Book Description
Half the households in America include an animal companion. Yet, each year, community shelters take in six to eight million unwanted dogs and cats who face an uncertain fate. With compelling photos and moving vignettes, this book chronicles the true stories of 75 animals who entered a typical U.S. animal shelter during one week witnessed and documented by the authors.
Customer Reviews:
buy it.......2007-08-31
It's such a good book. Many stories are sad, but it also offers real hope as to what we as individuals can do. Highly recommended. You'll go back to it when you find you need inspiration.
Review of One at a Time.......2007-05-13
As someone who has adopted 3 animals from a shelter, I appreciated this book thoroughly. This book puts names and faces together while also educating the reader about the importance of adopting from your local animal shelter. The theme of this book is you can actually save a life. There are heartwarming stories alongside tragic ones. If you want to learn more about the animals at the shelter and their stories this book is for you.
Tough Topic Handled Well.......2007-04-16
This is a very difficult book to read as it covers all kinds of situations that occur in an animal shelter, including details of the euthanasia of animals that simply don't deserve to die. There are many hopeful and heartwarming stories along with those of heartless and selfish owners. Make sure you are in the correct frame of mind when you read this to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Some of the pictures are explicit. However, the subject is covered very well with some very good information and statistics.
INCREDBLE book!.......2006-12-09
I read it in one night . . tears pouring down my face! How could a book do this to me? Because it's real . . . it's true! Some of the truths in this book are shameful. This book is unforgiving. This needed to be written . . . and it needed to do done with this much dignity and heart. Compassion . . kindness, why is it so hard? This book yanks at your emotions to teach us compassion . . it allows the animals to teach compassion to us through their lives and yes, deaths. Hopefully their lives will not be in vain, and we can learn compassion in their honor to not only other animals, but maybe they can show us that all lives are important. From shelters where animals are victims to injustices to Rwanda / Darfur and the like. This book is absoltely incredible. Thanks to the writers who had the balls to write it and then fight hard to get it on the streets. Thanks to the beautiful souls of the animals.
Companion animal euthanasia; a worldwide epidemic........2006-11-04
I volunteer in an animal shelter in Australia. A vet at the shelter loaned me a copy of One at a Time: A Week in an Americal Shelter as she thought I would appreciate the content. Appreciate is an understatement...what I thought was exclusive to our shelter proved to me that the reality of these animals circumstances is a worldwide epidemic NOT exclusive to Australia. The stories are written with honesty and in an uncomplicated fashion accompanied by touching photographs. These animals and their circumstances could be at my shelter. In many ways I found this read comforting, however, if you're not already working or volunteering within a shelter environment, it could be quite confronting. I bought several copies to share amongst colleagues at our shelter.
Book Description
Entertaining and informative, Pets in America is a portrait of Americans' relationships with the cats, dogs, birds, fishes, rodents, and other animals we call our own. More than 60 percent of U.S. households have pets, and America grows more pet-friendly every day. But as Katherine Grier demonstrates, the ways we talk about and treat our pets--as companions, as children, and as objects of beauty, status, or pleasure--have their origins long ago.
Grier begins with a natural history of animals as pets, then discusses the changing role of pets in family life, new standards of animal welfare, the problems presented by borderline cases such as livestock pets, and the marketing of both animals and pet products. She focuses particularly on the period between 1840 and 1940, when the emotional, behavioral, and commercial characteristics of contemporary pet keeping were established. The story is peppered with the warmth and humor of anecdotes from period diaries, letters, catalogs, and newspapers.
Filled with illustrations reflecting the whimsy, the devotion, and the commerce that have shaped centuries of American pet keeping, Pets in America ultimately shows how the history of pets has evolved alongside changing ideas about human nature, child development, and community life.
This book accompanies a museum exhibit, "Pets in America," which opens at the McKissick Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, in December 2005 and will travel to five other cities from May 2006 through May 2008.
Customer Reviews:
Pets in America: A History.......2007-08-28
Pets in America: A History, was purchased as a gift to a friend who is a pet-lover. She seemed delighted with the gift. I skimmed but did not read the book in detail.
Our "favorites".......2006-05-16
"Pets in America", an astonishingly comprehensive new book by Katherine C. Grier, relates the history of pets as we have known them from the earliest days of our nation. In doing so, she has given us a compelling look at the evolution of how different animals became popular pets, how we treat pets as a society and what their needs are compared to ours.
