communication with animals of which many people are unaware. You may listen more closely the next time your dog tries to tell you something!” – Betty White, actress, author Dogs have always helped humans and changed our lives for the better—by herding sheep, guarding our homes, and giving us unconditional love—but our dogs may save our lives as well. PAWS & EFFECT provides individual accounts of beloved pets that have supported their families, in miraculous ways, through periods of ill health; and it reviews the science that lends credence to claims of dogs’ healing power. For the first time, the array of fascinating information on this topic has been gathered in one place. Did you know that groundbreaking research for detecting ovarian cancer with the use of a dog’s nose has been aided by a grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program? Or that an Akita named Hotei is able to predict his owner’s seizures, and gets her to lie down before they take place? That an organization called X-CPR promotes the use of small, hairless Mexican dogs to relieve the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia? That Army Sgt. 1st Class Russell Joyce and his Special Forces, aided by Fluffy, his German Shepherd, worked with the Kurds, in Iraq, to face down looters and secure the city of Mosul? Author Sharon Sakson’s investigation took her to academic institutions, veterinarians’ offices, dog breeders, charitable organizations, and even the military—wherein she discovered documentation for what so many of us already that the loving presence of a dog can avert, and transport us through, grave illness, whether physical or psychological. More importantly, her investigation took her deep into the hearts and lives of dogs and their owners. Sakson redefines the age-old bond between human and dog—a bond that is proving to be without limits.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sharon Sakson is a journalist; network news television producer and dog show judge. She is the author of six books, four about dogs. Her household includes two horses and ten dogs. She has raised top winning Whippets and Brussels Griffons. She volunteers as a puppy raiser for a service dog organization. She is the author of over two hundred articles, appearing in the New York Times, People magazine, Dogs in Review, Dog World, Dog News, Canine Chronicle, Topnotch Toys and other publications. She can be reached at healingpowerofdogs@mac.com."

Reviews

[Beth/Sr. Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably liked this book so much because it goes along with what I already know - that dogs can heal people when all else fails -- but why wait until all else fails?? Go get a shelter dog!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a dog lover, I'm already very familiar with the emotional upside of being around dogs, but this book took it a step further by suggesting that the ancient relationship between man and dog is evolving beyond companionship and emotional well-being.

As a former puppy-raiser for guide dogs, I was interested to learn that the use and acceptance by society of dogs for other physical disabilities is fairly recent. Today research is continuing into how dogs are able to actually smell cancer in patients that cannot be diagnosed by medical doctors- amazing! I was moved to tears by the story of Vietnam Veterans who had handled dogs during the war and the efforts they go to today to advocate for Iraqi vets wishing to adopt their canine war partners. An excellent read for any dog lover.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. At first glance, I thought it was just going to be stories about dogs--kind of like the Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers series. I learned a lot of things from this book, from the Delta Society to Therapy dogs and war dogs. The only thing I wish the author would have done differently is to put pictures in the stories, because I don't know what some dog breeds look like off hand. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a dog!

[Kim]

Loved, loved, loved this book! Anyone who even likes cats and dogs will look at them on a whole new level after reading this book. The book inspired myself to find out if there was anything I could add to the world through my love of animals...especially dogs and cats.

[Rob Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very heart warming stories of dogs helping people in many various ways. Dogs that help detect seizures and cancer. Dogs that help physically and mentally impaired people, dogs that helped soldiers during war and more.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one who does pet therapy with my dog, I wanted to read this book when I saw a review in the Best Friends magazine. It contained articles about people whose lives were changed by dogs. The story about Bonnie Bergin's pioneering work with assistance dogs was really great - she founded Canine Companions for Independence. I was surprised to learn how smart dogs are and how much they can do to make the lives of humans so much richer.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores paw power. Dogs aren't called Man's Best Friend coincidentally. Their companionship and intuition are both a comfort and a tool that are often times taken for granted or overlooked. Sharon Sakson takes us from canines and cave men, to scientific studies testing the theory that dogs can smell cancer -- they can. I enjoyed reading about the healing power of dogs in people's lives. And hope to have one of my own soon!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives many solid examples of what dog-lovers have always known...a person is healthier and happier when they own a dog, and dogs are remarkably intuitive when it comes to knowing when where, and how to give comfort to someone whether injured, ill, or just in a difficult state of mind. AWESOME!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and well-written book. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves dogs.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. I have newfound respect for service dogs and their handlers. If you love dogs you will like this book.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

good - is an informational book about "helping" dogs that aid people with disabilities

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving accounts of how dogs have enriched our lives--from service dogs to dogs that improve our health by detecting cancer, etc.

[Madi P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not interest me that much at first and I didn´t want to keep reading but after I kept reading the stories about these dogs I did not even want to put the book down. These stories were made for cat and dog lovers and any animal lovers. Some of these stories made me want to cry how sweet or sad they were. I also feel as if I have learned so much more about dogs (as I am more cat obsessed than dog obsessed) and I have even more respect and love for dogs than I already did. I 100% recommend this book to any animal lovers or literally anyone looking for a heartwarming book. :)

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at all the ways dogs help people. Not only as working dogs but also scent dogs, therapy and hearing alert dogs, helping the disabled and much more. It describes how dogs are detecting different human diseases like cancer and alert people with seizure disorder and diabetes not to mention how dogs save lives in the military. A good read with lots of examples of dogs devotion to man.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love dogs and want to read a collection of stories on how dogs help improved peoples lives, then I’d recommend. Sakson’s writing style isn’t exceptionally eloquent, but the stories she shares are powerful and heartwarming to read. The chapters about Military War Dogs were especially impactful.

[Joy Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time of comfort this book appeared. It bought all the emotions a person that has taken care of a dog would understand.The incredible people in this book that bred and train dogs to assist those in need.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Really boring unfortunately.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We probably don't deserve dogs, but we got them anyway, because they're Good Dogs.

[Maura Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely collection of dog and human interactions. :)

[K9stylist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Requires tissues.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book on the abilities of dogs in medical situations! Loved!

[Bookchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the writing isn't spectacular, I love all of the studies on how dogs very effectively help humans detect and deal with both emotional and physical disease. There are a wide variety of anecdotes as to how dogs are therapeutic to people they interact with. Great to have in my back pocket as a therapy dog handler.

[Marianne Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have two dogs that I love with all of my heart. Every day, in every way, I can see how intuitive they are.

This book is sweet. I shows just how "essential" dogs are to our universe.

They say that "Dog" is "God" spelled backwards.....and that is very true.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for dog lovers, and for those who want to have a therapy dog (that would be me!). Full of examples of canine intelligence, empathy, and abilities. I will keep this book as a reference, and to share.

[Jeannie Tremblay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the healing power of dogs. I loved every chapter and wept while reading the last two chapters. If you love dogs, you will love this book. The more I read books about dogs, the more I want a dog. I do believe it will happen one day!!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read that tugs at heart strings. Great bed-time reading with short stories. There were a few grammatical and printing typos which I always find annoying, but they did not detract from the book.

[Laurla2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

stories about dogs who help people heal and help people thru difficult times. some of the stories made me cry.

[Amy Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little hard to get through, but amazing what dogs can do, like smell cancer in humans.

[Denise Ballentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of heartwarming tales of hope about people and dogs. Some amazing stuff here. Totally enjoyed it.

[Donna Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book exploring the healing power of dogs. Dogs have that special something and these people in the stories in this book prove they know it and want to share it with the world.