As a veterinarian (and a priest), I started reviewing this book with an almost defensive attitude. In my world of technologically advanced veterinary medicine I was convinced, that from a medical point of view, there has never been a better time to be an animal. In addition, when one of the opening chapters stated “What kind of vet ends up in an abattoir?” I didn’t feel particularly engaged. Given the regular abuse practising vets receive about their fees and the apparent belief that we should all work for minimal fees, the attraction for a vet to have a steady salary and at least have some input into welfare of food animals seems almost enticing. However, the book drew me in!
Henry Mance turns our so-called love of animals on its head by having actively spent time on farms, in an abattoir, and he discusses the existential threats to all of us of over-fishing, destroying natural habitats and producing cheap, unsustainable food. The most enlightening aspect for me was that big-game hunting, which attracts a lot of media attention and is viciously condemned, is in reality a source of substantial funding for some national parks, and there is no doubt that some species would suffer much greater levels of extinction without such rich funders.