A Voice for Animals

Suzana Gartner J.D. LL.M.

Description

This study considers a wide range of animal-related issues and advocates for the animal rights movement, inviting you to gain a better understanding of the bond between humans and animals.
Animals are here with us and not for us. We can do better for our animal friends when we work together collectively and individually to make a difference; by joining hands in this next great, important social justice movement.
A Voice for Animals offers insight on animal issues and the animal rights movement. The first part of the book examines the close connection we share with our beloved companion animals, and the plight of homeless animals. It bridges the gap between beloved pets and homeless pets in shelters. It offers solutions to end the shelter debacle. The second part discusses the lives of other species: farm animals, animals in research, animals in captivity, and wildlife. This book provides heartfelt real life animal stories, celebrates animal victories, and explores the deep connection of animals to humans and our biological need to share our lives with them. It inspires readers to take action and get motivated for animals: adopt animals from shelters and rescues, live a cruelty-free lifestyle, and go vegan.
This book advocates for the better treatment of animals by inviting you to gain an understanding of the special human-animal bond.

Sujets

• Animal Rights
• Nature

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 21 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665732918
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Voice for Animals
The Social Movement That Provides Dignity and Compassion for Animals






Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M.









Copyright © 2023 Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.




Archway Publishing
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3290-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3289-5 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3291-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022920669




Archway Publishing rev. date: 02/16/2023








This book is dedicated to my family, friends and to animal lovers— pet parents, foster families, adopters, volunteers, donors, defenders, supporters, animal advocates, activists, rescuers, rescues, animal shelters, shelter staff, sanctuaries, animal welfare organizations, environmentalists, vegetarians, and vegans. It is also dedicated to all animals that share this earth, including companion animals, farm animals, captive animals, wildlife, and animals used in research.
As well, I dedicate this book to animal friends that I have met along the way. Each one of them taught me so much and holds a special place in my heart. Thank you, Charlie, for inspiring me to write this book; Freddie, Gucci, Lily, and dearly departed Jackson and Sasha, for your love and companionship. They didn’t ask for much and provided unconditional love, affection, and friendship during good times and difficult times, whenever needed. There is no doubt they are individuals with their own distinct personalities, and each one is special, and touches our lives. When they are gone, they are missed and remain forever etched in our hearts and in memories. I chose a photo of my departed dog Charlie and cat Jackson for the back cover of the book.
I dream of the day when a proper respect for our fellow creatures will prevail, and each animal life (big or small and regardless of species) is treated with dignity and compassion.



CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction: We Need Companion Animals, and They Need Us Too
Chapter 1: How Companion Animals Transform Human Lives
Chapter 2: Unintended Consequences: Animal Disposability
Chapter 3: The Animal Shelter Debacle: Change This Inconvenient Truth
Chapter 4: Solitary Confinement for Dogs and Cats: Second Chances
Chapter 5: A Better Future for Shelter Animals and Ways of Sheltering
Chapter 6: Debate for Furry Friends and Defense for Nonhuman Animals
Chapter 7: Have a Heart for Horses: End the Abuse and Slaughter of Horses
Chapter 8: Sentience: Animals Experience Emotions and Why It Matters
Chapter 9: Social Justice: Animal Abuse as a Precursor to Human Violence
Chapter 10: Exploring Animal’s Best Interests to Understand Their Needs
Chapter 11: Farm Animals: From Disconnect to Making the Connection
Chapter 12: Ditch Dairy and Meat: Love and Compassion for Farm Animals
Chapter 13: The Rise of Veganism from Fringe to Mainstream
Chapter 14: Why Wildlife Matters: Respect Wild Animals and Nature
Chapter 15: Call to Action: Participate in the Animal Rights Movement
Chapter 16: The Future Looks Bright for Animal Rights and the Next Frontier
Conclusion: The Human-Animal Bond: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
Bibliography



