Over the millennia, many great writers, from Pliny and Plutarch to C.S. Lewis and John Steinbeck, have addressed diverse canine themes in their work, usually in a broader, human context. Late in the 20th century it was conclusively established by modern science that all dogs, without exception, are descended from wolves. Viewed through the dynamic lens of this new model, the constantly evolving relationship between humankind and canines, both wild and domesticated, appears more complex and intertwined than ever before. This survey reviews what 20 selected authors from the Western tradition have had to say on the same subject matter leading up to our present times.

William Farina is a retired real estate consultant for the federal government, now living in Evanston, Illinois. He has written books on Arthurian legend, early Christianity, the American Civil War, Shakespeare and baseball.

Brian Patrick Duggan is a canine historian and author of several books and numerous articles about dogs in history. He is a retired university technology educator and an American Kennel Club judge.

William Farina
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 224
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7497-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1455-7
Imprint: McFarland
Series: Dogs in Our World

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. Dogs and Law 11
2. Canine Guardians of the Underworld 19
3. Beastly Virtues 28
4. The Wolf as Maternal Figure 36
5. Down, Dog! 45
6. In Defense of Dogs 53
7. The Sensitive Werewolf 61
8. Carnivores Forgiven 69
9. Animal Intelligence and the Wars of Religion 77
10. Natural Rights of Animals 86
11. Devil Dogs 96
12. Everything Is Connected 104
13. Toto Speaks 113
14. Empathy for Wolves 122
15. Canine Heroes 130
16. Justified Predators 138
17. Dogs in Poverty 146
18. Animal Spirituality 154
19. A Man and His Dog 163
20. Last Word in Social Beings 171
21. Summary 180
Chapter Notes 187
Bibliography 207
Index 209