Grier begins by asking "what is a pet?" and then follows up with remarks about "why pets matter". She sets the stage for the reader to begin to view the animals we call "pets" (and what Americans in the nineteenth century called "favorites") in a different way than just furry little creatures that greet us upon our return home. One of the many surprises I found in reading "Pets in America" was that one hundred to one hundred fifty years ago the most popular pet to have was a caged bird. She explains part of the reason by saying that there was far less noise around then and songbirds added a cheerful level of volume that was most welcome in many homes.
While Grier's book understandably covers dogs, cats, birds and fish as the most common pets to find around the house, there is also a good deal of writing about livestock animals.....horses, swine, barnyard fowl and rabbits. There are many quotes from diarists of the 1800s and the most alluring ones come from children. Being much closer to "pets as dinner" she quotes a few girls who couldn't stand the thought of losing a newborn calf or lamb, knowing that it would end up on someone's dinner table....possibly their own. There's also a charming section on "the Bunnie States of America"....a club set up in 1898 by the children of an Albany, New York couple who had rules and regulations for their club, held meetings and wrote of the happenings of their beloved rabbits.
Grier takes an awful lot of time in the middle of the book describing the liberal goodness of the upper middle class and their views toward treating animals with kindness and respect. Although she presents her case effectively, it is the one place where "Pets in America" bogs down a little but she picks right up again with a chapter titled, "Pet keeping and its dilemmas". As animals moved closer to humans with their increased indoor contact, boundaries necessitated change. Understandably, at the same time, livestock became more foreign to many Americans with the advent of the automobile, as horses were decreasingly necessary for transportation. However, Grier describes in great detail what city life was like prior to that with pigs running through the streets, chickens cackling in many a backyard and the undeniable stench of horse manure. The seemy side of pet life....those who dealt in the selling, trading and butchering of pets is a terrific addition to the work. It's hard to believe, sometimes, that we are just a few generations removed from all of that.
The author finishes up with a look at the twentieth century arrival (on a large scale) of pet stores, pet food and other accoutrements such as "clothing" and bedding. There is not much about veterinary medicine in this book other to say that in earlier times, a pet's best caregiver (and often its only doctor) was its owner.
Many wonderful, early photographs and drawings accompany "Pets in America". It's a welcome addition to a fantastic book. I highly recommend "Pets in America" for its depth and incisiveness and I applaud Katherine Grier for combining a straightforward analysis with an outstanding narrative.
Product Description
In The Golden Bridge, Patty Dobbs Gross provides both personal and professional advice on how specially bred and trained dogs help to facilitate communication for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. This important information compendium is a guide for parents dealing with the social, emotional, and educational issues related to raising children with challenges. Myths and labels concerning autism are explored,examined, and redefined. While focused on children, the advice that Gross shares will be immensely helpful for anyone involved in breeding, raising,and training dogs to mitigate any type of disability at any age. The Golden Bridge provides advice about living with autism, animal-assisted therapy and autism, training an assistance dog to work with a child with autism or a developmental disability, and using an assistance dog to deal with a child's grief. This impressive volume also contains a vast list of resources, including Web sites, for follow-up information, a section on books about autism, and a directory of assistance dog providers.
Customer Reviews:
Great information and very moving stories........2007-07-15
This was a great book with a great deal of useful information. My only caution is that you need a box of Kleenex when you read some sections...it is very moving. This book gives great insight into how a well trained dog can help with an Autistic child. It also gives useful information on how to train a dog to work with an autistic child but it is not a do it yourself book...professional help is needed.
Excellent Resource.......2007-05-15
I bought this book to help guide us through the process of possibly getting a dog to help our 4-year old son w/ autism. What I found is that this book is so beautifully written, touching on the very essence of living in a family with a child who has a disability. It's inspirational, heart-breakingly true, yet heart-warming and realistic. I highly recommend it for all parents or older siblings of family members with autism.
A Thoughtful Approach to Integrating Animals in the Lives of Special Needs Children.......2007-03-25
A thoughtful exploration of the benefits and challenges in the intergration of assistance dogs for children living with autism. I have worked with Patty over the last six months and have been impressed with her understanding of the necessary steps to help build a healthy relationship among children and their canine friend.
Kate Nicoll, LCSW, founder of Soul Friends, Inc.
Soul Friends: Finding Healing With Animals
A Visionary Book..........2007-02-20
I just finished reading The Golden Bridge and wanted to put in a few words while it's still fresh. I feel this book is a great success on many different levels. Author Patty Dobbs Gross is clearly an expert in the areas of service dogs, including breeding, training, and raising. And her knowledge is supplemented by contributing authors that offer sections of expertise on various particulars regarding the use of service dogs.
