"The ideas behind Stevens's stories—such as the inherent equality and nobility of all species—are affecting and thought-provoking."—Publishers Weekly
More than anything else, this is a book about love. In this deeply moving account, you will hear about Rambo, a sheep who informs the staff when another animal is in trouble; and Paulie, a former cockfighting rooster who eats lunch with humans; Dino, an old toothless pony who survived a fire; and many more. Alongside these horses, roosters, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows, and other animals is a staff of loving humans for whom every animal life, even that of a frog rushed to the vet for emergency surgery, has merit. Reading this book can profoundly—and joyously—change your life. 24 color photographs
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Kathy Stevens spent her childhood on the rolling hills of a Virginia horse farm. At the height of his success, her father had close to 150 horses at a given time. Add to that the family dogs, a sheep named Babbette who wore diapers in the house, a burro named Linda, George the mynah bird, and Kathy's own show ponies and horses.
Kathy left the South in the early 80's and entered graduate school at Tufts University in 1984. After two years in a public policy program, the idea of making a difference from behind a desk was utterly unappealing. She wanted to impact young people's lives through working directly with them. So she added a third year of graduate school and took her first English teaching job north of Boston in 1987.
In the summer of 1999, after a decade in the classroom, Kathy was offered the principalship of a new high school scheduled to open in Boston in 2000. But to her own astonishment (again), she felt finished with public education. So one warm June day, she made her final end of the year speech to her final group of graduating seniors, encouraging them to be bold, to have courage, to write their own stories. But what was hers to be?
She asked herself the big questions: "What do you love? What do you believe in? What do you do best? She talked with friends. She kept a journal. She cashed in her teacher's retirement to live on while she waited for answers to come. Mostly, she took epic hikes through the woods with her yellow lab and best pal Murphy.
Three insights guided her through this important period of reflection:
1. She detested suffering and felt compelled to address it...in some fashion.
2. She loved teaching, and suspected she would miss the experience of guiding minds toward deeper understanding.
3. She loved and missed having animals in her life.
In 2001, with some good fortune and a great deal of hard work, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, one of the nation's only "teaching sanctuaries," was born.
Eight years later, Catskill Animal Sanctuary has saved over 1,600 farm animals--nearly all of them victims of unspeakable suffering. They have accepted animals seized by police from failed or fraudulent sanctuaries. They have worked with State Police and the New York State Humane Association to prosecute serial abusers who keep scores or hundreds in filth and confinement. On weekends, visitors come to this joy-driven place to meet their remarkable residents, and laugh when Rambo the sheep demands to have his rear end scratched, or when Franklin, their young orphaned pig, trots up and says, "Glad you're here!!! Have anything to eat??!"
With meaningful relationships, a wonderful partner, and her best pal Murphy tagging along everywhere she goes, Kathy Stevens continues to live a blessed life. She is puzzled when people refer to her as a "hero" or a "saint." "How many people are fortunate enough to do what they love, what they believe in?" Kathy asks. "I'm the luckiest person I know. Catskill Animal Sanctuary is simply my gift to the world--a thank you for a life filled with opportunity. It's a place that embodies everything I believe in--and what I believe in, essentially, is love."
This is one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read. You can tell it was written by someone who loves what's she's doing. I had the good fortune to meet Kathy Stevens shortly after she opened her sanctuary, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that she does go around kissing the animals and singing to them. I also had the good fortune to meet many of the animals that Kathy writes about, like Buddy, Samson and Rambo among others. This book describes what many of us already know...animals are intelligent and have feelings and emotions. Interspersed among the many uplifting stories are lessons on what farm animals endure on the farm and how they are slaughtered (the descriptions are not pretty, but unfortunately, that is the reality for these animals). Even with these lessons, this book is heartwarming and an absolute joy to read. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
After my brother-in-law & family visited the CAS and became a vegetarian, truly a jaw-dropping feat, I knew this place must be pretty special. Then, they gave me a copy of this book for my birthday and I became a vegetarian!! I've laughed out loud and cried - make that 'sobbed' so hard. I've read (the happy) parts to my children at bedtime. This book so powerfully fills you with emotion that I can pretty much guarantee you too will be inspired to do something ...something life-changing, be it for yourself or some other inhabitant of this earth. It is a wake-up call for your soul! Thank you Kathy and your amazing volunteers for being real life angels.
It is impossible to read this book without smiling, often laughing aloud and genuinely feeling connected to the stories within. Ms. Stevens intimately shares with us the life changing events that led her in each vocation to reach for higher goals and deeper meanings. This book is about faith, trust, hope, tenacity and heartfelt compassion for those sentient beings around us who so want and need our care. Each vignette is lovely. Lessons learned are etched. A wonderful, well written book. A pure joy.
What a wondeful book entertaining and enlightening to read. I heard the author on NPR then went out and bought this book. From the time I started to read it I couldn't put it down. I've been around horses most of my adult life and have gained a new appreciation for not only horses but all animals. So many misconceptions about them established growing up. Kathy Stevens is a true Rain Maker and should be congradulated for her fine work. Buy this book you won't be disappointed.
If I could rate this book higher than five stars, I would. At Catskill Animal Sanctuary, the animals are loved "til death do us part." This book will change your view of the "ordinary" farm animal. It will compel you to think before you eat. It will make you want to support the work of the Sanctuary. And, it will entertain you with heartwarming stories of love and healing that you wouldn't have believed possible. Buy it, read it, recommend it to everyone you know. This book should be on the bestseller list.
I live near the Catskill Animal Sanctuary and know of the great work accomplished at this place of kindness. Thank goodness we have shelters such as this. Kathy Stevens, the author shares such a wealth of information about animals we think of as "just a pig, just a chicken, just a cow" etc. I would like to see it on a list of good summer reading for students. It is the youth that will have to initiate change and I think this book will help them make intelligent choices. Please be assured that this is a book for adults too, and we can make changes also. The pages fly by and at the end - you want more more more.
This book had my emotions running hot and cold. I would smile and laugh at one moment and then be in tears another. The work these people are doing is just beyond words. Thank God there are people out there that have the privilege and means to do what they do. I read this book in one sitting.......I could NOT put it down. If you are an animal lover, please read this. After finishing the book, I was left with a good feeling...that so many of these creatures finally had a good, loving, caring environment. I could almost feel myself in the saddle on the horse and FEEL his joy at once again being allowed to run in the pasture. It was exhilarating!! Read it! You will come away with that good feeling, too.
I was already close to becoming a non meat-eating human before, but certainly after reading this extraordinary book, I've ceased to eat meat. The author really made me think about saying things like "I'm a real animal lover", when all I really meant was "I love dogs & cats". Had I really given much thought about cows, pigs, chickens & sheep before, as this book forced me to do, I probably would have stopped eating them long before now.
With that being said, this is not a sad or downer type of book, but rather it's very upbeat & entertaining, and allows the reader to see how intelligent & funny farm animals can be.
If you consider yourself a "real" animal lover, this is a terrific book for you!
