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The Gift of Kindness: Inspiring True Stories of Rescued Farm Animals
Some stories change your life, some events change your life, but a single act of kindness can save a life.
Meet Ruby the working dog who got a second chance and found her perfect job, and Macho the orphaned alpaca who found happiness among his sheepy friends. Then there's Edgar Alan Pig, Ginger the chirping chicken, Lucky Bunny, Othello the goat, Coco the duckling, Miss Marple the cow . . . and many more. These heartwarming stories provide a glimpse into a world where the smallest kindness can have a great ripple effect, and where animals bring out the best in people.
All royalties from the sale of this book go to Edgar's Mission where over 300 farm animals receive lifelong love and care.
Meet Ruby the working dog who got a second chance and found her perfect job, and Macho the orphaned alpaca who found happiness among his sheepy friends. Then there's Edgar Alan Pig, Ginger the chirping chicken, Lucky Bunny, Othello the goat, Coco the duckling, Miss Marple the cow . . . and many more. These heartwarming stories provide a glimpse into a world where the smallest kindness can have a great ripple effect, and where animals bring out the best in people.
All royalties from the sale of this book go to Edgar's Mission where over 300 farm animals receive lifelong love and care.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2013
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 13, 2013
I had the great fortune of visiting Edgar's Mission recently, and getting a comprehensive tour of the place. (Very hands on and informative.) After the tour, I bought this book at their gift shop. I am glad I did. It is full of gorgeous photos of the residents and is accompanied with their stories. Some will break your heart, and at least you know they had a happy ending...or new beginning, rather.
Most importantly, this book also provides information on agricultural (including factory farming) practices and what that means to the animals' welfare.
Having met some of the animals featured in this book, a lot of the stories here really hit home for me. Farmed animals are not 'product'. They are sentient beings, with emotions and personalities of their own. They deserve better. At the very least, they deserve kindness - the core of what this book is about.
Most importantly, this book also provides information on agricultural (including factory farming) practices and what that means to the animals' welfare.
Having met some of the animals featured in this book, a lot of the stories here really hit home for me. Farmed animals are not 'product'. They are sentient beings, with emotions and personalities of their own. They deserve better. At the very least, they deserve kindness - the core of what this book is about.
January 13, 2023
I have followed Edgar's Mission on Facebook for many years and buy their merchandise on a regular basis so of course I had to buy this book. It contains stories about the individual farm animals that have been given a second chance at life at the sanctuary. One day I hope to travel to Edgar's Mission and see all the wonderful work Pam and her team do in person. The Gift of Kindness is such a lovely, uplifting book.
December 7, 2014
Very nice photos, and some cute stories. But the philosophy held by Pam Ahern does not agree with the Bible - she says humans are just glorified animals, and consequently she treats her animals like humans...
January 4, 2017
Kindness is definitely seen at Edgar's Mission. What a wonderful story of farm animals who needed a sanctuary and found one. Loved this book!
January 3, 2026
This book was a quick and easy read and perfect for animal lovers. It is full of the stories of some of the animals at Edgar's Mission, a charity located in Victoria, Australia who take in unwanted farm animals. Each animal’s story is relatively short (most are only a page in length) and focuses on the animal’s personality and recovery while providing only enough information about how the animal came into the sanctuary’s care so that you are not bombarded with the distressing details.
It was interesting to read how Edgar’s Mission came to be and meet some of its inhabitants. The background stories of the animals featured are indeed sad but they do have a happy ending which is evidenced by the wonderful photographs of these animals living their best life at the sanctuary.
I found this book to be informative, interesting, touching and inspiring. In particular, for me the story of Miss Marple the cow was quite poignant.
Thank goodness for Pam and others like her around the country and indeed around the world, who readily and without question, take in the unwanted and abandoned farm animals so that “they will know only love, happiness, and kindness for the rest of their days.” This book really does demonstrate how a single act of kindness can save a life, and sometimes more than one.
It was interesting to read how Edgar’s Mission came to be and meet some of its inhabitants. The background stories of the animals featured are indeed sad but they do have a happy ending which is evidenced by the wonderful photographs of these animals living their best life at the sanctuary.
I found this book to be informative, interesting, touching and inspiring. In particular, for me the story of Miss Marple the cow was quite poignant.
Thank goodness for Pam and others like her around the country and indeed around the world, who readily and without question, take in the unwanted and abandoned farm animals so that “they will know only love, happiness, and kindness for the rest of their days.” This book really does demonstrate how a single act of kindness can save a life, and sometimes more than one.
October 9, 2022
This book is lavishly illustrated and peppered without with some great quotes, but I was just a bit dissapointed that the stories about the different animals weren't more in depth.
October 11, 2013
Absolutely charming. This book will break your heart, then inspire you to be a positive force in the world.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews