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The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights: Simple Acts of Kindness to Help Animals in Trouble

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In these difficult times, it's easy to get wrapped up in our own problems, but as PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk points out in The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights, it's important to remember that other species are facing their own hardships--which are often much worse than ours--every day.

For example, dogs are called "man's best friend," but many are kept chained in lonely backyards 24 hours a day, with nothing to do but pace the dirt, pant through sweltering summer days, and long for a friend. Elephants and chimpanzees are beaten and chained for humans' "entertainment." Pigs, cows, and chickens are treated like meat, milk, and egg machines--crammed together by the hundreds on filthy factory farms and deprived of everything that makes their life enjoyable, even the feel of grass under their feet or the sun on their backs.

This comprehensive guide to animal rights provides concise, straightforward information about how animals suffer in the entertainment, clothing, food, experimentation, and "pet" industries; compelling stories; fascinating facts about animals; simple steps to take to stop cruelty; and frequently asked questions, which will prepare both new and seasoned activists to be the most effective animal rights advocates they can be.

It's empowering to know that in these times when so much seems beyond our control, each of us can stop animals' suffering through our daily choices, such as eating veggie burgers and buying products that aren't tested on animals. This book will make you want to change the world for animals!

The Summary

Ingrid Newkirk has written a thorough and usable guide to making changes in your life that improve the overall welfare of the animals who share our earth.

This detailed book includes PeTA's suggestions on:

How to eat healthfully and compassionately
How to help get animals out of laboratories
How to make a difference for animals in puppy mills
How to make your vote count and change public opinion
How to switch to cruelty-free cosmetics and clothing
How to choose activities that protect rather than exploit animals
The topics outlined in the book include:

Making the choice to eat Vegan
Animals in the entertainment industry
Zoos & circus
Hunting & Fishing
Humane treatment of pets & animal companions
Laboratory testing on animals
Making the choice to purchase cruelty-free products
Saying "no" to dissection
Dealing with pests ethically
Choosing charities & organizations that are PeTA approved
The Review

There is so much room for improvement in the way that we honor and respect the animals of our earth. In a beautiful way, Newkirk brings forth amazing facts about the animal kingdom and the special talents and innate abilities of many species. For example, did you know that dolphins could "see" through the human body to detect cancer? I sure didn't... but, I did know that my doggies are always sniffing at the ouchies on my body and wanting to lick them!

After enlightening her readers on the remarkable beauty of the animal kingdom, Newkirk shares the attrocities of animal abuse. In today's world, I blindly have come to the assumption that most of these acts of terror have been, on a large scale, eradicated. Unfortunately, there are still horrendous acts of hate and ignorance being inflicted upon animals. What Newkirk offers in this book are solutions and ways to enact change today and in the future. Ultimately, it comes to making better choices and using your voice to make a difference.

One of the biggest changes that Newkirk recommends is becoming vegan. Vegans do not consume animal meat or products. Yes, this includes dairy products and eggs (and, for most... honey as well). This is a huge step to change and a complete lifestyle change. Two years ago, I become a 90% vegetarian. I did eat select fish, however I primarily ate all fruits & vegetables. Although I was not vegan and I still ate dairy & eggs, I managed to hold to this vegetarian commitment in eating for nearly a year. However, I just had such a hard time with it because my children are not vegetarian and I was constantly cooking two different types of foods.

After reading this book, I am re-committed to my eating lifestyle. I'm going to try to ensure that I eat primarily vegetarian, however allow myself the occasional treat every now and again. Although this guide does confirm that you can get all of the proteins and required nutrition from a completely vegan diet, I am unwilling to change my daugther's diets until they have completed their growth. Also, I feel that a change of this magnitude should be their personal decision at this stage in their life and development.

Another commitment that I am going to make is being more aware of my consumerism. I will try to purchase products that have affirmed that they do not test on animals. In addition, I will avoid purchasing leather and wool. I already avoid furs, feathers, and things along that line. I will also avoid attending circuses that exploit animals.

For my regular readers, you may already know that I am a huge animal lover. For the most part, I agreed with the majority of this book. However, there are some topics that I cannot fully agree with. I'll give a small example... this book claims that dogs should never be placed in crates. Our pup, Claire, loves her huge, comfy crate in Dee Dee's bedroom. It's covered in a pretty blanket, super big, and has wonderful warm bedding on the inside (along with toys, bones, etc.). When she's ready for bed, she walks right on in there and treats it almost like a den. In the morning, she doesn't even want to go outside and likes to linger in there. As she gets older and less likely to chase and terrorize the cats during the night while we sleep, I may try to encourage her to sleep freely in the house. Our lab, Tori, has the full run of the house and we have no issues with her and the kitties. However, for now the arrangement seems to be just fine with both Claire & us. Also, when we travel on long trips, the two large dog crates/pens fit into the back of the car nicely. I feel that everybody is safer on a long trip when they are secured. The book is adamantly against the use of crates. Based on my experience with my dogs, I disagree. The crate training worked wonders for both of our dogs, even though Tori's outgrown it and no longer needs it except for in the travel that I mentioned. There are a few other topics in the book that I found to be a tad extremist and don't agree with 100%... although, I can definitely see Newkirk's point.

