Vicki Hutton is an Australia-based writer and academic, specializing in the areas of the human-animal relationship, health psychology, and HIV. Animals have always been an important part of her life, and remain a key focus in her work and family activities. Hutton's recent research project allowed her to combine all areas of interest and create a unique narrative history of the human-animal relationship during the HIV/AIDS-epidemic in Australia and the United States. She currently is a lecturer at an Australian university, and she spends as much time as possible with her many animal companions.

Contents
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part 1: The 1980s
1. An epidemic of stigma: A brief history of HIV/AIDS and companion animals
2. Dawn of an epidemic: Drew and Caesar
3. Grief and hope: Charlie, Wolf, and Brandy
Part 2: The 1990s
Interlude
4. The power of nature: Vince, Cat, and company
5. The Lazarus phenomenon: Carl and Rosa
6. Loneliness in an epidemic: Robbie and Bellamy
Part 3: 2000 onward
Interlude
7. Life after death: Drew and Digger
8. Connections in a new life: Ben, Tiger, Ember, and Flash
9. Death anxiety: Dylan, Gus, Sunny, and Celia
10. A need to play: Brenton and Tom
11. Size doesn't matter: Joe and Feathers
12. A room with a tank: Mick, Axl Rose, and fish friends
13. A future postponed: Simon and Sheila
Conclusion: The future
References
Index