True Life Animal Stories

NATIONAL BESTSELLER The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Horse and The Eighty-Dollar Champion presents a “heartwarming [and] engaging folk-hero biography” (Kirkus Reviews) of a woman who fulfilled her lifelong wish to see the Pacific Ocean by riding her horse across...

There is no denying that the emotional bond between horses and the humans who love them can reach mystical proportions, and nowhere is that relationship more evident than in these 24 true-life accounts of horses rescuing people. Many of the stories recount incidents where death or physical injury was imminent, and only because a horse intervened are the narrators alive to tell the tale.

A hiker goes down in the rugged Cumberland Plateau. A sudden strike occurs in the remote Australian outback. A fatal encounter takes place in rural India. When the world’s most lethal predators strike, the human body becomes a battleground. This gripping collection of real-life clinical emergencies takes you to the bleeding edge of toxicology and human endurance. Featuring incredibly detailed case studies—from the devastating physiological effects of a Russell’s viper bite to the desperate scramble for African polyvalent antivenom in an American hospital—this book pulls back the ...

They look like us. They act like us. Until they don't. We are taught to see our primate relatives as funny, intelligent, and even part of the family. But what happens when that illusion is shattered by brutal, unexpected violence? This gripping collection of meticulously researched, true accounts explores the terrifying moments when our closest animal cousins turn on us with shocking ferocity. Drawn from harrowing 911 calls, official reports, and eyewitness testimony, these twenty stories take you from suburban homes to exotic tourist traps, revealing a disturbing pattern of instinct and ...

You’re not on top of the food chain. Not out here. Mauled delivers 15 gut-wrenching accounts of humans hunted, cornered, and torn apart by nature’s most savage predators. Bears. Lions. Wolves. Hyenas. These aren’t stories with happy endings—they’re warnings. If you think you're prepared, think again. When it happens, it happens fast.

Already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in the Guardian, We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. This touching memoir is set to be a major motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, in theaters December 23, 2011.

In the spirit of An Immense World and Soul of an Octopus, an award-winning neuroscientist and veteran horse trainer illuminates the mysteries of equine cognition and behavior, told through the moving story of her own extraordinary bond with a horsenamed True North. The bond between horses and...

When John Tovey lost his sight at the age of 42, he thought his life was over. He was wrong, it was just beginning. John had followed a bad path drifting in and out of trouble. He was sent to improvement schools, a young offenders institute and eventually a prison. John was on self-destruct and thought nothing or no one could help him. Then he became the victim of a vicious attack by a notorious train ‘steaming’ gang. John knew he had to take the witness stand.

What if the first beings to greet us on the other side… aren’t human? Across countless cultures and spiritual traditions, animals are seen as guides, protectors, and loyal companions. But for some people, this connection goes far beyond life itself. In this extraordinary collection, survivors of near-death experiences share stunning, heartfelt encounters with deceased pets, animal spirits, and mysterious creatures who guided them through the realms beyond. Inside these pages, you’ll discover: ✨ Dogs who stood guard at the border of the afterlife ✨ Cats who returned with comforting...

Sue Tidwell traveled to Tanzania enchanted by African wildlife—and deeply uneasy about hunting it. As a non-hunter, she never imagined she would be tagging along on her husband's three-week big game safari in remote Africa, much less tracking Cape buffalo—one of Africa's most dangerous game animals—through tall grass or waking in the middle of the night to the warning: "Honey, get ready to run."

This book is a true story of a most amazing kitten that was swept away during a hurricane and found her way back home six weeks later to teach her family about hope, spirituality, and the true spirit of survival.

In the chaos of World War I, when wounded soldiers lay stranded in no-man’s-land, hope often arrived on four paws. The mercy dogs of the Great War were trained to cross deadly battlefields alone—finding the fallen, carrying supplies, and guiding rescuers back through smoke, barbed wire, and gunfire. Their courage saved thousands of lives, yet their stories were nearly lost to history. Mercy Dogs of World War I brings these extraordinary animals back into the light with powerful true accounts drawn from letters, diaries, and military records. Inside, you’ll discover: How mercy dogs ...

You're swimming in the ocean when you see a fin cutting through the water toward you. Shark! Although they have the upperhand in their watery home, some people have encountered shark attacks and have lived to show their scars. These true stories detail the amazing events of people who endured a shark attack and survived.

In 2002, a young orca was discovered near Seattle - lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Six months later she was rescued, rehabilitated and reunited with her family on the north end of Vancouver Island. Today Springer is thriving, with two calves of her own. It's the only successful orca reunion in history!

At nine years old, Eugenie Clark developed an unexpected passion for sharks after a visit to the Battery Park Aquarium in New York City. At the time, sharks were seen as mindless killing machines, but Eugenie knew better and set out to prove it. Despite many obstacles in her path, Eugenie was able to study the creatures she loved so much. From her many discoveries to the shark-related myths she dispelled, Eugenie made wide scientific contributions that led to her being nicknamed Shark Lady.

This chapter book is sure to make a splash! Find fun, funny, and true stories of heroic and talented dolphins and amazing dolphin friendships. It's perfect for budding bookworms and animal lovers alike!

When an Iraqi family is forced to flee their home, they can't bear to leave their beloved cat, Kunkush, behind. So they carry him with them from Iraq to Greece, keeping their secret passenger hidden away. But during the crowded boat crossing to Greece, his carrier breaks, and the frightened cat runs from the chaos. In a moment, he's gone. After an unsuccessful search, his family continues their journey, brokenhearted. But a happy ending awaits. This remarkable true story is told by the real people involved and with the full cooperation of Kunkush's family.

When George Mottershead moved to the village of Upton-by-Chester in 1930 to realise his dream of opening a zoo without bars, his four-year-old daughter June had no idea how extraordinary her life would become. Soon her best friend was a chimpanzee called Mary, lion cubs and parrots were vying...

This is an epic poem that takes you on a sweeping, immersive trip into Africa's vast and untamed environment. It celebrates FitzPatrick's ageless bond with his loyal friend, Jock, using rich, poetic language and evocative imagery. Its length allows the plot to unfold with deliberate depth and grandeur, capturing both peaceful beauty and intense, heart-pounding action. Therefore,readers are invited to linger in the rhythms of the wild, where each stanza builds on the previous one, creating a tapestry of courage, adventure, and enduring friendship. This is a poetry to be savored slowly, a ...

During their daily walks, new puppy Dea pulls her human, Alison, by the leash into making connections, handling crippling loss, and coping with the challenges of life. What might have been tragic through Alison’s eyes finds wider perspective and resonance through Dea’s as she tolerates Alison’s pathetic attempts at meditation and online dating, sees her through a second bout of cancer, and finally steers Alison toward appreciating life’s daily wonders that are a puppy’s birthright.