Dr. Slack draws from his 35 years of veterinary practice on two continents, Australia and America, to explore this wonderful mystery of human-animal bonding. He writes how his clients' pets touched their lives - the warmth of a cat curled in the lap of an elderly lady, the laughter of a latchkey child at play with his dog, a pet helping a boy survive the chaos of an alcoholic parent - the many magical ways the bond between us brings joy into our human world.

He reflects on how his own pets, Shilo and Bailee, taught him the art of living in the moment and about how our bonds become a great source of comfort at all stages of life, for both species. Through our pets, we humans can learn the secret of how to be our best selves - for all those we love - human and animal.