Tracey Stewart was born to love animals: "There are pictures of my mother pregnant with me, a bird on her head, a rabbit in her arms, and a dog at her feet." Her heart yearned to become a veterinarian, but a talent for art led to a variety of design jobs, including architecture and lingerie. Eventually she followed her passion for animals and became a veterinary technician, and she and her children volunteered at the local animal shelter helping homeless pets find "forever homes." Then she and her husband, Jon Stewart, set up a farm animal rehabilitation center in rural New Jersey. In Do Unto Animals, Stewart hopes the spirit of the Golden Rule will "inspire all animal lovers to learn a little more and do a little more."
Stewart demonstrates how to understand domesticated animals' body language by using beautiful illustrations to help readers interpret and identify calming signals (for example, an averted gaze, lip licking and yawning indicate a dog's desire to appease). She explains why docking a dog's ears and tail and removing a cat's claws are misguided, and provides concrete suggestions for discouraging the practice. Do Unto Animals highlights why a diverse gene pool is healthy, and convincingly explains why shelter animals can be the very best pets, clarifying why pitbulls and black cats are over-represented in shelters. In addition to the practical information, she offers fun DIY toys and beds as well as interactive games. Do Unto Animals is a wonderful hands-on resource for animal lovers of all ages. --Kristen Galles from Book Club Classics