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

by Diane Leigh, 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 and moving vignettes, this book chronicles the true stories of 75 animals who entered a typical U.S. animal shelter during one week witnessed and documented by the authors.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs

146 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2005

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone needs to read this book, it shows the heart breaking stories of animals. I feel so bad, these animals have feelings, sadly most are put to sleep because there is not enough room. Some dogs are put to sleep for being to old and there "adoptability" is lower than others, an old dog should be in someone's house enjoying their golden years. It makes me so proud that i rescued my two dogs!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an ex-animal control officer I can say that this book gives an absolutely true look at a week inside an animal shelter. The good, bad, happy, and totally heartbreaking. I wish more people would consider giving a shelter animal a home.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book paints a good picture of an average week at an animal shelter, which, as you can imagine, isn't pretty. Including a picture of barrels of dead dogs and cats. I applaud it for bringing the realities of the shelter situation to the public, but I think that the authors are misguided on how to fix the situation. If you read this, it should definitely be read as a companion to Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America by Nathan J. Winograd.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"People sometimes ask, in light of the devastating and important issues that face us in our modern times, why the homeless animal issue is important, why we should be concerned about it...The homeless animal problem is a reflection of a society that has lost touch with other living beings, with the natural world, and with the very web of life. It is but one tragic symptom of a culture that does not see its connections to others, does not see others as having inherent value, and instead sees them as put here for our use, as disposable or somehow lesser, as somehow not worthy of reverence, compassion and respect. This same societal thinking, this way of separating ourselves from 'others,' allows for t he possibility of the destruction of ancient forests, damage to our environment and the animals in it, of racism and exploitation of third world peoples, of poverty and human homelessness, of children going hungry in a land of plenty, of devaluing our elders...this way of viewing the 'others' in our world enables and underlies a continuum of issues" (p. 138).


Henry Beston, as quoted on page 139: "We need another and a wiser and a perhaps more mystical concept of animals...We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken a form so far below ourselves. And therein we err and err greatly. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of earth."

[Nikk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually made me very sad, which was the point of the book - and that's hopefully what anyone who reads it will feel. It was basically an affirmation of what I already know - I want to open an animal rescue one day and I want to make a difference in animals lives. This book begs people to want that, and I hope it inspires many. Mass euthanasia has to stop. Pet owners have to become more responsible, and animal cruelty must end. There are some very powerful stories/photographs in this book, including one image that I will never forget... and that you will know the moment you see it.

[Ken Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

A documentary of abandoned dogs and cats in America and their lives in American animal shelter. This book documents human irresponsibility which leads to the killing of dogs and cats daily in American animal shelters.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book!! It was heartbreaking reading about and seeing the reality of our throw-away society which unfortunately includes our pets.I became more involved with our local shelter after reading this book, a real eye-opener. Warning..keep a box of kleenex handy.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good look at the types of animals left at shelters and what happens to them. Any animal lover should read this book.

[Suzze Tiernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You cannot help but be touched by this book. Very hard to see the reality of what happens at even the best animal rescue shelters.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally "stocked" in my home to give away as gifts.

Powerful.

[Rick Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone that is thinking of getting a dog outside of the local animal shelter should read this book. Heartwarming and bone chilling. Tell you what need to be done to our pet adoption system

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST books about animal rescue I've read.

I've been involved in dog rescue for many years and these authors give accounts of numerous animals who enter an animal shelter in just one week. The cover how animal shelters function generally, how & why dogs arrive at the shelter, their physical and mental health and the progress they make under the care of the shelter staff, and the final outcome of each animal: a loving home or euthanasia.

Most books about animal rescue are difficult to read, but this is worth it. These authors give a lot of great information and put a lot of heart into telling the stories of each of these animals who arrived at the shelter in just one week.

I'm very pleased to have stumbled across this book and add it to my shelf.

[Laura Eggen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being an animal shelter employee myself, I can testify that this book rings with painful truths. I suggest we read it carefully, force ourselves to face these things many cannot bear to look at or think about, and change the truth it has to tell.

[Yenta Knows · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first. If you have a pet:

Realize that when you give up a pet to an animal shelter, the death clock starts ticking. At the shelter described, about 350 animals were brought in during ONE week. And 117 were euthanized. So there's about a one-third chance your pet will end up dead.

