ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost I thank Jason Gardner at New World Library for his patience, flexibility, and commitment to this book and for working with me on The Emotional Lives of Animals. There can be no better “ear” than Jason. Jason’s got “ear” like border collies have “eye” — focused and sharp. Thanks also to Jeff Campbell for his masterful editing once again. Jeff has eye and ear. All of the other folks at New World also are a pleasure to work with, so many thanks to Monique Muhlenkamp, Ami Parkerson, Kristen Cashman, and Danielle Gotchet. Sarah Bexell offered numerous excellent suggestions for revisions and for ways to make a positive difference in the lives of animals. I’m grateful that she took the time to do so and for sharing her unbounded and unrelenting passion and for being in my life. Sarah also brought a much-needed global perspective. Emails and conversations with Dacher Keltner have reinforced my feelings about the innate goodness of human beings, and working on Wild Justice with Jessica Pierce has been a pleasure and an inspiration for seeing abundant kindness among nonhuman beings. Jessica also read the entire manuscript and is still sane and sighted.
I also thank Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia (animals asia.org), for bringing me to the Moon Bear Rescue Centre outside of Chengdu, China, and I thank Jasper and his Moon Bear buddies for allowing me to hang out with them and learn valuable lessons in compassion, trust, and hope. Philippa Brakes (also known as the “Green Tea Girl” and she knows why) of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (wdcs.org) also has been a wonderful inspiration and source for my coming to a better understanding of what life under water is like for cetaceans. An outing in March 2008 on the beautiful waters outside of Adelaide, Australia, with Philippa and Mike Bossley, who discovered tail-walking in dolphins, opened my eyes to how much more there is to learn about these amazing beings and how their suffering is shrouded by the sea. Bruce Gottlieb, Christine Caldwell, and Carly Parry also offered helpful hints and laughter along the way, and Valerie Belt was a constant source of encouragement and “new findings” that I missed. I also thank Carron Meaney for becoming “more veggie” and for making the 2008 Thanksgiving dinner a vegetarian feast. And to my cycling buddies Brad, Andy, Randy, Scott, Chip, Daphne, Karen, Julia, Susie Mae, Christy, Anita, Annette, and April, who patiently listen to my nonstop chatter about animal behavior and animal protection and the virtues of eating more veggies (along with french fries, dark chocolate, good merlot, and peaty single malt): many thanks indeed for being tolerant and for having a great sense of humor about my ranting! My sisters Marjorie and Roberta also have been very supportive of my work, and very patient listening to me talk about animal behavior and animal protection.
I was fortunate to be able to complete this book at the beautiful home of Fabrizio Collova and Valeria Augello in Palermo, Italy. Fabrizio, Valeria, their four rescued dogs —Noor, Aston, Doxy, and Asia, along with Kiwi the love-bird, who liked to sit on my head — were most gracious in allowing me to eat their fine food, drink delicious wine, and relax as I edited the text.
I only wish my parents, Beatrice and Oscar, were alive to see this book. I know they’d say “bravo” and feel that they’d been successful. My folks knew from the start that I loved animals and reminded me that I always wanted to know what they were thinking and feeling — that I minded animals — and they allowed me to pursue my dreams, while on occasion —well, maybe more frequently than that —wondering what in the world I was doing. But they had faith that in the end something good would emerge. I miss them dearly. So thanks to two wonderful people who put up with me and trusted that I knew what I was doing most of the time. I’ve never met a more positive thinker than my father, and my mother was full of compassion and love. I know I’ve been most fortunate to be able to pursue my dreams of studying and working with animals and using what others and I have learned to better their lives, and my parents’ role was surely instrumental. I can’t thank Beatrice and Oscar enough for encouraging me to play a lot and also for providing the support, lightness, and love that reminded me that all would be okay and for allowing me to travel here and there, mentally and physically — and to dream about a more compassionate world. It’s been a wonderful journey, and perhaps the best is yet to come.