Product Description
The inspiring true story of Best Friends, the Angel Canyon, Utah sanctuary, and a few dedicated people who made it happen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Inspiring Stories of Animal Rescue
This is a fantastic book. Like other reviewers have noticed, it doesn't contain a lot of animal abuse stories. The ones that are included are included to show what caring individuals can do to save animals in a bad situation and provide them with a shelter, a sanctuary, a place to live the rest of their natural life where they are safe, cared for, and loved.

I have to say, this is the most inspiring story I have ever found. It starts with a group of friends who want to save animals. They find a plot of land that inspires them where they move all of their current animals. Through financial troubles they work together to create the awesome animal sanctuary that exists today. It is truly inspiring and can make anyone want to do their part in lowering the kill rate of unwanted animals and valuing every animal - no matter their disability or care requirements.

A great read - lives up to the Sanctuary itself
Although I could have wished it to go into a LITTLE more depth, and add sixteen more chapters & a hundred more photos... this was a really enjoyable read. As a supporter of Best Friends, I can recommend this one to all you animal-lovers & -rescuers out there.

Having just read a truly dreadful animal-rescue book, "Canine Caper : Real Life Tales of a Female Pet Vigilante," by Rose Block and Delilah Ahrendt, diving into this one was a great relief.

God bless everyone involved with the Best Friends effort, out there.

Not Honest & Out of Date
Much has changed at Best Friends since this book was written. First, all the old founders are gone, and have been replaced with unknowns, some that have been fired under odd circumstances. Second, Best Friends has NOT succeeded at No Kill at their sanctuary. They turn away animals brought to them, and they have been getting rid of dogs they were committed to care for in large numbers, and are downsizing. Donors aren't aware of this. Also, information surfaced (documented by business records) that the merchandise purchased from Best Friends like Tishirts, mugs, etc. goes to a private corporation that financially benefits the founders, not the sanctuary. Something strange is going on at Best Friends, and there has been a troubling involvement with breeders and breeder groups who don't have the animals' interests at heart. This book is completely outdated, as nearly everything about Best Friends has changed since its publication, and not for the better.

Amazing People Make a Difference
This book is the story about the admirable people who created Dogdown and how they did it. It is about people, making a difference in the world. The animals they sought to protect are presented as more of a backdrop rather than the actual story because the book is about enacting an idea. I found the parade of characters discussed a little bit confusing but I am sure that they did not want to leave anyone out. It takes "a village" to create a sanctuary of this magnitude. Having said that, it is a worthy read and I found the story very interesting and instructional. Thank goodness for people like this.

Beautiful and Inspiring
This book made me laugh and cry, and inspired me to tell everyone about the great work they are doing.I really enjoyed the stories about each animals personalities and relationships.It's as much about them as the people who made it happen. ... Read more

Product Description
Leading animal rights activist Gene Baur examines the real cost of the meat on our plates -- for both humans and animals alike -- in this provocative and thorough examination of the modern farm industry.

Many people picture cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens as friendly creatures who live happily within the confines of a peaceful family farm, arriving as food for humans only at the end of their sun-drenched lives. That's what Gene Baur had been told -- but when he first visited a stockyard he realized that this rosy depiction couldn't be more inaccurate.

Amid the stench, noise, and filth, his attention was drawn in particular to one sheep who had been cast aside for dead. But as Baur walked by, the sheep raised her head and looked right at him. She was still alive, and the one thing Baur knew for sure that day was that he had to get her to safety. Hilda, as she was later named, was nursed back to health and soon became the first resident of Farm Sanctuary -- an organization dedicated to the rescue, care, and protection of farm animals.

The truth is that farm production does not depend on the family farmer with a small herd of animals but instead resembles a large, assembly-line factory. Animals raised for human consumption are confined for the entirety of their lives and often live without companionship, fresh air, or even adequate food and water.Viewed as production units rather than living beings with feelings, ten billion farm animals are exploited specifically for food in the United States every year.

In Farm Sanctuary, Baur provides a thoughtprovoking investigation of the ethical questions involved in the production of beef, poultry, pork, milk,and eggs -- and what each of us can do to stop the mistreatment of farm animals and promote compassion. He details the triumphs and the disappointments of more than twenty years on the front lines of the animal protection movement. And he introduces sanctuary. us to some of the special creatures who live at Farm Sanctuary -- from Maya the cow to Marmalade the chicken -- all of whom escaped horrible circumstances to live happier, more peaceful lives. Farm Sanctuary shows how all of us have an opportunity and a responsibility to consume a kinder plate, making a better life for ourselves and animals as well. You will certainly never think of a hamburger or chicken breast the same way after reading this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Well written, informative and worthwhile
I bought this book because I was interested in learning more about Farm Sanctuary and how it began.There are chapters that are very sad because they describe how farmed animals are treated.However, they are the facts and people need to know that it isn't just a few cases of animal mistreatment but industry wide practices that are accepted as the standard in factory farming.

