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Overview
Here is the first comprehensive review of a survival issue that touches the lives of a majority of Americans — but hasn't won as much of our active concern as it deserves. Nearly six out of ten U.S. households own at least one dog or cat. As the new century began, over l30,000,000 pets were sharing our lives. Yet every year an estimated 5,000,000 shelter orphans — healthy, lovable young animals who would make happy and devoted pets — are doomed to pre-mature death simply for want of sufficient homes. What can all of us who keep and care about companion animals do to save those "surplus" lives? A great deal. But until now there's been no single, accessible source to enlighten America's pet-owning public on the many large and small ways we can help. This informal and inclusive guide, written by a fellow pet owner with no institutional affiliation, focuses on three prime areas in which thoughtful dog and cat lovers can make a dramatic difference: how we acquire our pets; how scrupulously we manage their birth control; and — perhaps most important today — how committed we are to keeping them with us for life.AuthorBiography: Susan M. Seidman's articles on companion animals have appeared in Cat Fancy, Modern Maturity, Cats Magazine and elsewhere. Since l978 she has worked independently as a freelance journalist and advertising consultant. Earlier, she was a senior contributing editor with the Foreign Policy Association, a copywriter with American Heritage Publishing Company, and the circulation promotion manager of Réalités in America, Inc. She has done extensive volunteer work with humane societies and shares her home with (at present) three cats.
Synopsis
Here is the first comprehensive review of a survival issue that touches the lives of a majority of Americans — but hasn't won as much of our active concern as it deserves. Nearly six out of ten U.S. households own at least one dog or cat. As the new century began, over l30,000,000 pets were sharing our lives. Yet every year an estimated 5,000,000 shelter orphans — healthy, lovable young animals who would make happy and devoted pets — are doomed to pre-mature death simply for want of sufficient homes. What can all of us who keep and care about companion animals do to save those "surplus" lives? A great deal. But until now there's been no single, accessible source to enlighten America's pet-owning public on the many large and small ways we can help. This informal and inclusive guide, written by a fellow pet owner with no institutional affiliation, focuses on three prime areas in which thoughtful dog and cat lovers can make a dramatic difference: how we acquire our pets; how scrupulously we manage their birth control; and — perhaps most important today — how committed we are to keeping them with us for life.
AuthorBiography: Susan M. Seidman's articles on companion animals have appeared in Cat Fancy, Modern Maturity, Cats Magazine and elsewhere. Since l978 she has worked independently as a freelance journalist and advertising consultant. Earlier, she was a senior contributing editor with the Foreign Policy Association, a copywriter with American Heritage Publishing Company, and the circulation promotion manager of Réalités in America, Inc. She has done extensive volunteer work with humane societies and shares her home with (at present) three cats.
ASPCA Animal Watch
As well-researched and readable a text as you could hope to find on this subject, Pet Surplus is also full of surprises. If there's new stuff here for savvy dog and cat people and there is imagine how useful it will be for that friend or neighbor you'd love to enlighten. Better get two copies.
Editorials
American Humane Association
If you ever wondered what you could do to help animals, this book provides a clear and concise path towards making a difference.... Seidman does a remarkable job of capturing the essence of humane work and offers simple solutions that pet owners -- or potential pet owners -- can follow to help alleviate the pet population problem in this country.... The book also summarizes many key humane issues and may serve as a refresher for those working in the humane field. If books like this could be gotten into the right hands (our guess is that people who are reading it are already committed to doing the right thing), more strides could be made to make the world a better place for our domestic companions.American Humane Association Staf
If you ever wondered what you could do to help animals, this book provides a clear and concise path towards making a difference. Seidman does a remarkable job of capturing the essence of humane work and offers simple solutions that pet owners -- or potential pet owners -- can follow to help alleviate the pet population problem in this country. The book also may serve as a refresher for those working in the humane field. If books like this could be gotten into the right hands, more strides could be made to make the world a better place for our domestic companions.American Humane Society
If you ever wondered what you could do to help animals, this book provides a clear and concise path towards making a difference. Seidman does a remarkable job of capturing the essence of humane work and offers simple solutions that pet owners ¾ or potential pet owners ¾ can follow to help alleviate the pet population problem in this country. The book also may serve as a refresher for those working in the humane field. If books like this could be gotten into the right hands, more strides could be made to make the world a better place for our domestic companions.Animal Sheltering
An excellent publication for members of the general public. Chock-full of details... Encouraging private citizens to become effective armchair activists for the sake of their own pets and the animals in shelters, the book will be an eye-opener....(a magazine published by The Humane Society of the United States)Animal Sheltering
An excellent publication for...the general public. Makes clear that responsible behavior by pet owners is critical to reducing euthanasia and finding more homes for animals. Encouraging private citizens to become effective armchair activists for the sake of their own pets and the animals in shelters, the book will be an eye-opener...—March-April 2002, a magazine published by The Humane Society of the United States
ASPCA Animal Watch
As well-researched and readable a text as you could hope to find on this subject, Pet Surplus is also full of surprises. If there's new stuff here for savvy dog and cat people -- and there is -- imagine how useful it will be for that friend or neighbor you'd love to enlighten. Better get two copies.ASPCA Animal Watch
As well-researched and readable a text as you could hope to find on this subject, Pet Surplus is also full of surprises. If there's new stuff here for savvy dog and cat people ¾ and there is ¾ imagine how useful it will be for that friend or neighbor you'd love to enlighten. Better get two copies.Esther Mechler
If they are willing to read, you can save your breath and give them Susan Seidman's new book. Full of interesting information... And even if those irresponsible people don't or can't read -- you can read chapters of the book to them!—director of SPAY/USA