When LOVE Comes on Four Legs

When LOVE Comes on Four Legs is the first in a planned series of four children's books introducing Jethro, the tuxedo cat. Children (and grown-ups) of all ages need to know the kind of love Jethro facilitates every day. Come along for the ride.

When LOVE Comes on Four Legs is Anthony Gurley's attempt to convey how LOVE can arrive when unexpected and unrecognized. Jethro's story is the author's invitation to open the reader's heart and mind (young and old alike) to the wonders that abound when one is open to experiencing this kind of love. Neither Grandpa (Pappy) nor that tiny furball that appeared under the front porch steps after a hurricane had any way of knowing what was in store. The kitten was all alone and afraid, and Pappy never wanted a cat.

But that five-week-old furball miraculously, and with a never-ending purring motor, tiptoed his way into Pappy's heart.

Today, it is hard to say who rescued whom. Jethro came onto the scene just as Pappy was writing a memoir that was published in January 2024. That work, Deadly Dilemma... A Memoir dealt with fundamental questions about life, its opportunities, and challenges. Little did Pappy know when he started writing that epistle that an unexpected and unwanted pound and a half furball would become his beast friend, his best buddy, and yes, a valued teacher. LOVE does arrive in mysterious ways sometimes, even on four legs.

Anthony Gurley is a North Carolina native. Born in eastern NC, he has lived in the central Piedmont area of the state since entering Guilford College in 1967. He and his wife, Becky, celebrated their 53rd anniversary in June 2025. They are the proud parents of two children and three grandchildren, two of them pretty much grown. Jethro is the first kitten/cat to reside in the Gurley household. After publishing a memoir in 2023, it seemed logical to Anthony to follow up with Jethro's story, given his significant role in that project. Jethro and Anthony are hoping that their story will speak to the hearts of children, parents, and grandparents alike. If so, they have already had their conversation about three follow-up projects they hope you will want to put on your child's bookshelf right beside - When LOVE Comes on Four Legs.

Zoë Hansen is an illustrator based in New Jersey, USA. Inspired by the natural beauty of life around her, her vibrant work captures the enchantment in everyday moments. A 2021 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration, Zoë has worked as a professional illustrator for four years, working on projects for various clients in the publishing industry, children's book industry, and health industry.