To make what could be a totally depressing read more light hearted, there are also stories about the animals that were rescued and given a much better life where their natural behavior is celebrated instead of destroyed.

Very worthwhile read for anyone who wants to know the story of Farm Sanctuary or about where the meat on their plates comes from.

STOP AMAZON SELLING FUR
CLICK LINK TO SEND LETTER TO AMAZON - TAKES JUST 2 SECS, ALL FILLED IN FOR YOU.
[...]
Animals killed for their fur spend entire lives exposed to all weather conditions in cramped, filthy wire cages.Fur farmers use the cheapest+cruelest killing methods--including suffocation,electrocution,gassing,poisoning--and these often ineffective methods mean that lots of animals are skinned alive.

Gene Baur truly changes people's hearts and minds
Gene Baur's book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as he leads you through the lives of the animals he saves and the animals love that sometimes save him.His stories are honest and factual; compelling and thought provoking. Gene shows us a world that most people do not know exist or choose not to. He asks that we take a good look, see the compassion in these precious animals and open your heart to them.Once you do you will truly never be the same.Let the compassion begin.

Not what I expected...in a good way! Lovely!
Truly inspiring book! Gene Baur is full of so much insight, experience, and positivity. It has become one of my favorite books. I think all individuals should check out this book. I learned much more than I was expecting, just when I thought I knew everything about agribusiness. I learned more about animals, just when I thought my connection with animals was at its peak. I thank Gene for writing this, for all of his and his fellow workers efforts in this amazing cause. I will support Farm Sanctuary until the day I die. It is Farm Sanctuary that has inspired me to want to start a sanctuary of my own!

Neither lying down in green pastures nor beside still waters
Read and weep for those you eat.
As you'll see green pastures are no more.
Factory farms use up and frighten all.
Then sell to grind
Misfits not worth the time. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is written in passionate defense of the stray dog. They wander the back roads of the world, hungry and forlorn, seeking, always seeking, love and companionship. Why are they lost? Most likely they have been dumped by the most insensitive and cruel of humans. Dogs love to love; hence, this book is written about and dedicated to the most loving of creatures: the stray dog who has been rescued. There are hundreds of stories about stray dogs everywhere, and here are some of them. As this book seeks to convey, they will love you as no other creature can or will. Just visit The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary in Glorieta, New Mexico, and ask the dogs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great compassion & heart
Natalie is one in a million.She understands animals with amazing heart and patience.
she is the most devoted animal lover we have ever known.
everyone needs to support her generous work.
she is a blessing to all
Treasure Natalie
ondrea&stephen levine

Beautiful Expressive Animal Photographs
The charitable work of Natalie Owings in creating homes for these animals is inspirational, and is remarkably recorded the photographer Tracy Sweetman.In this book, the fine art photographer, T.Sweetman, has created a stellar collection of animal photographs that are expressive and beautiful. For any dog lover, this book of dog and animal photographs by T. Sweetman is a simply wonderful experience with the many emotional expressions of dogs.Dogs are featured in individual portraits and in fascinating social interactions between dogs.Older dogs, puppies, and even a few horses who have found a home at the sanctuary are portrayed by this patient and insightful photographer, Tracy Sweetman.Thank you for sharing these visually stunning images! ... Read more

Product Description
Maya the cow, J.D. the piglet, Hilda the sheep, and a dozen more animals all speak directly to the reader, showing off their unique personalities in this wonderful collection of poems. Master watercolorist Robert Rahway Zakanitch provides a portrait that perfectly captures the essence of each creature. Together the poems and paintings add up to a picture of life on the friendliest farm around.

Maya Gottfried based her poems on real animals from Farm Sanctuary, a safe haven for injured or abused farm animals with locations in New York and California. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

You'll be delighted to meet the animals as they talk about their lives in their very own creative verse!
Not all farm life is tranquil as on Old Macdonald's farm and on the Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York, a sanctuary that "promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy."Some animals on farms are mistreated and have found a new home in its rolling pastures and farm yard.In this book you will hear many of the animals talk about themselves in verse.They rollick, frolic, shy away from you, tell you how they lay in the sun, shake their tails, or strut around the barnyard as they invite you to get a glimpse into their lives in their new home.

