Found: Great Animal Book

Every now and then, a glint of gold flashes from the avalanche of books about pets.

Two or three pages in, you realize it’s special.

“Lost and Found,” by Elizabeth Hess, is such a volume. A richly reported story of life and death at an animal shelter in upstate New York, it is a remarkable look at how people perceive the value of companion animals.

Compassion, cruelty and courage are all part of this unflinching, vividly etched portrait.

In chapter after chapter, readers meet animals and people who are nothing short of unforgettable.

The subtitle says it: “Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter.”

If you’ve ever visited a dog pound and were unmoved, this book probably isn’t for you.

But Hess is after more than sniffles and a check to the Humane Society. In its way, “Lost and Found” is a readable exploration of humanity.

Part indictment, part celebration, the reporting was inspired by the freelance journalist’s own experiences as a shelter volunteer.

A reviewer for the New York newspaper Newsday recognized the author’s accomplishment: “Hess manages to walk a thin line, neither loading us down with heartache nor licking us silly.”

That’s no small feat.

Still, she bridges the emotional span between seeing a shelter-staff favorite finally get adopted to coping with cases of animal abuse.

“Lost and Found” was originally published in 1998. It came out in paperback this month.

It’s an uncommon book.

Published by Harcourt/Harvest Books, it is 224 pages and costs $13.

It isn’t preachy. But in the afterword, Hess tries to toss a little cold water in the face of a public that doesn’t seem to get it about the reality of owning a cat or dog.

“It’s no secret that we get pets to improve the quality of our own lives. But for animals to make a difference, they must be treated with respect. People who were raised with pets, including dogs and cats, frequently assume that they require very little care. This is an illusion. When you were little, having pets was a breeze because your parents did all the work. Taking care of a pet, whether it is a tiny tetra or a large thoroughbred, requires a significant investment in time and money.”

* And now, on a lighter note, Furry Talk’s first (and probably last) Joke of the Day.

Q: What do you get if you cross an insomniac with an atheist and a dyslexic?

A: Someone who lies awake at night wondering if there is a dog.