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A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy: The Human Cost of the Animal Rights Movement Hardcover – March 2, 2010

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Wesley J. Smith (Author)
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3.5 out of 5 stars 32 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 270 pages
  • Publisher: Encounter Books (March 2, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1594033463
  • ISBN-13: 978-1594033469
  • Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.8 x 9.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,443,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsConsequences of Accepting the Animal Rights Agenda
By Stephen M. Vantassel on April 2, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Wesley J. Smith is an attorney and author of several books, a fact which explains the lucid writing style, absence of rancor, and superb attention to detail and documentation. A previous review explained Smith's reasoning for rejecting the ideology of animal rights so I will focus on other issues.

The book is divided into three sections. The first addresses the ideology and non-violent aspects of animal rights (AR) activism. Smith explains how the AR movement frequently utilizes propaganda like techniques to sway the public to their cause. Part II reveals the more sinister side of the movement by detailing terroristic activities perpetrated by members of the radical fringe of the AR movement, such as the Animal Liberation Front. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this section is how Smith carefully shows how mainstream AR activists have failed to harshly condemn violence and terror used to further their cause and in some cases even employed those involved in violent activities. The last section explains how animals have benefited humans and how adoption of the AR agenda will diminish humanity. Of particular note, is his careful discussion of the role animal testing has in medical advances which contradicts the repeated claims of many AR activists and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Smith is careful with his wording and avoids painting with broad strokes. He concedes examples of cruelty when he believes the evidence supports it. In my opinion, Smith's greatest contribution consists in his insight into the way AR activists manipulate the media, the public, and assault the judicial system in a take-no-prisoners attempt to implement their agenda.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA much needed corrective
By Bill Muehlenberg VINE VOICE on June 21, 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Common sense these days has been thrown out the window, so we must reaffirm and defend basic truths. One such truth is that of human exceptionalism - humans are special and unique. But that truism is under attack today from various quarters, including the animal liberation brigade.

Those arguing for animal rights have to of course deny that there is anything special or valuable about human beings. Thus the campaign to grant animals rights is really the campaign to dethrone man and disrobe him of any unique significance.

That is the argument of this important book. Smith makes the distinction between animal welfare and the animal rights movement. The former is something all of us should be supportive of. This has to do with the humane treatment of animals. But the latter is something we all should be quite worried about.

What looks like a noble and worthwhile crusade is at bottom really an anti-human ideology. It is in fact "a belief system, an ideology, even a quasi religion, which both implicitly and explicitly seeks to create a moral equivalence between the value of human lives and those of animals".

This movement is often extremist, utopian, and open to the use of violence. For those who are still trying to figure out the book title, it actually is a 1986 quote from the head of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk. She said all four are mammals - end of story.

The true believers in the animal liberation movement are not just gentle dog lovers or cat owners. They are fanatics who are quite happy to harass, vandalise and destroy anything they consider to be abusive to animals. Indeed, Smith warns us of what sort of world we would live in if these radicals had their way:

"Medical research would be materially impeded.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt's past time for this..........
By D. P. Noland on May 19, 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
For too long there has been a total misunderstanding of exactly what the term "animal rights" means as opposed to "animal welfare". This book clears the air once and for all. No one can plead ignorance after having read it. I wish I could put a copy in the hands of every person I know who blithely prattles on about how much they support "animal rights" when what they actually intend to support is animal WELFARE. Domesticated animals are important in our lives on many different levels. Animal rights proponents would like to remove animals totally from the human-animal equation. This book is well-written and well-researched. And just begins this conversation.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA DEFENSE OF "HUMAN EXCEPTIONALISM" VERSUS ANIMAL RIGHTS
By Steven H Propp TOP 100 REVIEWER on July 23, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Wesley J. Smith works for the Discovery Institute (which promotes Intelligent Design); he has also written the books Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America, Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder, Consumer's Guide to a Brave New World, etc.

He wrote in the Introduction to this 2010 book, "It is not my purpose in this book to act as a defender of animal industries. Rather, my goals are primarily to expose the antihuman ideology of the animal rights/liberation movement, expose its many deceptions, and warn against its sometimes violent tactics. I will also defend the use of animals as necessary and appropriate to promote human welfare, prosperity, and happiness. Finally, I will mount an unequivocal defense of the belief that human beings stand uniquely at the pinnacle of moral worth, a concept sometimes called 'human exceptionalism.'"

He suggests that animal rights/liberation "embraces a morally subversive premise... to the point that normal and logical species distinctions are condemned as akin to racism, anti-Semitism, and every other act of bigotry... Such views are not merely radical, they are profoundly antihuman." (Pg. 45) He argues that "alleviating the suffering of human beings and promoting human thriving matter most. That, in a nutshell, is the nub of the entire animal rights debate." (Pg.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent analysis of the problems related to the Animal Rights movement.

Published 3 months ago by Gerry
1.0 out of 5 starsHumane?

It is not true that humans would suffer for animal rights. And it is not true that humans are more important. When it comes to suffering, we are all the same. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Jenna Miles
5.0 out of 5 starsA must read if you want to be informed about why animals CAN'T have...

Animal cruelty is definetely wrong. But the thing that makes it so wrong is not only that it hurts an animal, but that it "makes us less human", as Wesley Smith says. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Kona
1.0 out of 5 starsa real moron!

What a moron!

Published 14 months ago by Satish Reddy
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

ok

Published 16 months ago by ep
5.0 out of 5 starsWell written discussion about the AR movement

Excellent and informative narrative about the animal rights movement and its anti-human sociopathic agenda.

Published on July 26, 2014 by MC
5.0 out of 5 starsTerrorism and abuse of the human species revealed.

Finite research, presentation of facts. A clear deliniation between Animal Rights and humane treatment of animals. Terrorism and abuse of the human species revealed.

Published on July 6, 2014 by Dean Miller
5.0 out of 5 starsI have not read the book yet, but heard ...

I have not read the book yet, but heard an interview with the Author which is what lead me to buy it! Read more

Published on June 30, 2014 by 494life
1.0 out of 5 starsWhy is the title pro animal-rights?

I am wondering why Wesley J. Smith has taken the Ingrid Newkirk quote which clearly describes all mammals as equal (a sentiment I personally agree with) and used it as his title... Read more

Published on May 23, 2014 by Katie Spiers
3.0 out of 5 starsI'm Conflicted about this book

From a religious point of view (Judeo/Christian) we are given dominion over animals, but that doesn't give us the right as humans to abuse animals or consider their existence any... Read more

Published on May 5, 2014 by M. Fox

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