A Flower's Life
by Violet, a pig

My name is Violet, and I am a flower:

See:

My bed is made of grass.
My hooves are planted firmly in the dirt.
I perk up like a daffodil after it rains,
And I smell sweet, like a lily.
(I take a sunbath nearly every day!)

I must be a flower;
Truly.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to roll in the mud.

You'll be delighted to meet the animals as they talk about their lives in their very own creative verse.This charming book will introduce the reader to a wide variety of farm animals and their interesting personalities.You will meet Maya the cow, Mayfly the rooster, J.D. the piglet, Gabriella the bantam chicken, Clarabell the goat, several adorable ducklings, Ramsey the ram, Whisper the turkey, Bonnie the donkey, Violet the pig, Ari and Alicia the baby goats, Whitaker the calf, Diego the duck, Hilda the ewe, and Cece and Barnaby, the rabbits.

The artwork is very appealing and is sure to please the little ones whom, I'm sure, will treat you to many imaginative animal sounds.This book can be simply used to learn about animals in the early grades or, in conjunction with the website, can be used by the more mature student to discuss the more serious issues of animal abuse and/or vegetarianism. In the back of the book is a serious discussion about the sanctuary for adults or older students.There is a web site listed for the sanctuary that promotes awareness, educates the public, and advocates for the animals.

The water-and-ink drawings accompanying each poem are packed with animal personality and lots of fun!
OUR FARM: BY THE ANIMALS OF FARM SANCTUARY pairs Maya Gottfried's fine photos with paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch to provide a lovely farm collection perfect for spring. The water-and-ink drawings accompanying each poem are packed with animal personality and lots of fun!

Absolutely Charming
This is one of the best children's books I've ever read (and I'm no Spring chicken). The illustrations are exquisite. I love that the designer included the illustrator's sketches. The poems are whimsical and touching. Opening this book always makes me smile.

Our Farm
//Our Farm// is a compilation of poetry "written" by some of the animals living in the Farm Sanctuary. The compilation contains 15 rhyming poems, free verses, and haikus.Some read like a song, others are funny, and all of them give voice to the distinct personalities of the "poets." Young readers will want to search for that sweet patch of grass as recommended by Grandmama Moo; follow Diego the duck in his adventurous walks; run with J.D. the piglet; and all the while being careful not to disturb the seemingly moody Ramsey the sheep.

The author, Maya Gottfried, has spent years volunteering at Farm Sanctuary - a place where abused and neglected farm animals are placed to enjoy the rest of their lives in peaceful surroundings -- and as such, she was able to capture the nature of the animals as they were meant to be. The illustrator, Robert Rahway Zakanitch, further complements the effort to make the animals come alive through his lively watercolor illustrations (check out the pages with the "disappearing" turkeys) and child-like pencil drawings on the margins. What results is a piece of work that is more than just a book about animals: it's an invitation to share in their world.

Reviewed by D. Harms

Special personalities
As an admirer of this author-illustrator team, I thought it couldn't get any better than Good Dog. But Our Farm does. It doesn't get any better than Gottfried's Violet the Pig whose self-image brings a smile whenever I think of it. I have ordered more for children and friends in my life, and recommend it highly. ... Read more

Product Description
"The ideas behind Stevens's stories—such as the inherent equality and nobility of all species—are affecting and thought-provoking."—Publishers WeeklyMore than anything else, this is a book about love. In this deeplymoving account, you will hear about Rambo, a sheep who informs thestaff when another animal is in trouble; and Paulie, a formercockfighting rooster who eats lunch with humans; Dino, an old toothlesspony who survived a fire; and many more. Alongside these horses,roosters, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows, and other animals is a staff ofloving humans for whom every animal life, even that of a frog rushed tothe vet for emergency surgery, has merit. Reading this book canprofoundly—and joyously—change your life. 24 color photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Animal Sanctuary
Very inspiring book.Wonderful to know people will do all they can to care for animals that need help.I rescued goats that needed homes on a small level.Kathy Stevens is a very special person.

