Single and on the downhill side of 40, Dana Jaeger has an unswerving allegiance to short-term attachments and arrested adolescence. Lately, though, love and loss threaten to unleash desires that are as carefully concealed as landmines. Across this treacherous terrain lopes the mutt Murphy, whom Dana agrees to dog-sit (short-term, of course). Garrulous and opinionated, Murphy offers his own insights into Dana's amatory adventures, and, between them, mongrel and mistress present a wry portrait of our innermost longings — for love, payback, and a clean getaway.

In a recent survey, 70% of respondents identified their family pet as “a member of the family.” Even as these animals are revered as loved ones, the meat, fish, and dairy industries continue to thrive. Speaking to this disparity, Dog by the Cradle, the Serpent Beneath addresses this fascinating subject. Using interviews with philosophers, scientists, farmers, poets, and commentators, Ritter explores our complicated – and often inconsistent – relationship to the animal world.