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to my husband, Peter, for his support and patience while I wrote the book, and to our boys, Andrew and Brad, to come along for the ride on adventures and help animals in need. Visiting animal rescues and sanctuaries and caring for our family pets.
I want to thank my mother, who believed in my dreams and shares my love for companion animals; my stepfather, who inspired me to go to law school. Thanks to my mother-in- law, brother-in- law, and dearly departed father-in- law for their support. Also, thanks to my good friend, Sarah Shaw, for encouraging me to finish the book and to my friends that chose to adopt an animal in need and provide a loving family home.
I give thanks to the Etobicoke Humane Society (EHS), to join this amazing organization.
Thanks to law students, in particular to Daniel Fin, animal law lawyers, volunteers, staff, research assistants, and my esteemed colleagues, for their contribution, and to those clients who believed that I could bring justice for their beloved pets.
Thanks to my copy editors Leena Paul and Carol Audit and the team at Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster. Thanks to my publicists Olivia McCoy and Shannon Donaghy, and the team at Smith Publicity, for believing in the message of hope for animals.
I am thankful to the leaders and trailblazers who paved the way and continue to inspire me in this cause. Also, I want to acknowledge animals in shelters, rescues, sanctuaries, billions of farm animals, animals in laboratories and vulnerable wildlife. To give them a voice through the words of this book is a privilege. I am truly honored to be a voice for our animal friends. Lastly, thank you for choosing to read this book. I hope that you will find it interesting and that it will motivate you to take care of animals.



INTRODUCTION
We Need Companion Animals, and They Need Us Too
When I first sat down to write this book, I was trying to fill a void in my life. My beloved dog and furry baby, Charlie, had passed away. He was my constant companion. After he was gone, everything in my life changed. I felt alone in my grief, and I was looking for a way to cope with this heavy loss. The special bond that I had with Charlie was like no other. He was more than just a dog; he was part of the family and my best furry friend. I was deeply affected by this loss. I decided to do something in honor of his memory and as a way to cope with his passing. I sat down to write A Voice for Animals .
Sharing My Story with You
My personal journey into animal rights begins years before I decided to write this book. I had a childhood passion and love for animals. I volunteered at an animal shelter. I eventually became an animal- rights lawyer, which turned into a lifelong passion of animal advocacy. I am deeply honored to be able to provide a voice for these beautiful creatures.
My childhood consisted of visiting pet stores and animal shelters, feeding and taking care of stray and feral cats in our neighborhood, and horseback riding. When I was six, we adopted a small dog named George. He was a friendly Chihuahua, who quickly became my puppy love and an important member of our family. We spent so much time playing together. I would run home from school to hang out with George because he was my best friend.
One day, I came home from school, and he was gone. My mother had the sad responsibility of telling me the heartbreaking news: dogs were not permitted in our building. George had to go. I was devastated. Thankfully, my mother had found him a new loving family and home. However, I railed against this injustice. It brewed inside me for years and fed my commitment to contribute to animal welfare. When I grew up, I knew I would be committed to making changes in laws that hurt animals, such as my best friend, George, who had no legal rights, and help owners ( guardians) keep their companions. This desire was strong enough to fuel my growing aspiration to turn this passion and dedication to animals into a profession.
My commitment to animals continued throughout my teens and into adulthood. While I was a volunteer at a municipal animal shelter, I witnessed kindness from volunteers and some staff, yet simultaneously, I noticed there was a dichotomy in the treatment of animals. I discovered the misnomers that were widely used to shield their true function from the public.
Sadly, some animal shelters should be described as maximum-security animal prisons. The practice of euthanasia takes the lives of millions of companion animals every year across North America and often amounts to socially sanctioned mass execution.
The original idea for this book started a few years before Charlie’s passing. It happened in the year 2010 while I was a volunteer dog walker and cat groomer at a municipal animal shelter. I had a chance encounter with a shelter dog. He was a beautiful, beige-colored, friendly Pomino dog breed (Pomeranian mixed with American Eskimo breed) named Fabio.
I started visiting the shelter more often. I walked Fabio regularly. He would start barking as he eagerly anticipated my arrival and wagged his tail when he saw me approaching his cage. I think Fabio sensed that I was going to rescue him and that I looked forward to seeing him. We bonded quickly. I realized that we ended up rescuing each other. We went for long walks together, and this experience taught me that shelter animals are no different from people’s pets. They crave companionship and form bonds with the humans who care about them.
Thankfully, I was able to find Fa