As remarkable as it is inspirational
Kathy Stevens' book is the story of how she built her animal sanctuary (Catskills Animal Sanctuary) for abused, abandoned and otherwise mistreated farm animals. Ditching a secure career in education to build her sanctuary from scratch, her hard work is a testimony to the power of a single person to bring about meaningful change. The stories of Stevens' and her staff's relationships with the animals is more than heartwarming. They're life-affirming. For people who think animals don't have rich and complex emotions, I have news for you: the debate is over, and they do. Animals - including all of the animals CAS tends to - have complex emotions that have been proven through solid medical science and ethology studies. The animals at CAS only confirm that science even more. You'll read about animals that have strong personalities and relationships of their own, with the staff and other animals. Some take leadership positions, some like to be on their own, others have big obstacles to overcome. Each story is unique, and I'm sure there's many more that could have been added to the book. The staff has a concept our world needs more of, namely that compassion and caring bring out the best in all of us, all animals (including humans). The animals at CAS had much to overcome and every reason to not trust people, but they all come into their own over time because of the staff's understanding that all they needed was love, compassion, some time and space - and the occasional nudge to not give up.

Kathy Stevens is to be commended for creating something unique and inspirational. Hopefully many people will be moved by her story and make some changes of their own.

Loving with the brain and the heart!
I purchased this book after I met Kathy.Her energy and passion for CAS came through in everything she did and I just had to read this book!I couldn't put it down and then when I finished, I read it again!I have a list of people that MUST read this book about 2 pages long!I was there on the farm for every event...I cried, laughed and loved with each of the humans and animals.Kathy entertains you while getting you to open your mind to all of the possibilities out there for animals and humans, to love, live and enjoy the life that we have all been blessed with.I am very happy to recommend this book to humans of all ages and feel free to read it out loud to your animals... I DID!

Misguided Facts make for a poor read
Kathy Stevens lives in her own little fairytale world were animals are more important than humans! She makes it very clear over and over again that the animals on her farm run the show. I bought this book hoping for another Chicken Soup for the Horse loves soul or Melanie Bowles Horses of Proud Spirit type stories, but only a handful of the stories are horse related.
I got about 3/4 of the way thru this book and after reading about Paulie the roster I simply cannot finish this book. Her misguided information on poultry farms has made me so mad that I regret buying this book and supporting this woman in anyway. On page 127-128 she talks about the state conditions of most broiler farms, stating that "sores & blisters develop on their breasts and legs from resting in their own excrement - excrement that is typically removed from the buildings once a year or less." I have no idea where this woman got this nonsense from but broiler barns are cleaned and sanitized after EVERY shipment of birds, so a MINIMUM every 2 months! Coming from a long line of poultry and dairy farmers I know what I am talking about. And regardless your feelings towards broiler farms, anyone with a brain would know that sores and blisters on the bird would bring down there value, and if nothing else you must realize a farm wants as much for the bird as possible, not as little! Leaving animals in their own feces is a sure way to contaminate the flock and lose a lot of money! Does she think farmers are really that stupid? She also mentions that all the birds she's gotten from the poultry farms are greatly obese, but this is also false as farms are actually diggned money if the birds are too heavy!
Several times she mentions how she is against horse shows and other such settings, but 99.9% of the horse lovers I know love taking their horses for shows and rodeos and such and if you watch the horse's they love it too! Watching events like cutting & roping is like viewing our history, how does she think the human race made it this far? If you ever watch a cutting event you can physically see the horse getting excited to take on the cow.
To top it off, for someone that is so against anything "non natural" for her animals in Chapter 19 she talks about riding, now why is that acceptable when everything else is not?
This woman needs to get her facts straight before she attempts to publish a book and also realize that while yes, animal cruelty/abuses is always wrong, animals are NOT more important than humans.

Where the Blind Horse Sings
I'm a horse lover and reading this book brought tears to my eyes. This book isn't just about horses but about animals that come from terrible homes and how they have found a lasting home at Animal Sancturay. The web site is great and would recommend to all animal lovers. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Adorable, great way to remind yourself to care for animals
I've been using this calendar all year and I LOVE IT! It's a great constant reminder for me to live my life in a way that is as kind and considerate of animals as possible. The pictures are adorable; the stories that accompany each critter are heartwarming. I can't wait for the 2011 edition!

Beautiful
Each page features a beautiful, full-color photograph of a rescued animal accompanied by the touching story of how each animal was rescued. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Simply charming!
I am really surprised there aren't more reviews for this book.It is utterly delightful.For anybody who wants to read about animals and get to know their personalities, you can't go wrong with this book.Curl up on the couch and enjoy!

