Rob Laidlaw: Double Feature

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

For those longtime Vegbooks readers, you’re fully aware of my deep appreciation and respect for the children’s titles written by Canadian animal activist, Rob Laidlaw. The man is not only a writing machine (new titles are popping up all the time!), but he’s spot-on in his delivery of important animal welfare topics to an older elementary demographic. I was only too lucky to receive copies of a few of his newer works –

No Shelter Here: Making the World a Kinder Place for Dogs

Saving the “how to adopt a dog” bit for last, Laidlaw has a no holds barred approach in conveying today’s world for dogs. Sure, he goes into the basics of what a dog needs (love, car, water, playtime, home), but he quickly changes gears to outline overpopulation issues, the plight street dogs face, puppy mills, chained dogs, exploited dogs (Iditarod, greyhound racing), and sadly, other realities. He lightens the subject matter through his eloquent writing style and by interjecting anecdotes from young Dog Champions who are working to better the lives of man’s best friend.

Saving Lives & Changing Hearts

As a gal who has worked and volunteered for a number of sanctuaries, it was exciting to see this title in the mix. Here’s a great book to not only introduce the idea of what GOOD sanctuaries are like, why they’re needed, and the types of animals they take in and why, but how we can ascertain their operating principles and their meeting of the animals’ needs. Laidlaw gives a wonderful, global, and diverse overview of sanctuaries – from Animals Asia’s work with former bile farm bears to the American Tortoise Rescue in Malibu to Cedar Row Farmed Animal Sanctuary in Canada. He also dedicates a few pages to discussing faux sanctuaries, those that do a disservice to the animals in their care, and have thus inspired the creation of a sanctuary certification organization, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Both are great introductory reads into the multifaceted world of animal protection, and I highly encourage every parent to get copies of Laidlaw’s titles for their child’s classroom. They’re a wonderful academic resource and a much needed form of humane education.

Ages 8 – 12.