The volume of useful information to be found in this book was extremely rewarding, but in addition to the usefulness of that, I was incredibly moved by her own personal story, which is woven through the book. Through her prose, she tells her own story of struggle, which slowly grows into finding her unique and special path. Her strength of character and resolve shine as beacons to those of us finding our own paths in life. Gross's determination to create something good out of the challenges that faced her and her family, and to succeed so well at it, is truly inspiring.
Ms. Gross, in telling her personal story, paints a very vivid and moving picture and writes in a very compelling way. I was totally drawn in, and literally didn't put the book down until I finished the last page.
I highly recommend this book for it's informative aspect, it's emotionally appealing story, and it's vision.
Here are the tips, tricks, websites, and references needed to understand the entire field!.......2006-12-11
Any working in the field of child development or disability will find THE GOLDEN BRIDGE: A GUIDE TO ASSISTANCE DOGS FOR CHILDREN CHALLENGED BY AUTISM OR OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES to be a rare treat. It blends personal and professional advice on how these dogs can help such kids and provides parents with all the keys to handling the issues related to raising such children. Dog breeders alike will find this an important key to understanding how to raise a dog who can work with a developmentally disabled child. Here are the tips, tricks, websites, and references needed to understand the entire field!
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Book Description
Mandy and James are taking a trip to London during summer vacation. On a visit to Buckingham Palace, Mandy spots an adorable Labrador puppy, who poses for James's camera and then runs away. Mandy and James spot the puppy all over town, but catching him turns out to be harder than they expected. Can Mandy rescue this lost puppy from the dangers of the big city?
Customer Reviews:
Three cheers for Baglio!.......2007-08-22
Vacation has arrived, and while Mandy Hope, and her best friend, James Hunter, are sad to have to say goodbye to the beloved animals of Welford; they're thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of London, and tour the Millennium Dome for the first time. Deciding to take some time off from their burgeoning veterinary practice, Mandy's adoptive parents - Dr. Emily and Dr. Adam - decide to spring for a little vacation, as well; and, with the company of some of Welford's most delightful residents, plan to make the trip a family affair, and attend by Mandy's side. James is heartbroken to leave his badly-behaved Labrador, Blackie, behind; however, after just a short time in London, he forgets all about Blackie, and sets his mind on learning more about the tiny brown Labrador pup that he and Mandy spotted entering the Palace of Queen Elizabeth herself! London is a much more hustling and bustling location than Welford, and Mandy and James are frightened that the little pup may not make it back to safety without finding himself injured by some careless driver. But catching the pup proves harder than expected, and the two friends are encouraged to put the pup out of their minds, and enjoy their vacation before it's over. Taking that wonderful advice, Mandy and James become wrapped up in sightseeing with their new friend Casey Baxter, a girl of their age who has traveled here all the way from New York City. Casey is just as much of an animal lover as Mandy and James, and together, the three see the sights, and taste all the delicious foods found in London. But Mandy and James are finding it hard to forget the little pup who captured their heart on day one; so when they see him strolling about St. James's Park, they know that capturing him, and taking him to safety is a must. Aptly named Bruno, their new furry friend begins to thrive at the local SPCA, where he's showered with love and affection, and safe from speeding cars. With the ordeal over, Mandy and James are excited to begin truly enjoying their vacation, but when they spot Bruno racing through traffic a few days later, they can't figure out what exactly is going on. The friends were so convinced that Bruno was in safe hands at the SPCA, and was getting the medical care that he truly needed, but now he's out and about, and in severe danger. Mandy, James, and Casey can't figure out what exactly is going on; and why Bruno suddenly has a new personality - one that is much more carefree, and calm; as opposed to skittish, and crazy. The three friends set out to solve the mystery of the runaway pup immediately; hoping to reunite him with his owner - wherever he or she is. But in the midst of all this doggy drama, the trio is attempting to figure out what is stressing out a beautiful parrot named Sinbad, who happens to live in the quaint bed-and-breakfast where the Welford group is staying. Mandy resolves that rescuing the pup and saving Sinbad from an untimely death are two of the most important things that she must do. And, if she's lucky, maybe she'll have time to fit in a little shopping before her London trip quickly slips out of her grasp, and she finds herself back home in Welford.