A warm book
An Otter on the Aga is a tale about love for animals. How a husband and wife's team, wanting to care for strays and abondoned animals in Cornwall, ultimately led to the establishment of an RSPCA animal shelter.
The book is a collection of warm, happy and sometimes not-so-happy stories of encounters with the various animals the Harper family acquired and cared for over the years; the multitude of characters that caused them problems and yet gave them happiness.
'Though the title of the book is An Otter on the Aga, in my opinion it could well have been called Odin descends on Cornwall, as the tale of Odin the raven is one of the best in the book.
For animal lovers, this book is a must-have!
... Read more

Product Description
One night, a big storm hits the farm. High winds and rain sweep through the tree where a mother and father owl are caring for their babies. During the storm, the mother owl disappears. The father owl does not know what to do. Can Farmer Samuel and his wife save them? This is a true story about some of the animals on the hundred-year-old farm known as Compassionate Pet Sanctuary. Old farmer Samuel and his wife Cheri live there. They are real, too! Samuel and Cheri Lopez founded Compassionate Pet Sanctuary as a haven for lost, abandoned, and injured animals. Over the years, they have rescued hundreds of dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, owls, goats, geese, and other animals. Farmer Samuel and his wife Cheri have found permanent and loving homes for many of the animals they have rescued. The other animals, of course, will always have nurturing place to live right there on the old farm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a true life story about owlets
Do you know what baby owls are called?Farmer Samuel and his wife Cheri live on a hundred-year-old farm, with all kinds of animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, goats, ducks, geese, and even pea fowl, as pets.There are wild animals on the farm too, but Samuel and Cheri care for them all.Every spring for five years, usually in April, a pair of owls had nested in a eucalyptus tree on the farm and raised their owlets.In the sixth year, the weather changes and a bad storm blows in.Mrs. Owl disappears, and Mr. Owl doesn't know how to feed the babies.Then when Cheri goes to check on the owls, she finds that Mr. Owl hasn't come back.So what will happen to the owlets?
This is another in the "True Stories About Orphaned Animals" series in which author and illustrator Samuel Lopez, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from California State University, tells about different animals that he and his wife have rescued on their farm in northern California.The Lopezes have established the Compassionate Pet Sanctuary, an animal rescue-rehabilitation-adoption organization, and proceeds from the books will go to help the Sanctuary.These true-life stories not only are entertaining for both children and adults but also will help young readers realize the need to care for and about all animals.Besides, in this one there is a lot of interesting information about the life and needs of an owl.

Will captivate animal lovers
Farmer Samuel Lopez and his wife Cheri lived in a century old farmhouse. Year after year a pair of owls chose to nest in a nearby eucalyptus tree. The joy of new life is always exciting and the couples, human and animal alike, enjoyed watching the "tiny owlets" grow into "soaring, swooping juvenile birds." During the sixth year the Lopez family welcomed a new family, but something was amiss in the air. The weather began to change and a storm began to brew. The storm lasted for many days and even the "hundred-and-twenty-year-old" eucalyptus tree was not able to protect one member of the owl family. Mr. Owl continued to bring food to his two owlets, but Mrs. Owl had disappeared.

Mr. Owl could bring the food, but he probably didn't have the know-how that would enable him to raise his little family. The nest was soon abandoned and Cheri's mothering instincts kicked in and she took the little owlets under her figurative wings and into her home. She dried them off and began to feed them. The smallest owlet, who probably had very little chance for survival, "might never have the chance to experience life on the hundred-year-old farm." The human parents began to nurse the baby owlets and fed them a diet that mimicked that which their own parents would have provided. Would their efforts prove useful or would the babies end up in a "backyard pet cemetery?"

I let this book languish on my desk for a few days and didn't even crack the cover, but once I did I was very interested in the story of the little owlets. Had one of the photographs on the inside pages been on the cover, I would have immediately been browsing its pages. The photographs are very appealing and make the reader want to give the old woot-woot cheer in hopes that the babies would survive. The story is charming and pulled me along quite quickly to find out just what happened at the Compassionate Pet Sanctuary where apparently many lost animal souls found a haven. The story would be a nice read and discuss story during circle or story time in a homeschool or classroom setting.

Quill says: "Whoooiiee, hoo-hooo, woot-woot-woot-woot..." this is a lovely, heartwarming tale that will captivate animal lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Product Description
Explains how the Sanctuary for Animals and the Dawn Animal Agency hire out healthy animals for jobs in the performing arts and then use the money to support other animals who are too old or too sick to work themselves. ... Read more

Product Description
Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador - An Address Presented by Lt.-Colonel William Wood, F.R.S.C. before - the Second Annual Meeting of the Commission of Conservation at Quebec, - January, 1911 is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by William Charles Henry Wood is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of William Charles Henry Wood then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1977 Cuny founded a wildlife sanctuary near SanAntonio, Texas, to provide rescue, rehabilitation, and release oforphaned, injured, and displaced wildlife. Her brief stories are oftentouching, such as when she describes a young raccoon, rescued from afire, self-medicating its burned paws with aloe vera plants; or twocrab-eating macaques, confined inside a research facility for eighteenyears, experiencing the outdoors for the first time. Natural History ,Bookshelf, March 1999.

