There is a drop of blood in the snow before me…. The coyote… is in estrus…. spurred to let out a bit of herself, sending a message, telling everyone she was now ready, that the clock of her winter was ticking toward spring. – Craig Childs, The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild

It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being. – Henry David Thoreau

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. – Colette

Be it human or animal, touch is a life-giving thing. Has anyone ever had a stroke or a heart attack while cozied up with a pet? I doubt it. – Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com