United States
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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 labour 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.
Kendra Coulter is Professor in Management and Organizational Studies at Huron University College at Western University and a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.
"Defending Animals is a compelling exploration of animal protection, challenging readers to build a more compassionate and equitable world."
– Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, Jane Goodall Institute; UN Messenger of Peace
"Kendra Coulter's outstanding and hopeful book helps us move beyond the rage of inhumanity and learn from the remarkable people at work saving other animals. A must-read."
– Marc Bekoff, coauthor of The Animals' Agenda; author of Dogs Demystified
"This is a handbook for heroes! In these insightful, practical, and nuanced pages, you are certain to find inspiration and great humanity, and the tools to help save and protect many more lives."
– Ziya Tong, award-winning science broadcaster; author of The Reality Bubble
"Beautifully written and inspiring, Defending Animals is essential for everyone who wants to build a more just and humane world for humans and nonhumans alike."
– Jeff Sebo, Director, Animal Studies MA Program, NYU
"A harrowing look at animal cruelty."
– Publishers Weekly
"In Kendra Coulter's new book, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection (MIT Press, 2023) she profiles an array of groups and individuals to illustrate just how difficult protecting animals, both domesticated and wild, can be [...] Coulter's mix of positive stories and disturbing details of abuse makes the book an emotional roller coaster to read [...] More than a mere survey of problems and solutions, this book is a narrative portrait of the animal caregivers on the front lines, showcasing their often difficult task of protecting the defenseless."
– Sierra
