Full Description
An in-depth look at the urgent struggle to protect animals from harm, cruelty, injustice, extinction, and their greatest threat—us.
Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.
Globally recognized expert Kendra Coulter takes readers across the different landscapes of animal protection to meet people and animals of all kinds, from cruelty investigators to forensic veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and conservation leaders to animal lawyers and entrepreneurs, each working in their own ways to defend animals. Bringing unparalleled research and a distinct and nuanced analytical viewpoint, Defending Animals shows that animal protection is not only physical, intellectual, and emotional work but also a labor so rooted in empathy and care that it just might bridge the vast divide between polarized people and help create a more humane future for us all.
Contents
Preface vii
Introduction: Beyond Sound Bites and Slogans 1
1 Small Victories 9
2 In the Field or the Trenches? 21
3 Partnerships at Work 33
4 Linked Harm and Protection 55
5 Social Harms and Protections 69
6 The Science and Politics of Investigations--and Prosecutions 87
7 Conserving What and Who We Love 117
8 The Wild Things Aren't Things 137
9 The Animals In Between 155
10 Horsepower 179
11 The Elephant in the Room is a Chicken 199
Conclusion: The Future is Humane 223
Acknowledgments 231
Notes 233
Index 245