London has always been a place that I would love to visit; so having the opportunity to see it through the eyes of two of my favorite characters in fiction - Mandy Hope and James Hunter - was a delightful experience that will most certainly please avid ANIMAL ARK readers. Mandy Hope is her typical, lovable self; striving to save anyone and everyone in her path, who happens to need help at the moment. She is selfless and kind, and always on the lookout for a new animal to save - no matter where she finds herself. James's character is quite similar. Even though he's on the trip of a lifetime to London, he does what he can to assist Mandy in rescuing the boisterous Bruno, and the stressed out Sinbad. James's incessant ramblings of information found within his London guidebook is quite humorous, and adds a little history and interesting facts to the story - providing readers with some behind-the-scenes info about London, as well as the various attractions they offer tourists. As with many of the previous ANIMAL ARK books, James's Labrador, Blackie, isn't present to contribute any trouble or mischief to the tale; however, the lovable Bruno manages to do that himself. The tiny brown Labrador is such a humorous, funny character, who creates trouble no matter where he goes - whether he's splashing through public fountains, or stealing hot dogs from picnics and vendors. Bruno isn't the only interesting new character to enter the story. Sinbad is also enjoyable, with his constant chatter; and the self-mutilating condition that he has, caused by stress, is very interesting to learn about. While each of the animal characters contribute a lot to PUP AT THE PALACE, characters such as New Yorker Casey, and SPCA worker Penny lend fun, informational, kind voices to the story. Ben M. Baglio has managed to weave another delightful ANIMAL ARK tale that is impossible to put down, and will be loved by animal lovers both young and old. Three cheers for Baglio!
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
Pup at the Palace - Austin Harley.......2007-05-30
To begin, the book Pup at the Palace was very intriguing to me and would be even more interesting to an animal lover. The story is based in the city of London, England. The main characters are Mandy an animal lover, her friend James, her parents, some other people who are visting London with her and Casey who Mandy and James meet at the hotel they're staying in. While visting Buckingham Palace, Mandy and James spot a cute labrador puppy wandering around the grounds. They trying to catch, it but it escapes. After that incident everyone continues to tour London and Mandy and James spot the puppy two more times. Finally but catching it in a park while having a picnic. Then they bring it to the London SPCA, but soon after things begin to become confusing. You'll have to read the book to see what happens at the end. The theme of Pup at the Palace is determination. Mandy and James are completely determined to rescue the puppy and bring it to the SPCA. This is most likely the best Animal Ark book I have ever read, and I have read about 25. To conclude I would like to say that many people would enjoy this book and animal lovers would love it even more.
A review for the best book ever!.......2004-04-21
Pup at the Palace is about Mandy and her parents taking a trip to London, and finding puppies that are lost.
I think you should read "Pup at the Palace" if you like animals. If you dread Labrador Retrievers, you probably don't want to read this book, but if you like Labs, this would be a really good choice. If you like love stories then this is not the story for you, but if surprise if your thing, then I recommend this book to you. If London is your place, then read this book! If you like dogs, horses, or any kind of animal, then this book just might be for you. If suspense if your game, then this is your book. If helping is your thing, then read this book! This book is for you if you like dogs. If you've got a name, and dogs are your game, then read this book.
This book is full of suspense. How did the puppies get across the terrible traffic? How did the puppies get lost? Why didn't the owner know about it till half an hour before she came for her puppies? Where did the last puppy get found? Find out the answers to all these questions when you read "Pup at the Palace".
(...)
Average customer rating:
- Well read, abridged version.
- Jack London - Part Prolific Novelist, Part Wolf
- The call of the wild
- the call of the wild
- Call of the Wild
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The Call of the Wild (Scribner Classics)
Jack London
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ASIN: 068981836X |
Book Description
In this quintessential adventure story, Jack London takes readers on an arduous journey through the forbidding Alaskan landscape during the gold rush of the 1890s. Buck, a rangy mixed breed used to a comfortable, sun-filled life as a family dog, is stolen by a greedy opportunist and sold to dog traffickers. In no time, Buck finds himself on a team of sled dogs run ragged in the harsh winter of the Klondike. In a climate where every day is a savage struggle for survival, the last traces of Buck's soft, pampered existence are erased as his dormant primordial urges -- deeply embedded for generations -- are brutally awakened.
The superb detail, taken from London's firsthand knowledge of Alaskan frontier life, makes this classic tale as gripping today as it was almost a hundred years ago. No other novel has so clearly shown the fragile separation between tame and wild, between man and beast. Now, paired with master illustrator Wendell Minor's exquisite paintings, this timeless story is available in a handsome new addition to the Scribner Illustrated Classics collection.
