Success Depends on the Animals, by Diana L. Ahmad

Between 1840 and 1869, thousands of people crossed the American continent looking for a new life in the West. Diana L. Ahmad’s study is the first to explore how these emigrants became dependent upon the animals that traveled with them, and how; for some, this dependence influenced a new way of thinking about the human-animal bond. During the continental migration, the pioneers learned how ot work with the animals and take care of them while on the move. Due to the close working relatinoship with these animals, many befriended the domestic beasts of burden, even attributing human characteristics to them. Drawing on primary sources such as journals, diaries, and newsppaper accounts, Ahmad explores how these new experiences influenced fresh ideas about the animals’ role in pioneer life.