Put identification on your pet. Microchip the pet. Attach a collar with an ID tag. Shelter staff will contact you if your pet is lost. Without that ID, the pet is on death row.

Once a pet is in the shelter "system" it's a race against time. Most animals are harmed by the unnatural environment. Cats become depressed and withdrawn. Dogs go "kennel crazy" -- they bark incessantly, growl at humans and other dogs. Once the pet's behavior has declined, their chances of being adopted plummet. And the chances of being euthanized skyrocket.

Make the commitment to keep your pet for life. Even if you move. Even if you marry.

If a pet has habits you can't live with (barking, aggression, defecation) work with a trainer to solve the issue. Don't give up.

Adopt. Do not purchase a dog or cat, which encourages breeders and puppy mill operators to increase the supply. There are rescue groups for every breed.

Spay or neuter your pet. Shelters kill millions of animals each year. You might think you'll find forever homes for each pup or kitten, but each home you find means that another cat or dog doesn't get a home. And has a good chance of being killed.

---END OF ADVICE SECTION---


I was browsing at the library (something I rarely do anymore) and decided to check the Dewey Decimal system number, (remembered from childhood) for books about animals.

What a lucky break.

The book is beautifully designed and beautifully written. It is a series of one page stories about some of the animals at a California animal shelter, interspersed with essays about managing homeless animals. There is some graphic and grisly information, particularly in the section called "In the Arms of a Stranger", on page 70. After reading that, look at the photo on page 94.

Some of the stories have happy endings. Many don't. What is the difference between those who were adopted and those who were not? Very little, in many cases. Sheer luck.

So happy this book was written.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the mess of statistics that arise from our nation’s animal sheltering system, the individual animals’ stories are often lost. One at a Time attempts to correct this by profiling all of the cats and dogs who pass through a single animal shelter over the course of a week. As one can imagine, not all of the stories have happy endings, and the reader is forced to ponder the consequences of not placing ID tags on pets and allowing animals to have litters. It's not the fault of the sheltering system; ending the destruction of healthy and adoptable pets requires a community effort and commitment, but it's worth it!

I really doubt anyone will close this book and not be convinced of the need to spay and neuter and adopt pets from animal shelters.

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors spent a week at a typical animal shelter in northern California. They met an assortment of animals: ferals, strays, owner turnins, puppies, kittens, etc. The book features a collection of photographs and short bios of some of the animals. Some of the stories have a happy ending and some do not. A sad book overall but what really grabs your attention is the photo of the euthanized animals in the 55-gallon drums. Maybe if more people saw that in person they wouldn't be so quick to turn in their animals....

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. I feel it gives a very accurate portrayal of how the average open-admission shelter operates. Sure some may get more animals, or fewer animals, some may have ties with no-kill shelters, or foster resources...but this is still accurate.

It was difficult to get through, but I feel better for having perservered. We owe it to these animals to see the good, bad and ugly truths.

[Margaret]

Wonderful book - if you have any compassion for animals at all, you will be touched. I also feel like it is a truthful, realistic account of what really happens in an animal shelter (I'm a volunteer at one). We need to get the kind of information that this book gives out to the general public! Thanks for writing it DianeLeigh & Marilee

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this 6 stars I would. If you have a pet, want a pet, or are concerned with the abundance of homeless pets in our society you should read this book. Yes, it is sad, but it is also very compelling on how to keep your own pets safe, how to pick out pets and finally how to possibly help society to help the homeless animals and keep them from becoming homeless.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching in places and thought provoking, this book does as the title suggests and shows a brutally honest week in an American animal shelter. I think everyone who is even considering getting a companion should be made to read this book. Our too often irresponsible, throwaway society needs to change...

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal in the way in the simple way it conveys the vital message of the problems of animal shelters in America. I believe it should be read by anyone who has decision-making capacity in the funding of animal shelters, as well as shelter volunteers and workers.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, heartbreaking and an important read for all animal lovers! Sure makes me proud that our house is populated with rescued animals!!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, well researched expose on the lives of shelter animals. It's a sad one, but, hopefully, will make people realize they need to be more responsible owners.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read if you enjoy crying uncontrollably.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i needed kleenex for this one! this book hit close to home for me....years working in animal welfare brought these stories and pictures to life. Beautiful, broken and perfect.

[h · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be mandatory reading for all pet owners!!!!

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

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