Critter News

NOVEMBER 16, 2010

We received an email about a new book being released by Lantern Books. For example, why is it so hard for our family members and co-workers – many of whom have companion animals that they love – to cut cruelty from their diets and go vegan? In the author's words.

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Advocacy Factory Farm Factory Farming Companion Animal 100

Animal Person

MARCH 18, 2010

Here are some observations: When reading a book about gorillas to/with a seven-year old, I was struck by the mixed messages the book sent. Here 's the book, and in the preview you can see that in the beginning when the gorilla being described is male he is referred to as "he." I'm a terrible fiction writer.

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Gorillas Pets Vegan Speciesism 100

Animal Person

DECEMBER 7, 2009

I have a column on my Tweetdeck (an application for ease of Twitter use on my desktop) called "vegan," where all tweets from all tweeple who mention "vegan" are listed in somewhat real time. I'll be using his inspirational story as an example for my own friends and family. But that's just not the way it works.

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Vegan Vegetarian Ethics Family 100

Animal Person

OCTOBER 26, 2009

The good news is that if you know someone who needs to be schooled on all of the sordid details of factory farming, and appreciates good writing, this is a great book. Also, if, like me, you know someone who appreciates the things we do with language to mask the reality of our behavior, this is a great book. Not great, but good.

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Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Vegan 100

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 18, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010 will be Baby Sky's first, and our opportunity to introduce her to the notion that our family doesn't eat animals (not to mention that other historical story we'll be correcting). The two objections to a vegan Thanksgiving that I hear most often are: It's our tradition and Because it tastes good. It's our tradition.

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Greyhounds Forced Molting Debeaking Vegan 100

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Jeff Masson's new book didn't cause me to unravel, but I did learn a lot about our friends and coevolvers, Canis familiaris. This Masson book ( here are all of them) is for Benjy, who was supposed to be a service dog but who was, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about the career choice that was made for him.

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Dogs Pit Bulls Greyhounds Kennels 100

Animal Person

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

That leaves us with animal welfare, which I do think we are genuinely interested in, mostly because of the myriad videos, documentaries, books and websites that have made it tough to avoid over the past few years. People are talking. And acting. That's respect. Photo from Flickr user gunp0wder.

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Chickens Slaughter Slaughtered Animal Rights 100