Heartwarming tales of rescued creatures are presented in thiscollection of vignettes from a large wildlife rehabilitation center inTexas. Over the last 20 years, Cuny has run Wildlife Rescue andRehabilitation, which she founded to rescue orphaned, injured, anddisplaced wildlife. The center also provides permanent homes foranimals too disabled to be released, as well as nonnative wildliferescued from the exotic pet trade. The center takes in more than 5,000animals each year. The history of each animal--from a tiny newbornfield mouse to a black bear--is told in a few pages and illustratedwith photos. . . .Cuny's love for her charges shines through in herstories. The large audience for animal tales of this sort makes this arecommended title, and maybe readers will be sensitized to theproblems our species creates for other animals. --Booklist, NancyBent, February 15, 1999.

"The day we met she was feeding five beautiful yearlingsintravenously, who surely would have died from dehydration, while shesimultaneously supervised the feeding of skunks, possums,squirrels--you name it. She is selfless and dauntless in her battle torescue and rehabilitate animals. I feel privileged to know her andserve on her board. There are few better qualified to look through theeyes of an animal. It is a beautiful, touching book." --Loretta Swit,actress

"Through Animals' Eyes not only entertains the reader with someamazing stories, but reminds us that human compassion can and shouldturn outward to embrace the animal world. Once I started reading it, Icouldn't put it down. Lynn Cuny's work has made a difference; herstories will too." --Max Oelschlaeger, McAllister Chair in CommunityCulture and Environment, Northern Arizona University, author of TheIdea of Wilderness ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Less lucky Heroes
A raptor show at Rock city, TN was my introduction to rescued animals. They couldnt go back to the wild for they were too incapacitated.
Before the animals took the stage - the unforgetful hopping turkey, the tales of rescue that have happened would be something like what happens in the many stories in this book.
The tales show acceptance as friends, fear even when in need of help,
A Buck finding strength to stand even when injured in a leg at lengthy insistence of a doe is no less riveting as an Indian mythological story of Sati Savitri successfully saving her husband from death.

Wonderful animal stories
Lynn Cuny has a gift for portraying the animals in her stories both as worthy of our care as well as needing respect for their needs as animals.Unlike some writers of animal stories, she always makes it clear that wild creatures are usually better off being left wild.While her stories often contain humor, they are always touching.

Strongly recommended for all animal lovers
Through Animals' Eyes: True Stories From A Wildlife Sanctuary is an anthology about the creatures cared for by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (WRR). Founded by the author in 1977, WRR provides sanctuary for orphaned, injured, or displaced wildlife, rehabilitating them for eventual release - or providing them with permanent care in large natural habitats if they are deemed nonreleasable. WWR also gives permanent care to exotic wild animals that have suffered from the pet trade, roadside zoos, or research facilities. From the raccoon with burned feet who perseveres to survive, to an abandoned emu who makes friends with a one-winged vulture in a game of pick-up sticks, these tales put one in the skin, fur, or feathers of the creatures who have paid the price of man's expansion. Through Animals' Eyes is strongly recommended for all animal lovers.

A Lovely Read
This charming vignette of stories will leave you with a new and wonderful perspective of wildlife, as well as a great deal of respect for the people at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Boerne, TX.This book is a must read for anyone with a love for the wildlife of these United States.

Couldn't Put It Down
This book was given to me as a gift and I couldn't put it down. This heartwarming book takes you into the emotions and thoughts of wild animals. They come alive and you see them as the caring, loving and intelligentbeings they are. This book will make you never able to look at a wildanimal as a "dumb" animal or expendable resource again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A MUST READ for any animals lover
There is not much I can add to the glorious reviews of this book that others have already left except to say that I agree with everyone 100%.

This is a MUST read book for any animal lover. In fact, I think those THINKING about adopting an animal should read this too. It shows people how having an animal in your home is not something to be taken lightly. It's a serious life long commitment for both you and the animal.