Customer Reviews:
Well read, abridged version........2007-05-09
This is not a good version for a classroom setting. The cover doesn't reveal this.
Jack London - Part Prolific Novelist, Part Wolf.......2007-04-15
After reading "The Call of the Wild" or more precisely, after being transferred to another place and time, or even more to the point after being totally submerged into the being of this animal, I'm left completely awe-struck by London's work.
To see what Buck saw, to feel the forces and the instincts that he felt... that is the power of this book. Here's a passage from the third chaper to illustrate what I mean:
"At the mouth of the Tahkeena, one night after super, Dub (a member of the sled-dog team) turned up a snowshoe rabbit, blundered it, and missed. A hundred yards away was a camp of the Northwest Police, with fifty dogs, huskies all, who joined the chase. The rabbit sped down the river, turned off into a small creek, up the frozen bed of which it held steadily. It ran lightly on the surface of the snow, while the dogs plowed through by main strength. Buck led the pack, sixty strong, around bend after bend, but he could not gain. He lay down low to the race, whining eagerly, his splendid body flashing forward, leap by leap, in the wan white moonlight. And leap by leap, like some pale frost wraith, the snowshoe rabbit flashed on ahead.
All the stirring of old instincts which at stated periods drives men out from the sounding cities to forest and plain to kill things by chemically propelled leaden pellets, the blood lust, the joy to kill--all this was Buck's, only it was infinitely more intimate. He was ranging at the head of the pack, running the wild thing down, the living meat, to kill with his own teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in warm blood.
There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive. This ecstasy, this forgetfulness of living, comes to the artist, caught up and out of himself in a sheet of flame; it comes to the soldier, war-mad on a stricken field and refusing quarter; it came to Buck, leading the pack, sounding the old wolf-cry, straining after the food that was alive and that fled swiftly before him through the moonlight. He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time. He as mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars and over the face of dead matter that did not move."
The call of the wild .......2007-01-18
The call of the wild, by Jack London is a great book for all ages. Buck (the main character) is a tame dog in Santa Clara California living with Judge Miller, a man that everyone new and enjoyed. This changed when a rush for gold in Yukon made men need strong dogs to pull their sleds. Buck was a very strong dog and as a result, was kidnapped. He was then taken to Yukon where there was harsh snow and was very cold. He was treated poorly until he met John Thorton. John Thorton was very kind to Buck but then one day he died. Buck was left in the wild and became friends with a wild animal. I personally like it because it is always telling you what is happining in great detail. Jack London also got right to the point making it easy to understand.
the call of the wild .......2007-01-18
The call of the wild by Jack London is a great book for all ages. Buck (the main character) is a tame dog in Santa Clara California living with Judge Miller a man that evryone new and enjoyed. All this changed when a rush for gold in Yukon. These men needed strong dogs and because of the fact Buck was strong he was kidnapped. He was then tuck to Yukon where there was harsh snow and was very cold. he was treated poorly intill he met John Thorton. John Thorton was very kind to Buck but then one day he died. Buck was left in the wild and became friends with a wild animal and learned to live in the wild.
Call of the Wild.......2006-11-13
The book The Call of the Wild is an excellent book. It is about a dog named Buck, who had to struggle while turning from a tame dog to a wild dog. He ran into cruel people, but a man named John Thorton saved his life. Buck and Thorton were devoted to each other until Thorton was killed. Buck then had to live by himself in the wild. I enjoyed this book because of the interesting plot and descriptive phrases. I would recommend this book to other fourth and fifth graders because it is marvelous.
Book Description
Psychiatrists define cruelty to animals as a psychological problem or personality disorder. Legally, animal cruelty is described by a list of behaviors. In Just a Dog, Arnold Arluke argues that our current constructs of animal cruelty are decontextualized—imposed without regard to the experience of the groups committing the act. Yet those who engage in animal cruelty have their own understandings of their actions and of themselves as actors. In this fascinating book, Arluke probes those understandings and reveals the surprising complexities of our relationships with animals.
Just a Dog draws from interviews with more than 250 people, including humane agents who enforce cruelty laws, college students who tell stories of childhood abuse of animals, hoarders who chronically neglect the welfare of many animals, shelter workers who cope with the ethics of euthanizing animals, and public relations experts who use incidents of animal cruelty for fundraising purposes. Through these case studies, Arluke shows how the meaning of "cruelty" reflects and helps to create identities and ideologies.
Book Description
In this easy-to-read introduction, law professor and animal rights advocate Gary Francione looks at our conventional moral thinking about animals. Using examples, analogies, and thought-experiments, he reveals the dramatic inconsistency between what we say we believe about animals and how we actually treat them.
