Here at GEE Funny Farm, we are passionate about animal
education. Besides actually interacting with animals, what better way to
increase animal education than through some great literature? Recently, among
ourselves, we’ve passed around the book Some
We Love, Some We Hate, and Some We Eat by Hal Herzog. It’s subtitled: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About
Animals.
This book is entertainingly informative. Herzog is a
professor in the psychology department at Western Carolina University. He’s
especially interested in the field of anthrozoology, the study of the
relationship between humans and animals. If that doesn’t sound complex enough
to study, then you haven’t given enough thought to the nuances of our
interactions with other species. Even if you do have some grasp of these nuances, Herzog will very likely
broaden your view.
For instance, how did a gray wolf transform into all the
variations of house pet dog that we now have? (103 – 109) In fact, Herzog
investigates the human-pet relationship
in many different ways. He discusses the issue of animal hoarding (138 – 141), as
well as the reasons we keep pets (78 – 82), and the cost of pet-keeping (75 – 78).
Another angle to our relationship is, of course, our consumption of animals. Have you ever
heard how the chickens you get from your local grocer were bred, raised,
transported, and marketed to be brought to your table? If you are in the dark
on this process, then don’t miss Herzog’s no-fluff description (167 – 170). Of
course, when discussing meat consumption, an anthrozoologist would do well to
learn about vegetarianism, why people are (or are not) vegetarians, as well as
why they are no longer vegetarians (190 – 201). While these may be the obvious
angles to humans and meat-eating, Herzog also discusses why eating one kind of
meat (dog, or rat, or cat, or sheep brain, or pig intestines) in one place is
repulsive in another place (182 – 187).
Herzog also introduces us non-scientist types to the
complexities of using animals in scientific testing (Chapter 8). He looks at
the benefits of dolphin therapy
(18-23), shares tests given to people about whether they would save animals or
people with their inconsistent results
(54-57), and what we think about what
animals are thinking (60-62).
Of course, if you want to learn the answers to these
questions and others besides, then the best place to go is the book. While the
book is marketed for popular reading, Herzog includes lengthy notes at the end
for anyone who wants a more in-depth look at the studies and books he
references. This makes it a great starting place for budding anthrozoologists,
and also a perfectly acceptable ending place for someone who’s just slightly
curious about the subject matter.
Mostly, this book is informative. But each subject he
discusses really boils down to ethics in the end, so Herzog does conclude by
encouraging us to all make a little more effort to make our actions more consistent
with our beliefs about animals, whatever they may be. Herzog has both the merit
and the fault of being slightly inconsistent himself, which helps him avoid the
pitfall of being uncomfortably preachy. He’s honest about his own animal
cruelty as a child and discusses how ethics plays into his meat-eating choices.
He’s also open about the confusing nature of animal ethics. So ride along with
Herzog on his investigations and discussions and decide for yourself whether
your money and effort is better spent preventing cock
fighting or improving the lives of Cobb 500 hens.