Please give to your local animal shelter. Donate blankets, towels, sheets, and pillow cases for animals to sleep on so they don't have to sleep on cold concrete. Donate food and cleaning supplies. Donate money. Even better, donate your TIME! Visit your local shelter and offer to take a dog for a walk, or to socialize the cats. There is so much you can do to help out. The first step is to stop by your shelter and ask "What can I do to help?". Even an hour of your time is better then nothing. And if you are truly an animal lover you will make an effort to help out as often as you can.

This is truly a MUST READ book. I think it should be read in school too.

Another great book by the same author is "The Night Before a Dogtown Christmas".

A great way to learn and highly entertaining.
The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located in Angel Canyon, (Southern) Utah. This oversized book reads like an interactive bedtime story for children and is utterly delightful. The sanctuary receives around 20,000 tourists each year. This book entertains children and gives a virtual tour of all the animals living on the sanctuary. Since many of the animals living at the sanctuary have been rescued from bad people or are survivors of disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, readers learn how much care goes into helping them. The book helps children understand why some animals are nervous, shy, or scared of humans. It also explains how people can help care for animals.

As children read or listen to the stories, their eyes and imaginations are tantalized with large, colorful photos of animals found on every page. A couple of the back pages tell how kids can help the animals in their area.

***** All-in-all, I found this to be an exceptional book, perfect for any time of the day or night. Though great for bedtime, I believe it would perfect for class time as well. Teachers should seriously consider picking up a copy to determine whether they could fit this in their class schedule. It is well written with simple, easy to understand, words. Best of all, kids will learn from an early age how to act around and care for animals. Kids will read about all types of animals from plucky duckies to bunnies, from cats to dogs, from horses to pigs, and many more. In a word, "Bunnyreffic!" *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

An Animal's BEST FRIEND
I really like this book. It is a wonderful way to educate kids (and adults will enjoy it as well) about love, compassion, and respect for animals.

We need to teach our kids while they are young, to treat animals the way that they themselves would want to be treated.

What we sow in our children today, animals will reap tomorrow.

So if we want to end animal abuse, animal cruelty, animal murder (euthanizing healthy animals) etc, in the future, it will ONLY happen, if we teach our kids TODAY, that animals are living, breathing, feeling, loving, soul-filled children of God, just like we human animals are.

Trust me when I say that getting this gift for your child (or a fellow adult) will be a gift that keeps on giving and giving......because this book is about love, compassion and living in peace with, and taking care of, our animal friends.

[...]

Two paws up!
Animals are a huge part of our society; but, far too often, they are mistreated and cast aside. Luckily, there are sanctuaries across the nation who provide these particular animals with lifelong homes where they can live in peace and harmony with loving caregivers, and fellow animals. Nora Lee Kelsey takes us behind-the-scenes of one of these particular sanctuaries - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Over the years, southern Utah's Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has become one of the biggest animal sanctuaries in the nation. Home to dogs and cats, along with the less typical rabbits, horses, ducks, pigs, sheep, and many more, Best Friends makes a difference in the lives of animals on a daily basis. While many visit the location each year, others don't always have the means or time to make the trip. With Kelsey's LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY, readers have the opportunity to do just that - from their very own homes!

Laden with gorgeous color photos, LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY takes readers on a trip to Horse Haven, the Bunny House, Feathered Friends, Cat World, and Dogtown. At each stop, you have the opportunity to meet and greet with some of the residents of each area, learning their likes and dislikes, and glimpsing bits and pieces of what they do on a daily basis. After the trip is said and done, some of the Best Friends residents provide readers with tips on what they can do to help animals - even going so far as including websites you can visit.

I have loved Best Friends Animal Sanctuary ever since I learned about it more than ten years ago, so I was thrilled when I learned that Nora Lee Kelsey had taken the time to pen a gorgeous book about the location. The many pictures bring the animals to life; while the information packed onto each and every page provides the reader with enough facts to become a Best Friends Animal Sanctuary wiz! Perfect for animal lovers to read at home with their families, or as an instructional tool in the classroom, LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY is a necessity for all. I could not have imagined a more perfect book. Two paws up!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

WONDERFUL BOOK AND A GREAT TEACHING TOOL.A JOB WELL DONE!
This work hits on a subject that is near and dear to my heart.Animals have played a very important part of my life for over sixty years now and they are just as important to me now as when I received my first puppy when I was about three years old.My wife and I have been very involved with our local humane society for many years now.That being said....

