Animal Rights: Yes or No? (Pro/Con) [Library Binding]

Marna Owen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Pro/Con

Examines the treatment of animals in such areas as medical research, agriculture, fashion, and industry and explores opposing viewpoints on the question of whether animals have rights.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-10-Owen presents both sides of this controversial issue, though she comes down slightly on the side of the animals. She covers not only their use/ abuse in laboratory situations, but also on farms, in circuses and zoos, in the natural environment, in the food industry, and even in homes as pets. Legal measures that ensure animal protection and the actions of some extremists' groups are recounted. Documentation is provided wherever possible and an extensive bibliography is appended. Strangely missing is Laurence Pringle's fine, unemotional, well-reasoned The Animal Rights Controversy (Harcourt, 1989). Abundant black-and-white and full-color photographs of varying degrees of clarity are interspersed throughout; some are the sort used by animal-rights activists to prove their points. A list of addresses for organizations on both sides is included. Though somewhat repetitive, and a tad less than evenhanded, this is a clear look at an emotionally charged issue.
Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-10. Owen posits three commonly held positions on animal rights: one, animals are inferior and can be used as humans see fit; two, animals may be used in ways that greatly benefit mankind but should be treated as humanely as possible; three, animals have innate rights and should not be dominated or exploited by humans. She divides her book into chapters dealing with the various ways animals are used (or abused) by humans, such as for medical research, cosmetics and fashion, and entertainment and in agriculture and industry. She presents the objections given by animal rights activists to these uses and the responses given by defenders. Owen seems to give an evenhanded report, citing, for instance, cases of extreme cruelty to animals involved in medical research and presenting possible alternatives, such as using computer models or doing tests on cell and tissue cultures rather than on live animals. But she also lists the safeguards that are in place to prevent mistreatment and the great benefits that have come to humans because of animal research. Photographs are usually small but appropriate and well placed. This could be a useful book for people struggling to define their own positions in the debate over animal rights. Sheilamae O'Hara

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 112 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Publications (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822526034
• ISBN-13: 978-0822526032
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,648,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, January 22, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Animal Rights: Yes or No? (Pro/Con) (Library Binding)

I had to do a debate on animal research for school, and I had to be for the continuation of animal research. No books that I read had anything on why animal research was good for medical reasons, but this book did! I LOVE this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book for school projects, January 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Animal Rights: Yes or No? (Pro/Con) (Library Binding)

i'm in 9th grade and i just used this book for a school report on the of rights of animals. The book is great, because it doesn't focus on the "good" or the "bad" like most books in this catergory. it's like all books on animal rights rolled into one!