TITLE: Animalkind
AUTHOR: Ingrid Newkirk & Gene Stone
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
PUB. YEAR: 2019SETTING: n/a
FORMAT: print/library
RATING: - 4.5/5
Animalkind, written by the founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a remarkable book that I found engaging and informative.
The first part of the book gives insight into animal intelligence, discoveries about their loyalty, how they navigate and how they bond and play. There were stories about cats who found their way back home from distances over 100 miles. Stories of canines who understood over 200 human words and would respond. (I laughed when I read that dogs will only respond to praise is spoken in an upbeat tone though.) There are dolphins who can recognize the whistle of a companion they hadn't seen in decades and, that orangutans have the strongest mother and infant bonding in the animal kingdom - inseparable for years and some offspring nurse for as long as nine years.
Did you know that 60% of dogs and 63% of cats show grief after losing a human companion? Most will eat much less and sleep much more. Cats are more in tune to their predatory instincts than dogs since their hunting skills are rooted in evolution.
The second part of this book deals with animal welfare issues and how humans can learn to be more respectful and compassionate to animals.
As an animal lover, I was really happy I read this book. It is written in an easy, engaging manner. It's a book that gave me hope that humans an animals can coexist and how easy it is for humans to show respect for the vulnerable animals among us.
I did know dogs grieve because ours did when our son went off to college. Poor orangutan mothers - nursing for 9 years doesn't sound like fun! I think I'd enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteAnything that helps different species co-exist is a grand thing!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating subject, and every time I read a book like this one I come away with a deeper appreciation of the animal kingdom. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so fascinating! I don't have any pets but one day I'd love to have a dog.
ReplyDeleteI think of PETA as so extreme, so it's nice to hear that this book is fun, interesting, and well worth the read.
ReplyDeleteMuch needed information. Thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteI'd hoped to read lots of nature-ish titles during April in anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. This one sounds like it might fit in, if I ever get this reading going.
ReplyDeleteWow I didn't know that about orangutans! Dogs & cats are really perceptive to us I think. Mine watches me so closely to see what her next move is. ha.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun book to read with Gage!
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