A Buffalo in the House: The True Story of a Man, an Animal, and the American West

A Buffalo in the House tells the true story of Veryl Goodnight, a sculptor, and her husband Roger Brooks, who adopt an orphaned buffalo calf for their suburban home in Santa Fe. This unusual household situation unfolds against the history of the American West and the near-extinction of buffalo. Veryl's ancestors, Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, hand-raised two baby buffalo over a hundred years ago to help save the species. Now, Veryl and Roger take on the challenge of raising Charlie, a buffalo calf who has no awareness of his own nature. As Roger bonds with the animal, the book explores both the immediate story of their relationship and the broader history of buffalo in America, examining how a misunderstood species came close to extinction and its significance to the region.