This work takes the reader for an inside look at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary located Southern Utah.Thousands of animals have been helped through this organization and Ms. Kelsey has given us a child's eye view of its workings, mission, needs, and indeed, delights.The book is designed to be read to children, and more specifically, is ideal for groups of children, although it is an absolute delight for the adult reader also.The photographs are quite professionally done and are works of art themselves.The author's easy style, humor and obvious enthusiasm for her subject shine through on ever page.She takes us on a verbal tour, supplemented by wonderful photographs, through this great organization.The author takes great pains in explaining the socialization process of these animals, stressing not only their physical needs, but emotional as well.This is a bit different than some of the works in this genre.We are given a peek at the different areas of this sanctuary, the bird house, horse area, pigs, dogs, cats, et al.Some individual stories of these critters are told as well as the source for many of the animals helped here.

This book is certainly designed for the class room.Its easy reading style and humor will be appreciated by the children.Each page is full of useful information and the photographs are well coordinated.Many questions are asked which are ideal for taking the children into a discussion.The author has also provided pages full of ideas for class projects, given some great web sites for further research, and above all, has infused an enthusiasm into her work which is rather contagious.Volunteerism is stressed here and the point is well made that everyone can do their little share to change what has become almost a national tragedy.Now don't misunderstand that statement.This is not a "sad puppy book," something that I find difficult to read to younger children.Everything here is upbeat and positive while still being quite truthful about the plight of these unwanted animals.

A WORD OF CAUTION:I am retired now and spend most of my days acting as a substitute teacher in local schools.We live in an area, Southern Missouri, which is more or less the puppy mill capital of the known universe.This is something my wife and I have fought for years and years.The author is quite harsh, and well she should be, when addressing this subject.The problem comes, in my case, where I will have a room full of about 25 students, and out of that 25, at least six or seven will have parents or grandparents who make their living as puppy mill owners.I plan to use this work at those schools, but I also plan to do a bit of verbal editing when this portion of the book is read to the students.While they need to know about such things, I am not about to be critical of their parents in front of their fellow students.Goodness knows I have had many heated conversations with the parents of these kids on this subject, indeed having been instrumental in shutting a few down, but don't feel the children should be subjected to the same line as I would give their mom and dad.

That being said, I cannot recommend this work highly enough.It is an absolute wealth of information and a delight to the ear and eye.The author has done a wonderful job here.I do wish there were more organizations out there like Best Friends...we certainly need them.
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Customer Reviews (1)

an eagle in the airing cupboard

Most excellent story.It is fun to see how they run animal shelters in other parts of the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Foreword by the Queen of Bhutan.

Featuring over twenty sanctuaries in twenty countries, including public and private, ancient and new, this book celebrates the sheltering of innocence in all its forms, animal, plant, insect, and human with stunning photography and intimate, lyrical prose. These pockets of Eden preserve and protect what is most precious to us and to the Earth. Sanctuaries include:

- The Iberian Wolf Sanctuary in Portugal
- Brigitte Bardot's sanctuary La Mare Auzou in France
- Gut Aiderbichl in Austria
- Bear Refuge Alertis, Rhenen in Holland
- Bialowieza National Park in Poland
- Other remarkable places in the United States, Suriname, South Africa, Namibia, Yemen, Bahrain, Dubai, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Borneo, Japan, and Bhutan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful book
These images and the sensibilities the author/photogs bring to this book is important and stirring.

Beautiful and Inspiring
This book, both in its splendid images and its writing, reflects a deep love for nature and an appreciation of all living creatures. The people and the stories in SANCTUARY are fascinating. Tobias and Morrison travel the world, visiting and documenting special places where devotion to animals, wild and domestic, is front and center. Displayed prominently on the coffee table in our home, this beautiful book has served as a catalyst for sharing our own compassion for nature with visitors. Highly recommended.

Beautifully and dramatically illustrated
An awareness of environmental issues is now universal throughout first world and third world countries around the globe. That awareness of the diversity, beauty, and utility of what we humans must rescue, preserve and protect has now been beautifully and dramatically illustrated through the publication of "Sanctuary: Global Oases Of Innocence". The collaborative work of Michael Tobias (President of the Dancing Star Foundation, a nonprofit organization to global diversity conservation, animal protection, and environmental education) and Jane Gray Morrison (the Executive Vice President of the Dancing Star Foundation), "Sanctuary" is a 338-page compendium of full color photography showcasing twenty-four sanctuaries located throughout twenty different countries. Some of them are in private hands, others are public preserves, all of them are presented with an informed and informative text of description and explanation. Along with stunningly beautiful images of the flora and fauna. "Sanctuary" is a seminal and superbly produced volume of work that is enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Environmental Studies and Photographic Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.
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