The results have been extraordinary--people who were in their last days were given joy and companionship when they feared dying, or were closed off from all contact, human or otherwise.

Rivera explores the hospice movement and the increasingly convincing data that show that nonhuman animals offer a profound way for human beings to deal with isolation, suffering, and the great transition from life to death. She also reveals how animals touch us in a way that challenges our attitudes toward God, right living, and our sense of superiority over other species.

Michelle Rivera is a full-time humane educator and writer living in Jupiter, Florida with her husband John and several companion animals. Her essays on animals have been published in Animal Writes, Animals' Voice, Good Dog Magazine, and Veterinary Technician magazine. She has been involved in pet therapy for many years and is a state-certified humane officer, cruelty investigator, and a member of several humane society and rescue alliances. She is also the founder of the Prayer Alliance for Animals.