Book of the Year: Rethinking Rescue by Carol Mithers
This year, we’re spotlighting a book that challenges traditional narratives in animal welfare and shines a light on the intersection of social justice and rescue work. Rethinking Rescue: Dog Lady and the Story of America’s Forgotten People and Pets by Carol Mithers is a compelling exploration of how compassion can transcend societal boundaries, addressing two pressing issues of our time: poverty and homelessness.
A Bold Question: Who Deserves the Love of a Pet?
In underserved communities across Los Angeles, Lori Weise, affectionately known as the Dog Lady, has spent decades caring for people living in poverty and the animals they cherish. Lori’s groundbreaking work recognizes the undeniable connection between human and animal suffering, challenging the biases often found within the animal rescue movement.
Through Weise’s journey, Rethinking Rescue illustrates a transformative approach—one that creates a safety net for pet owners in need and reduces shelter intake by addressing root causes rather than symptoms.
A New Rescue Narrative
Carol Mithers masterfully intertwines Lori Weise’s personal story with an incisive look at the broader U.S. rescue movement. She confronts the systemic bias within a largely white-led rescue community, critiquing its tendency to prioritize placing animals in affluent homes over supporting pet owners in poverty. This perspective invites readers to rethink what rescue truly means and how it can empower both animals and their human companions.
Timely and Transformative
As cities across the nation face worsening housing crises and a rising population of unhoused individuals and their pets, Rethinking Rescue delivers a much-needed message of compassion and hope. It’s a reminder that effective animal welfare work must also address human struggles, fostering an inclusive approach to rescue that uplifts entire communities.
Why You Should Read It
This book isn’t just for animal welfare advocates—it’s for anyone who believes in the power of empathy to create change. Through captivating storytelling and investigative reporting, Mithers offers a blueprint for a more compassionate future, one where no pet owner is left behind simply because of their circumstances.
Get Inspired and Take Action
Rethinking Rescue is more than a book—it’s a call to action. As you read, consider how you can support efforts that address both human and animal welfare in your own community. Together, we can reimagine rescue to include everyone who deserves the love of a pet. Have you read Rethinking Rescue?
Source: Carol Mithers
