All cats are incredibly cute when they're kittens and cubs. But when they grow up, wild cats are not so cuddly. Yet, some people keep big cats such as lions, tigers, and leopards as pets. They think they can tame them, but a wild animal is always wild, and many big cats owners are responsible for the deaths of people when their pets attack. This book describes the attributes of big cats that make them unsuitable pets. Readers discover the reasons why it's more humane to leave these exotic animals in their native habitats than to cage them.

A puma may not be able to roar like a lion, but it can make ear-splitting screams just as terrifying as a lion’s roar. Learn all about lions, pumas, tigers, African servals, and more with this high-energy Q-and-A formatted text that will fascinate even reluctant readers.

This book is an interdisciplinary collection shedding light on human-animal relationships and interactions around the world. The book offers a predominantly empirical look at social and cultural practices related to companion animals in Mexico, Poland, the Netherlands, Japan, China and Taiwan, Vietnam, USA, and Turkey among others. It focuses on how dogs, cats, rabbits and members of other species are perceived and treated in various cultures, highlighting commonalities and differences between them.

Burmese Pythons are crawling across Florida from Lake Okeechobee to Key Largo. Hundreds of thousands of Green Iguanas relax along canals and on pool decks around the southern part of the state. And other non-native animals like seven-foot Nile Monitor Lizards and poop-tossing Rhesus Monkeys are scaring Florida residents. How did all these animals get into our public parks, canals and lakes, undeveloped areas and suburban yards? The unfortunate truth is, kids and their parents are partly to blame. Parents are purchasing cute baby animals for their kids, then abandoning the unwanted adult pets in the Everglades and anywhere else they think the animals might survive on their own. Some species are indeed surviving--and they are breeding wildly, becoming nuisance species. This book provides identification information for the most common exotic species and has the answers to these questions: What are these animals and how did they get here? What is a humane way to get rid of them? When should a trapper be called? Can I feed them? Are they dangerous? What is the effect of all these exotics on the environment? What can we do to help with the problem? Readers learn how to stay safe, be humane, and appreciate nature--and are encouraged NOT to purchase exotic animals as pets. Recommended by the National Association of Science Teachers

Rayna Sebastiani is tired of living on the run and on the wrong side of the law. A beautiful gypsy, Rayna is well-versed in con games. She has a trained pig, too. Luther 'Gant' Gantry is a former outlaw, part owner of a floating circus, and has a villainous family tracking him down. Luther is none too fond of Rayna or her pig. If one doesn't bring trouble, the other certainly will. But he recognizes a kindred spirit in the dark-eyed gypsy, and an all-consuming passion that's proving harder to deny. THE LAW AND DISORDER SERIES, in order To Love a Scoundrel The Outlaw was No Lady A Lawman for Maggie The Law and Miss Penny THE INCONVENIENT BRIDES, in series order: The Bride Wore Spurs Marrying Miss Shylo The Marring Kind THE WILD WOMEN SERIES, in order: Untamed Wildcat Wild Rose Wild Hearts

This one-volume encyclopedia introduces readers to the world's cryptids-those hidden or secret animals believed to exist at the margins of human society-including Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Mothman. Comprehensive in its scope, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to know more about well-known creatures of myth and legend, such as the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil, and discover lesser-known animals, such as the Bunyip of Australia and the Mamlambo of South Africa. Rather than purport to prove or deny the existence of these creatures, however, this volume classifies them within their respective cultural, historical, and social contexts, allowing readers to appreciate cryptids as cultural artifacts important to societies around the globe. Finally, this book goes beyond the study of the unknown to investigate who believes in cryptids, why they do, and why the study of cryptozoology is as much about understanding cryptids as it is about understanding ourselves.

From a New York Times bestselling author, a humorous look at the advantages of being a dog parent, with photos from an award-winning photographer. Some pairings are just meant to be: peanut butter and chocolate, yin and yang, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. So it was only a matter of time before the stars in the universe lined up and suggested the collaboration between New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive and award-winning photographer Rachael Hale. Greive and Hale explain once and for all Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats. Now, before all you cat lovers find your fur standing on end, Greive is quick to stress that he is simply “prodog, not anticat. The purpose of this book is not to criticize cats or their owners, but to champion the many exceptional virtues unique to dogs.” What are these unique attributes that make canine companions superior to their feline fiends? (Oops, we meant friends.) Consider the following: * Dogs are social. Cats are sociopaths. * Dogs match up to people. People must match up to cats. * Dogs teach us patience. Cats test our patience. * Dogs give and give. Cats are the gift that keeps on grifting. The bottom line is this: Dogs want love. Cats want fish. Although Greive admits that there is something to be said for “soft, warm, and sleepy” (a.k.a. cats) as captured in Hale's cuddly feline photographs, he concludes that dogs would be the only ones with character enough to admit this fact, thereby once again positioning themselves as the superior pet, confidant, admirer, and friend.

Combines photography, research, and personal observations of the worlds eight big cats.

Our feline companions are much-loved but often mysterious. In The Inner Life of Cats, Thomas McNamee blends scientific reportage with engaging, illustrative anecdotes about his own beloved cat, Augusta, to explore and illuminate the secrets and enigmas of her kind. As it begins, The Inner Life of Cats follows the development of the young Augusta while simultaneously explaining the basics of a kitten's physiological and psychological development. As the narrative progresses, McNamee also charts cats' evolution, explores a feral cat colony in Rome, tells the story of Augusta's life and adventures, and consults with behavioral experts, animal activists, and researchers, who will help readers more fully understand cats. McNamee shows that with deeper knowledge of cats' developmental phases and individual idiosyncrasies, we can do a better job of guiding cats' maturation and improving the quality of their lives. Readers' relationships with their feline friends will be happier and more harmonious because of this book.