Plain and simple... if readers of this book can make even 1 or 2 lifestyle changes out of this book, then there will be improvement in the protection of animals. It may not be everybody's choice to follow this book to the "T," however it's an eye-opening guide that gives some great advice and knowledge.

Oh... a tip that I read that I found new and interesting... cockroaches can't stand bay leaves. If you've got a problem area (i.e. under the kitchen sink or what not), place a few bay leaves in the area and they'll stay away!

The Rating

On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale," I am giving this book a rating of 8.5 out of 10 for the genre Non-Fiction:Instructional. The research and resources are very thorough and useful! I appreciate the way that one of my most cherished animal rights groups, The Sea Shephards, are mentioned in the book. Also, I believe that the subject matter holds a lot of importance in today's world and our future!

Let me share how useful this book is. It is useful to me as someone who hasn't eaten meat in well over 2 years, and who has been vegan for almost 3 months. I've been to many protests, and heard a lot of speakers on the topic. And I am still learning. You're never "there" as in a place where you know it all. There's always something new to be heard or a new perspective to be shared.

At first I was skeptical, because of it being associated with peta. (Written by the co-founder of the organization, Ingrid Newkirk.) Not to bash peta, because they do a lot of good things for this world. However, they are sometimes over the top, associated with things like throwing paint on people that wear fur, yadda yadda. But I personally don't like how they put celebrities up on a pedestal just for doing one minor thing like simply saying "wearing fur is bad" or "you shouldn't test on animals".

Luckily, this book has nothing to do with that. This is an introductory level book filled with information on all aspects of animal cruelty in our world. For food, fashion, entertainment, and testing methods. Being veg already, I already knew most of what Ingrid Newkirk stated about the food industry. I've also been to multiple circus and fur protests. However, I've recently researched animal testing, and am appalled at what I've read so far. There is very pertinent information containing how horrid circuses and zoos are to animals that most people would not know, but it should be revealed to them.

There is also some interesting information in this book on different ways you can be the best to your different kind of pets at home. Not just dogs or cats, but things like birds and fish. I am not a bird owner, but I know people who are. Fo example, I will be sharing some of the information with them because there are a lot of interesting precautions I never would have associated with owning a bird.

This book is also great because there's over 100 pages of credible organizations, charities, and other information sources listed in the back of the book. Utilizing these can further answer any other deeper question(s) one may have pertaining to this vast issue.

So, theres something to learn in here for everyone. Not just animal right activists or some other kind of protestor, but like the average household parent or even younger teen who's even mildly interested in the subject. Really anyone who wants to garner some information to make small everyday change, which in the end culminates into huge positive change. Bottom line is, there's so much irrefutable information out there. It's just up to the individual whether they choose to use it or ignore it.

Ingrid Newkirk did a fine job explaining in detail why animals should have rights too. The true stories in this book will make you shed tears. After reading this book I felt like I wanted to improve the way I live and be more proactive! I suggest this book for everyone who has an open mind!

How I wish this would be required reading in all high schools, or at least a suggested book for book reports.

The title says it all: simple acts of kindness. Just what this troubled world needs the most. The book is a great gift for already enlightened friends who would make use of its suggestions to do a little extra for the animals.

Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, wrote a book about the cruelties that animals receive throughout their lives. Most of this unfair treatment isn't deserved whatsoever. Throughout the book, Newkirk provides many details and experiences with animals that have been gut-wrenching for her to see. She fights for animals and animal rights everyday and through her book, she wants you to do the same. She gives many horrific stories of animal cruelty and then explains how we, as humans, can improve animals lives and change the terrible trend of abuse. As someone who has been against animal cruelty my whole life, this book definitely opened my eyes even further to the terror that animals receive every day. It is not good that this happens and it needs to stop!

Ingrid Newkirk has done it again! The best person and writer for all animals who cannot speak for themselves. With Ingrid's advice I have always hit the jackpot when it comes to helping animals. She is my Guru for animal liberation and this book is once again a perfect tool in my quest to continue helping animals.

I just finished reading this book today (Nov. 8, 2009) and was very impressed with the passionate, yet compelling and level-headed arguments Ms. Newkirk presents in defense of animal rights. Beyond that, she offers over 100 pages of resources which readers can use to further this cause as individuals. The resource section includes the following:

. A list of 246 Health Charities that DO NOT FUND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS
. A list of 99 Health Charities that STILL FUND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS (as of January 1, 2009)
. Recommended books and videos in the categories of vegan living, cookbooks, health, animal behavior, literature, religion, animals in entertainment, hunting and fishing, companion animals, animal experiments, clothing, dissection, wildlife, and educating children as relates to animal rights.
. A list of 54 organizations that are helpful to animal rights.
. A list of 46 companies that do not use animals to test their companion-animal food.
. A section on how to make cruelty-free products at home.
. A section on how to contact the media and the government to let your voice be heard on behalf of animal rights.

In my opinion, this is a must read book for everyone who has compassion for all animals, and is concerned and disturbed about the way they are currently being treated everywhere in the world. This book offers hundreds of simple actions individuals can take to help protect animals in trouble. I highly recommend this book.

The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights: Simple Acts of Kindness to Help Animals in Trouble

This books has the content in a very clear and succinct way. The pictures help a lot!!!

This book is akin to an animal bible! Highly enlightening. Pass it on. Give one to your children, friends or your local school and keep one on your table.