SCIENCES

The Last Walk: Reflections on Our Pets at the End of Their Lives

by Jessica Pierce
Univ. of Chicago. Oct. 2012. c.248p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780226668468. $26. PETS
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Pierce (coauthor, with Mark Bekoff, Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals) has made an important contribution to the small body of literature dealing with aging and death in companion animals. The aging of our society has become a popular topic in recent years, with numerous books and articles on eldercare, geriatric medicine, and palliative care. Until now, little attention has been given to these same issues in the companion animal population. Pierce, a bioethicist, draws on her personal experience with a family pet and her professional experience working with animal behavior scientists and philosophers to provide a thorough discussion of what is known about animal aging and the best way to deal with ill and elderly companion animals. The book is in part a journal in which Pierce records the declining health of her beloved dog, Ody, and her reactions to his increasing helplessness, and in part a discussion of current and emerging options for the care of aging pets. Thoroughly researched and well documented, it also offers an extensive bibliography.
VERDICT While this will appeal to a fairly narrow audience, it should be required reading for every pet owner. Readers will identify with Pierce's feelings of ambivalence, and see something of their own pets as they read about Ody's antics and challenges. Recommended.
Reviewed by Deborah Emerson, Central NY Lib. Resources Council, Syracuse , Aug 01, 2012
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