Customer Reviews:
NE PLUS ULTRA!!!! (LATIN TERM FOR A MASTERPIECE!).......2007-10-01
I got this book about a year ago and I wish I had done a review sooner. This book is a masterpiece of work on behalf of the rights of non humans. This author is exceptionally intelligent and compassionate. He is a Law Professor, and thanks to his training in Law, he REALLY drives his argument very very deep and straight into the heart of the matter leaving little forgotten. This book seems small, but it has more depth and coverage inside than you think. It is for those newly interested in the subject, it is for old pros and it is for anyone or everyone to read regardless of your animal-rights evolution. This author has still other books in which he analyzes the animal rights movement even more deeply. He is absolutely phenomenal!!!
This book is very very deep, very very probing and the author does a FANTASTIC JOB in his arguments.
This book ranks at least 7 from a choice of 5 stars for me. I had to give it a five star rating because that was the limit.
I don't think you will find a better book than this one that drives the argument straight home. May I suggest Animal Gospel as an equally good book from the viewpoint of Christianity.
I take this subject matter to be my PRIORITY in life. So please trust me on my opinion as this being a SUPERB BOOK!! NE PLUS ULTRA!!!!--It is top of the line!!
An important perspective but ultimately unconvincing.......2007-05-04
Gary Francione is an important thinker in the animal rights debate. His abolitionist views have proved influential in certain sectors of the movement, and for that reason alone it is important to read his work.
The problem with Gary is that I get the impression he thinks his views are obviously watertight and thoroughly convincing and seems surprised anyone would disagree with them. His arguments are presented in a simple (almost syllogistic) format that circumvents the complexity of the issues. Writers like Robert Garner have drawn attention to the problem with thinking that the property status of animals is the ultimate, foundational issue that should be the heart of the movement's concerns. But as I said, Gary's arguments are important to consider and he makes some genuinely insightful remarks.
If you buy one book on animal rights theory..........2007-03-17
Buy this book, a coherent, refined and logical approach to animal rights that gets to the root of modern society's animal problem without going out on a limb. Finally, understand animal rights without wading through philosophy or complicated arguments. And it might just change your life.
introduccion a los derechos animales.......2007-02-18
el libro me parecio fascinante, desde un principio, pero en un par de capitulos daba muchos ejemplos que ya sabia, pero para quien lee sobre derechos animales por primera vez muy utiles, y lo mejor es el capitulo 6, donde hace refutaciones al utilitarismo.
The most succinct and thorough animal rights book.......2002-03-08
The three most well known authors of 'animal rights' books are Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Gary Francione.
Tom Regan's writing is good but I find it has inconsistencies, for example, he attributes non-human animals with inherent value, yet he asserts without justification that killing a human causes more harm to a human than killing a dog causes harm to a dog. Also, he draws the moral line between mammals and the rest of sentient life. Surely sentience, the ability to be the subject of experiences (both painful and pleasurable experiences), is the only factor that has an impact on the moral matter of our treatment of animals. A non-human animal may never experience the pleasure of playing a musical instrument or writing a piece of music, the satisfaction of completing a challenging essay or the stimulation of a game of chess - but neither will most humans. Whatsmore, I will never be able to experience the euphoria of smelling a multitude of scents at the park, the amazing anticipation of going for a run that my dog experiences and the joy of fetching a ball. These experiences are all subjective - to a dog (as an example of a non-human animal) going for a walk is as exciting as composing a piece of music and playing tug of war over a rubber toy is as fun as human competitive sport. We can't say that because the things animals derive pleasure from are not typically what we derive pleasure from that their experiences don't matter as much as ours. Going for an explore in the park amongst the myriad of sights, sounds and smells is to a dog what life is all about.
Of Peter Singer I say this, his writing is commonly confused as animal rights writing - he does talk about AR, but in no way does he support it. Peter Singer does not think using an animal for human ends (e.g., killing an animal to eat it, use in experiments or otherwise utilize) is wrong. He believes non-human animals (perhaps with the exclusion of the great apes - his reasoning: they are too alike to normal humans) are property for 'normal' humans to utilize as long as 'suffering' is minimalised. Singer draws an arbitrary line to protect 'normal' humans like himself from exploitation whilst justifying the exploitation of those who fall below the arbitrary line.
