One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter

by Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer

Half the households in America include an animal companion. Yet, each year, community shelters take in six to eight million unwanted dogs and cats who face an uncertain fate. With compelling photos... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972838708
• ISBN13: 9780972838702
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Novoice Unheard
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Heartbreaking, but so Important

This book had me in tears after just several pages. When describing it to several people, I was asked why I would want to torture myself by reading such tragic stories. The answer is that every pet owner (past and present)in the country NEEDS to read this book. It should be required. Too many people just don't know what happens when they don't spay/neuter their dogs and cats, or when they drop off their pets at a shelter because they are moving, or "tired of the animal," or some other unacceptable reason for giving up a pet. A pet is a lifetime responsibility, and everyone needs to be aware of that. If I sound angry, it's because I am. After reading this heartfelt book and seeing the beautiful faces of these animals with so many sad stories, you can't help but feel some anger. Yes, there were wonderful stories too. And the warm-hearted shelter workers who do their best deserve gold medals for their courage and ability to stick it out. I can only hope and pray that things get better for our animal friends in the future.

Empowering Animal Lovers

One at a Time sends a powerful message through the stories of individual animals who are homeless and in crisis. It is the finest example I have ever read on the topic of unwanted/homeless animals in our society and the shelters that accept all dogs and cats brought to their doors. Each animal's story and accompaning photograph provides a greater understanding of why millions of wonderful dogs and cats become homeless. In addition, One at a Time gives us hope by empowering individuals to facilitate change through simple acts of responsibity and kindness. If every petlover (who in the past purchased a dog or cat) read One at a Time, their next opportunity to obtain a pet would result in a visit to their local shelter. Everyone who has an interest in animals, including breeders, no-kill advoctes, and public officials, will gain a greater understanding of the life saving services shelters provide.

What You Never Hear or See

This book has created a profoundly moving experience in my life. The authors are not shy nor do they gloss over the plight of shelter animals. "Pedigreed" pets may be nice for some, but many do not realise the needs of a shelter animal. Being a home-rescuer and foster-guardian myself, I was able to identify with the plight of the abundance of strays and how to help them. After reading the book, I also learned why animals do what they do in a shelter environment. An aside: I certainly was not prepared for the chapter on Euthanasia, but I am glad that it is there. This book deserves to be in every vet's office across the country. I have started to purchase extras for my vets, and anyone who would listen. Please note also that the book provides ways you, too, can help raise awareness of this crucial need.

An emotionally moving and profound piece

The collaborative effort of former animal shelter workers and animal rights activists Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer, One At A Time: A Week In An American Animal Shelter is a true account of seven days in an animal shelter, featuring profiles of the pets taken in during that span of time. Presenting the truth of life and death in an animal shelter in unvarnished, uncompromising terms, and featuring black-and-white photographs as well as the stories of the canines and felines taken in, One At A Time is an emotionally moving and profound piece recommended to the attention of anyone who has every been graced with the company of an animal companion -- or who would like to be.

profoundly moving

This important, profound, and profoundly moving book is ultimately about love, love for the creatures with whom we share our days. Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer have created a book that both reveals the tragedy of our relationships with nonhumans and the triumphs that these relationships can be. I am deeply grateful to them for making this book.