Companion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets

Description

Over the past 30 years there has been a tremendous growth in interest in the multidisciplinary field of human-companion animal interactions and relationships. This is not surprising considering that pets are kept in at least half of the households in Western societies. What then, is so special about the relationships people have with their pets? Are we very different from our ancestors in the ways we feel about animals? What does pet-keeping tell us about ourselves and our relationships with people? Can pets be good for our health? Do they help promote empathy for other humans? These questions and more are explored in this book. Companion Animals and Us brings together some of the newest research from a wide variety of disciplines including anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, human and veterinary medicine. This book will make fascinating reading for anyone interested in understanding more about the human-pet relationship.

James Serpell is the Marie A. Moore Professor of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the Center for the Interaction of Animals & Society. He received his bachelor's degree in Zoology from University College London (UK) in 1974, and his PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Liverpool (UK) in 1980. He moved to his current position at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. Dr. Serpell is the current President of the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ). He serves on the editorial boards of most of the major journals on animal welfare, applied animal behavior, and human-animal interactions. His research focuses on the behavior and welfare of companion animals, the development of human attitudes to animals, and the history of human-animal relationships. In addition to publishing more than 70 journal articles and book chapters on these and related topics, he is the author, editor, or co-editor of several books including Animals & Human Society: Changing Perspectives (1994), The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior & Interactions with People (1995), In the Company of Animals (1996), and Companion Animals & Us (2000).

' ... a good overview of the relationship between people and pets. As an excellent reference source for the most recent literature on the subject, it invites you to pursue specific interests further.' Animal Welfare ' ... a book which opens up many areas of research and allows professionals from different disciplines to broaden their way of thinking. The book is easy to read and each chapter can be read as a complete entity. I would recommend it for anyone interested in animals and how and why we interact with them.' J. K. Blackshaw 'This is a book I would recommend to anyone wanting an introduction to this subject. It adds to the interest of the book that most chapters are likely to contain something that you will wish you could discuss with the authors in greater detail.' Stephen Blakeway, The Society for Companion Animal Studies Journal '... an all-embracing review of the subject'. Andrew Edney, European Journal of Companion Animal Practice '... a book which opens up many areas of research and allows professionals from different disciplines to broaden their way of thinking. The book is easy to read and each chapter can be read as a complete entity. I would recommend it for anyone interested in animals and how and why we interact with them'. J. K. Blackshaw, Australian Veterinary Journal 'Companion Animals and Us is an excellent introduction to an exciting and productive area of inquiry, replete with fascinating questions and the methodological tools to answer them.' Harold Herzog, Anthrozoos 'The editors have done well with the text ... very readable indeed for those of us absorbed in the subject ... will be required reading for those who wish to be well informed on companion animals and human health ... the whole subject of human/animal relationships could be seen as rather esoteric by some. However, it attracted the attention of complete strangers travelling on the train to London as I read this book. This was not just for the attractive Franz Marc painting on the cover. Andrew T. B. Edney, The European Journal of Companion Animal Practice '... a book which opens up many areas of research and allows professionals from different disciplines to broaden their way of thinking ... easy to read and each chapter can be read as a complete entity. I would recommend if for anyone interested in animals and how and why we interact with them.' J. K. Blackshaw, Australian Veterinary Journal 'This book is very interesting - anybody interested in pets should read it!' Marlies Halder, Alternative to Laboratory Animals 'Some of these essays are brilliant, many are original and creative, and all are informative in one way or another, making this book an insightful and stimulating read.' Stephen H. Webb, Ethics, Place and the Environment