The Therapeutic Zoo

The concept of therapy animals, who bring peace, joy and comfort to people, is well-established, even if we don't know exactly how or why the mechanism works. This therapeutic effect is the underlying theme of this novel. Imagine, if you will, a ranch east of El Paso, Texas, which has been a successful foster care facility for children in need for many years. The manager, PJ Janek, has taken over for her late mother, who established and managed the facility for 40 years. But one fateful day, someone left a baby elephant in a crate at the front gate of the ranch, with hopes the facility would also take care of this infant in need. Initially resisting the idea, but grudgingly coming to terms with it, PJ elects to keep the baby, and the media sensation that results inspires more animal donations, including a rhino, a zebra, some leumrs and emus. Soon, PJ has her own miniature zoo, and embarks upon a life adventure nothing could prepare her for. Seeing how the therapeutic effect transforms the foster care children, who are dealing with some tragedy that compelled them to need a home, PJ begins to see that this unique circumstance opens a door for her to accomplish a truly unique endeavor, a therapeutic zoo, where these exotic animals have a mystical capacity to help ease the suffering, or heal the emotional scars of life for needy people. But she, herself, is not immune to the power these animals hold to enrich one's life, and when she adopts a baby gorilla and embraces the infant as "her son", PJ finds her destiny taking her to a new world rich in emotional and spiritual joy she only dreamed of before.