Jennings Michael Burch was eight years old when his mother dropped him at an orphanage and never returned. She promised, "I'll be back." Instead, she abandoned him to an unloving and cruel world of orphan asylums and foster homes.

They Cage the Animals at Night is the author's account of his time in the company of hostile strangers, abusive adults, and orphans who, like him, learn to trust no one and depend on nothing. Jennings, however, does trust in his one constant companion; a stuffed animal friend named "Doggie." Fortunately, Jennings is befriended and adopted by a city bus driver, Sal, who wisely advises "there's a lot of good in liking people, even if they do go away...It hurts, of course it does. And the more it hurts, the more you know just how special they were to you. If you never liked anyone because you were afraid they'd go away, you'd never know the joy of friendship. You would always be alone." With the help of Doggie and the kind-hearted bus driver, Jennings finds the strength to love and trust again.

In the end, Jennings Michael Burch learned many tough lessons during the three years he spent in the New York State foster care system. He has since worked as a chauffeur, a police officer, a theater manager, and a short-order cook. He holds a B.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College. He travels the country telling of his childhood experiences, encouraging people to always be sensitive and kind.

Biography provided by Penguin Group USA.