One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter (Paperback)

by Diane Leigh (Author), Marilee Geyer (Author) "The photos in this book were taken during a one week period in a typical American animal shelter in northern California..." (more)
Key Phrases: companion animal overpopulation, kennel stress, stray hold (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Amazing, heartbreaking, tragic, loving, magical..." -- Sherman Alexie, director, poet, author of Ten Little Indians

One of the most beautiful books on animals ever produced... A magnificent work, and one that gets my highest recommendation. -- John Robbins, author of Diet for a New American and The Food Revolution

Presenting life and death in an animal shelter in unvarnished, uncompromising terms … an emotionally moving and profound piece. -- Midwest Book Review, December, 2003

Riveting, stilling, chilling and intensely motivating... shows clearly that each and every one of us can make a difference. -- Marc Bekoff, author of The Ten Trusts (with Jane Goodall)

This book has the potential to save millions of lives - if only we would open our hearts to its message. -- Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats

You will be breathless from cover to cover. -- Jim Mason, author of Animal Factories (with Peter Singer)

Product Description
Over half the households in America include an animal companion. Yet behind this immense love of animals lies an equally immense tragedy: each year, community animal shelters take in eight to twelve million lost and unwanted dogs and cats who face an uncertain fate.

One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter brings this issue vividly to life via a true account of 7 days in a typical U.S. animal shelter. With compelling photos and moving vignettes, this book chronicles the stories of 75 animals who passed through a Northern California animal shelter during one week. Their gripping stories include excerpts from actual shelter records; the words of shelter workers, volunteers, and visitors; and the final conclusion of each animal's journey through the animal shelter system.

Look into the eyes of these animals and let their stories give you a riveting and unforgettable glimpse into this nation's homeless animal tragedy. Whether it is the lost dog quickly reunited with his family because he was wearing an ID tag, the frightened cat given up by guardians who didn't understand the commitment of caring for her, the cat facing euthanasia or the dog joyfully adopted into a new home, each animal in One at a Time has an important lesson to teach and a powerful message to share.

One at a Time will help you to see the real faces behind the numbers, and to experience the miracles and heartbreak that play out every day in our nation's shelters... one animal at a time.

Even more importantly, One at a Time will give you hope, because this tragedy can be ended and each one of us can be part of the solution... offering us the chance to become better people, to reawaken our connection with other living beings, and to reaffirm the sanctity of life itself. The animals of One at a Time will show you how.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: No Voice Unheard; 3rd edition (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972838708
• ISBN-13: 978-0972838702
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,119 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotionally moving and profound piece, December 12, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The collaborative effort of former animal shelter workers and animal rights activists Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer, One At A Time: A Week In An American Animal Shelter is a true account of seven days in an animal shelter, featuring profiles of the pets taken in during that span of time. Presenting the truth of life and death in an animal shelter in unvarnished, uncompromising terms, and featuring black-and-white photographs as well as the stories of the canines and felines taken in, One At A Time is an emotionally moving and profound piece recommended to the attention of anyone who has every been graced with the company of an animal companion -- or who would like to be.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What You Never Hear or See, May 11, 2004

By	Mr. M. Crisci "mcrisci" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has created a profoundly moving experience in my life. The authors are not shy nor do they gloss over the plight of shelter animals. "Pedigreed" pets may be nice for some, but many do not realise the needs of a shelter animal. Being a home-rescuer and foster-guardian myself, I was able to identify with the plight of the abundance of strays and how to help them. After reading the book, I also learned why animals do what they do in a shelter environment. An aside: I certainly was not prepared for the chapter on Euthanasia, but I am glad that it is there.

This book deserves to be in every vet's office across the country. I have started to purchase extras for my vets, and anyone who would listen. Please note also that the book provides ways you, too, can help raise awareness of this crucial need.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empowering Animal Lovers, May 23, 2004

By A Customer

One at a Time sends a powerful message through the stories of individual animals who are homeless and in crisis. It is the finest example I have ever read on the topic of unwanted/homeless animals in our society and the shelters that accept all dogs and cats brought to their doors. Each animal's story and accompaning photograph provides a greater understanding of why millions of wonderful dogs and cats become homeless. In addition, One at a Time gives us hope by empowering individuals to facilitate change through simple acts of responsibity and kindness.

If every petlover (who in the past purchased a dog or cat) read One at a Time, their next opportunity to obtain a pet would result in a visit to their local shelter. Everyone who has an interest in animals, including breeders, no-kill advoctes, and public officials, will gain a greater understanding of the life saving services shelters provide.