Unlike his perfect older sister, Jenna, Conner hates his piano lessons and gets bad grades in math. Conner's really good at bike tricks and he loves animals, but his parents have a no-pets rule and they don't take his bike-riding seriously. When the local animal shelter gets overcrowded, everybody in Conner's pet club agrees to take in a foster pet. Conner has to hide his rat, Oscar, from his family, who would never believe that Oscar is smart and cute and pretty lovable. Or would they?

Over the past thirty years, as Wesley J. Smith details in his latest book, the concept of animal rights has been seeping into the very bone marrow of Western culture. One reason for this development is that the term “animal rights” is so often used very loosely, to mean simply being nicer to animals. But although animal rights groups do sometimes focus their activism on promoting animal welfare, the larger movement they represent is actually advancing a radical belief system. For some activists, the animal rights ideology amounts to a quasi religion, one whose central doctrine declares a moral equivalency between the value of animal lives and the value of human lives. Animal rights ideologues embrace their beliefs with a fervor that is remarkably intense and sustained, to the point that many dedicate their entire lives to “speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Some believe their cause to be so righteous that it entitles them to cross the line from legitimate advocacy to vandalism and harassment, or even terrorism against medical researchers, the fur and food industries, and others they accuse of abusing animals. All people who love animals and recognize their intrinsic worth can agree with Wesley J. Smith that human beings owe animals respect, kindness, and humane care. But Smith argues eloquently that our obligation to humanity matters more, and that granting “rights” to animals would inevitably diminish human dignity. In making this case with reason and passion, A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy strikes a major blow against a radically antihuman dogma.

Mink are famous worldwide for their luxurious coat of fur, and yet most people know very little about them beyond their use as clothing. Even trappers, naturalists, and fur farmers, those who should know mink best, typically know only one side of the mink... their bad side. Those who do "know mink" will tell you how extremely aggressive and blood thirsty the mink is, and truth be told, they aren't that far off. But there is a different side to mink that very few have seen. This book not only tells how the art of Minkenry began, but more importantly, it is a step by step guide to those wanting to train a hunting mink. In this book I share how to tame, train, and properly care for this very intense little predator, the North American mink. Though still in its infancy, the sport of minkenry has been spreading thanks to the information sharing power of the Internet. First started in the western state of Utah, there are now minkeners springing up across the United States, and even as far away as the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries! As there is a growing need for a "how to" manual on the art of minkenry, this book was written specifically to fill that need. Minkenry is a very challenging sport, and is definitely not for everyone! Though highly intelligent, and surprisingly affectionate, mink are also very high-strung and stubborn creatures. They typically use their intelligence to work against you, far more than they do to work with you. Though not an adventure for the faint of heart; falconers, hunters, trappers, and other sportsmen worldwide, are being drawn to the art of minkenry with a pioneer's spirit. They have the desire to become part of something that has never been done before! If you yearn to experience the challenge of hunting with an aggressive, high strung, truly wild animal; then join us and become one of the pioneers in the new sport of minkenry!

The Perfect Introduction To Being A Pet Owner For The Child Ready To Get A Rat.

Rats are friendly pets that love to chew. They happily nibble snacks. Then they give themselves baths! These critters make great pets, and this title proves it. The book is a guide for pet rat care, including what they eat, where they live, and how they play. The fun text combines with a profile, a supply list, and a care duties checklist to create an engaging primer on pet rats!

"Provides basic information about rats and keeping them as pets"--Provided by publisher.