Francione on the other hand, argues that sentience is the only thing that matters in the determination of whether a being has the basic right to freedom from expoitation. He argues his case for animal rights clearly, thoroughly and succinctly without the major inconsistencies that appear in Singers and Regans work. At the end of the book he has provided commonly occuring questions and his respective answers. I found his answers intelligent, original and highly persuasive.
Francione's book is the bible (without the Judeo-Christian dogma) of the true Animal Rights movement. It is a must buy. Regan's work is still important and worth looking at because we must still recognise the importance of his pioneering efforts in animal ethics. Singers work should only be borrowed from the library - to be able to effectively deal with utilitarian arguments when they are presented.
Note: I have a sneaking suspicion that Singer or one of his clones (PETA??) was responsible for the reviews: "Francione not realistic and nor constructive" and "Going down a well travelled path". Singer must be very defensive now that his 'ivory'(the death of the elephants was relatively painless he assures you) tower that he built from sales of 'Animal Liberation' is starting to crumble. The big Animal Welfare organisations also have a lot to lose from Francione's criticism - they get a lot of revenue... from people who think their money is going to be put to good use.
Book Description
When Mandy's dad diagnoses an Old English Sheepdog puppy as deaf, Mandy feels sorry for it. But it isn't until she finds another Sheepdog puppy weak and abandoned that she and James begin to get suspicious. Could a local breeder be mistreating these poor puppies? It's up to Mandy and James to save them!
Customer Reviews:
A remarkable addition to the series.......2007-01-19
Future veterinarian Mandy Hope, and her best friend James Hunter can't wait until the last day of school - which is quickly approaching. It is at this time that they'll finally be reunited with their close friend, John Hardy, the son of the proprietors of the Fox and Goose, who is currently away at boarding school. But the end of the school year also marks another very special occasion - We Love Animals Day! Mandy has participated in We Love Animals Day for years, and each year she strives to come up with a wonderful idea to raise money and awareness for animals. This year, however, she is determined to do everything she can to raise as much money as possible. And with the help of James, she knows that she'll be able to do just that. But Mandy's mind keeps wandering away to the tiny Old English Sheepdog that her father, and resident Animal Ark veterinarian, Dr. Adam, diagnosed as being deaf. Mandy can't help but feel sorry for the puppy, who will spend the rest of his days in silence, never knowing what it's like to hear his name called, or hear the voices of children playing. But Mandy's sadness turns to frustration and anger when she stumbles upon another Old English Sheepdog puppy abandoned in the parking lot of the Fox and Goose. The little pup is weak, and hungry, and made up of skin and bones, and no one has claimed her. Mandy knows that something strange is going on - and so do her parents. So, with the help of James, Mandy begins investigating the situation, attempting to pinpoint where these Old English Sheepdog puppies are coming from, and who would treat them so cruelly. But then she begins to wonder whether they're being mistreated by a local breeder, and realizes that maybe she'll need more than just James' help. Maybe this time, she'll need the help of someone more powerful - like the SPCA.
As someone who volunteered at an animal shelter for years, and is the owner of a deaf cat - who I adopted - I have seen various animals come and go who have been mistreated by not only their owners, but breeders, as well. These animals are often overlooked by society, so I was thrilled to find that Ben M. Baglio would shine a spotlight on the problem by creating an entire ANIMAL ARK book about it. PUPPY IN A PUDDLE is a wonderful depiction of puppy mills and the breeding business, in general. It not only shows the genetic problems puppies (or any animal, for that matter) can inherit from their parents, as well as how they are often cast aside by the people using them as a business. Mandy, as always, is a sympathetic character, whose determination to get to the bottom of the problem is admirable, as well as heroic. Her ability to stay cool, calm, and collected as she investigates the problems - no matter how harsh - are inspiring; while her kindness towards the "suspects" still shines through. Mandy's sidekick, James, also deserves a mention, as he is quick-thinking, and slightly calculating, and Mandy would not survive without his wits. A remarkable addition to the series.
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
The best Animal Ark book.......2004-05-20
This book has all you could want for a good child's read: characterisation, drama and fun.
Brilliant!
a puddle of pups.......2004-03-09
a dog is brought for his 12 week vacinations and theres a problem - the dog seemes to be much less then 12 weeks old. It soon becomes aparent that this dog is deaf. Then when mandy finds a dog almost identical to the deaf one a few days later she believes something is wrong.
Could a local dog breeder be mistreating puppies? Not only that but several liters? And seperating them from their mom too soon? fond out by reading.
