Review of "Pets in America: A History" by Katherine C. Grier

More than most other people, Americans seem to have a special bond with their pets. Whether you're a dog person a cat person, a bird fancier, or just mad about reptiles, we treat these creatures like a member of the family. And often even better than that! Katherine Grier chronicles the role that pets have played in American culture, starting back in the days of the American Revolution. And it's not just a dry retelling of history. Ms. Grier's expansive efforts include family photographs, newspaper and magazine advertisements, and other amazing illustrations of how these animals shared our common experiences since the birth of America. Dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, hampsters, horses, pigs, and the oft-forgotten pidgeon are all given their due in this exquisitely enjoyable epistle.