Animal Rights

Cohen's subtitle expresses his activist theme; though it's evenhanded, this what-to-do volume, dedicated to the animals in the author's life who have ``given me so much more than I was ever able to give them,'' communicates a strong sympathy. Acknowledging the occasional ferocity of the animal rights movement, Cohen views its history as comprising issues beyond respect for nonhumans, pointing out that SPCA groups led to SPCChildren and that their early members were also actively anti-slavery and pro-feminist. The author's research revealed many horrors: chickens debeaked and female chicks kept in egg-producing plants while males are gassed; fast-food burger meat imported from former tropical rain forest lands; pet-shop pups, raised in ``puppy mills,'' maturing into vicious or nervous dogs. As far as it goes, the material is striking; but medical research is inadequately covered here. Still, Cohen offers a range of levels of commitment to the cause, describing possible actions such as refusing to buy animals or supplies in pet shops or to dissect animals in class but leaving readers to make their own choices. See Patterson (below) for a broader approach to the topic. Notes; bibliography; resources; index. (Nonfiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.