The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them    by Wayne Pacelle Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, has written a book concerning the abuse of animals that we should all read. The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them 'is the compassionate, insightful, and comprehensive examination of our special connection to all creatures'. 'The Bond argues that humans have an instinctive connection with animals.' Pacelle goes on to prove his compelling point. He mourns the betrayal of this bond through widespread and systematic cruelty to animals. Example: Michael Vick's dog-fighting regime. Vick acknowledges he knew it was wrong and is now trying to correct the damage he has done. An amazing story proves the love all of us can have for our animals. After Hurricane Katrina, many animals were not rescued with their owners. The orders were to take humans only. Rescue teams subsequently went out and managed to save scores of pets and to return them to their families. Pacelle ventures into the factory farms which keep our food animals in horrifying conditions until their slaughter. He speaks of Yellowstone National Park, where bison were slaughtered with the encouragement of federal authorities, so that the bison wouldn't graze on the same land that private ranchers are using to graze their cattle. (For which they pay less than if they had to rent private land!) The stories go on and on, for example about animal hoarders and the clubbing murder of baby seals in Alaska. These stories point out the need for all of us to demand more humane lives for our beloved pets as well as for those animals that are forced to give up their existence to put meat on our tables. 'Pacelle challenges the arguments of opponents and critics of animal protection and spotlights the groups and industries standing in the way of progress – from the National Rifle Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association to the American Farm Bureau and the American Kennel Club'. This is a book that seems ponderous at first, but which is captivating from first page to last. It's not only good writing but an affirmation of the regard in which most of us hold our pets – unfortunately there are cruel people in this world who give no thought to the care of their animals or wildlife and abuse these helpless creatures. Take the time to read this wonderful book and think about what you can do to carry on the Humane Society's work. And let's all give our pets another hug. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews