This is a great book. I encourage everyone to read it, along with Winograd's first book, Redemption. These books really will change your entire way of thinking about animal sheltering because so many things that we have been "taught" by the shelters for decades is completely wrong.
It is disgusting and disturbing to find out what is really going on in America's shelters and at the largest animal welfare organizations. But, now that we know, it is equally as inspiring to know that many compassionate people are working hard to change the landscape. No Kill is inevitable.
Although I despised Redemption (it's message was deeply buried under the author's ire), I wanted to give Irreconcilable Differences a chance to be the book I wanted - one that gave more information on the virtures of "no kill" than on the evils of "everyone else." I'm glad that I did!
A series of essays on what has gone wrong with animal "sheltering," this book makes a much better argument for the no kill movement. The arguments are succinct, compelling, and largely free from the distracting hate-mongering of Redemption. It is also more comprehensive, touching on additional issues such as transports (finally acknowledging that the location of potential adopters matters ;), breed bans, etc.
Although Winograd is still all about waging war on traditional shelters, he does differentiate in this book between those who suffer from compassion fatigue (a well-documented malady) and those who simply don't care. There is hope and inspiration in THIS book for ALL those who want to end the killing of homeless animals.
If you resented Redemption (despite believing in the No Kill Equation), give this book a read with an open mind. It could be the inspiration you were hoping for. If you haven't read either book and are curious about no-kill, skip Redemption and start here.
4 stars rather than 5 because it still has a major flaw: no citations. You can NOT "quote" others and include data without referencing your sources and be considered credible. No wonder this book is self-published - a publishing house wouldn't touch it. For this reason, it can never itself serve as source material. Also, Winogad reiterates his comparison of those biologists working to eradicate introduced species (which have the ability to decimate native species and fragile ecosystems) to Nazis and racists, which is just plain idiotic.
essential
While this volume does have some of the same information as does this author's earlier work, "Redemption," there is much updated data. I consider both this work and his earlier one to be probably the 2 most important books I've read (and I've read a lot). We all are obligated to help, in every way we can, the others in this world that they did not create but that we seem intent on destroying.
A must read for those concerned about the inhumanity of some humane societies
It is forbidden to kill a homeless person, but why is it okay to do so to a stray dog? "Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart and Soul of America's Animal Shelters" discusses the 'mercy killing' of stray animals and the mission of animal shelters to save and protect these animals. The essays are a continuation and a follow up to Wingrad's previous work with "The Myth of Pet Overpopulation & The No Kill Revolution in America", covering what has changed since he published that volume three years ago. "Irreconcilable Differences" is a must read for those concerned about the inhumanity of some humane societies.