This book blew me away!.......2003-09-20
This is one of my favorite animal ark books! It is about an owner who comes into the ark with an Old English sheep dog puppy that isn't responding. It turns out that the pup is deaf and cannot be a working dog. Then one day Mandy and James are having a dog wash and at the end of the day they find and old English sheep dog puppy supposedly abandoned in a water puddle. I won't give the book away but it has to do with a puppy mill and two people mixed up in it! Please read this book it is great!
Product Description
This casebook for teaching allows the student to address most of the legal issues facing animals in the legal world, including: property status, zoning, damages, standing, criminal cruelty, the Federal Animal Welfare Act, and animal rights. While the primary focus is for law school use, others may find it a useful introduction to a wide set of legal materials. It contains cases, text, and problems for most of the issues that arise dealing with animals.
Amazon.com
For some people, animal shelters seem dark, desperate places. All terrified barks and frightened hisses, the shelter is the last stop for many an animal on what has too often been a painful journey. For others, the shelter is a place of hope, where the perfect dog or cat waits to be adopted. In her time spent volunteering at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, author Elizabeth Hess discovered that shelter life couldn't be defined in such simple terms. In this "subterranean animal culture," life is a "complex mix of people and animals, emotion and ideology ... where life and death decisions are made as regularly as coffee."
Hess, an arts journalist who has written for the Village Voice and the Washington Post among other publications, first visited the shelter to adopt a dog for her daughter. A "series of ramshackle buildings and a shabby trailer, surrounded by a few chickens and a couple of contented cats," the Columbia-Greene Humane Society grounds were humble at best. But what Hess found inside the shelter inspired her to write Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter. From the dog kennels and the cat rooms to a puppy mill raid and rides in the shelter ambulance, Hess introduces innumerable animals and humans who will inspire, educate, and break your heart. With more than 20 million animals ending up in shelters each year in the United States alone, Hess's demand to rethink our relationships with domestic animals couldn't have come at a better time. Perceptive, well-written, and utterly moving, Lost and Found is a rare find indeed. --Stefanie Hargreaves
Book Description
From the dog kennels and the cat rooms to a puppy mill raid and rides in the shelter ambulance, Elizabeth Hess introduces innumerable animals and humans who will inspire, educate, and break readers? hearts. ?Intelligent, warmhearted and deserving of attention? (New York Times Book Review).
Customer Reviews:
Insightful and thought provoking.......2007-05-11
I highly recommend this book to anyone considering a pet. It makes you think about what repercussions are possible if you obtain a pet on a whim and do not dedicate yourself to training and caring for it. It shows the results of our society's "throwaway" mentality, the lack of education on the effects of pet overpopulation and the way our declining economy has added to the problem by not allowing many citizens the money to afford proper pet care and sterilization.
This books shows a cross section of a typical animal shelter and the fact that there are many not so happy endings, mostly because of humans and their failure to do right by their pets.
A very realistic view of an animal shelter.......2002-11-20
I've volunteered at the animal shelter in my town for a few years now, but have never had quite as much insight as this book provided. I get the feeling the shelter in the book has a smaller volunteer base than the shelter I have dealt with based on the details they were willing to share with her. This was a very uplifting book that explained a lot about why shelters work the way they do (ie rules about who can adopt, what happens when they get lost pets, etc.). Unfortunately, it is most likely to be read by the people that already understand these rules and why they exist.
Required reading for all current and wannabe pet owners.......2002-10-29
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I'm among those who do know what kind of responsibility it takes to own a dog. I'm the happy 'Mom' of 2 terriers, one of which is a rescue dog. It is true about rescued animals - they know they've been given another chance and will give you their love many times over.
Elizabeth Hess was down to earth in showing the trials and successes an animal shelter goes through. If you know someone who's not sure about getting a pet, I highly suggest they read this book. It'll make them think twice. If you know someone with misconceptions that all shelter animals get homes, give them this book as a wakeup call! A pet can take up as much or more of your time than a human baby, but the human race has made dogs, cats and other animals disposeable. There are happy endings as well as sad in the book, but it's worth buying. As the kids would say, we give it a 2 paws up!
The most wonderful compassionate reality book!.......2002-10-29
This book was so good I could not put it down. A realistic yet compassionate look at shelters today. A must read!
You'll want copies for your friends........2002-09-17
This behind the scenes look at an animal shelter and the everyday lives of the animals, and the people that work there is a beautifully told, heart warming, sometimes devistating story. It certainly drives the point home to adopt your pet rather than buy from a breeder or pet store. It's a book you'll not want to put down, and will remember long after you have. My friends all got copies.
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Out of Harm's Way
