Irreconcilable Differences
The book Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation & The No Kill Revolution in America by Nathan J. Winograd documents how the humane movement, founded on the highest ideals of compassion, devolved into a system of humane societies and other shelters that is the leading killer of dogs and cats in the United States. Redemption also shows how as a movement and as a nation, we are increasingly rejecting the consensus of killing and ushering in a new age of compassion and lifesaving results . And while the work is far from over, and although far too many animals are still killed in shelters nationwide, there is now a genuine solution to bring that killing to an end. The focus has now shifted to replacing the age-old kill-oriented paradigm with one that embraces lifesaving.
The essays in Winograd’s new book, Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart and Soul of America’s Animal Shelters, take off where Redemption ends. They were written in the two years since Redemption’s publication and highlight the lessons learned from the No Kill revolution since that time. They respond to critics of the No Kill philosophy, and ask and answer the questions: 1. Is it ethical to kill vicious dogs and hopelessly ill/injured animals? 2. Is it ethical to spay pregnant animals? 3. Why do some animal rescuers oppose No Kill? 4. Are we failing Pit Bulls? 5. Why do Invasion Biologists want to exterminate feral cats? 6. Is there such a thing as “true euthanasia”? 7. Should humane societies perform animal control? 8. Why do groups like the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals still champion killing? 9. Is No Kill an animal rights issue? And more.
Irreconcilable Differences is the ongoing and evolving story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the No Kill movement, which says we can and must stop the killing. It is about a social movement as noble and just as those that have come before. Above all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion.
An ethical vegan and lifelong animal rescuer, Winograd’s passion has always been helping animals. An attorney by training, he left the law to dedicate himself to that task. He has helped write animal protection legislation at the state and national level, has spoken nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, has created successful No Kill programs in both urban and rural communities, and has consulted with a wide range of animal protection groups, including some of the largest and best known in the nation. Under his leadership, Tompkins County, New York became the first No Kill community in the United States. He has since helped many others achieve the same success. Redemption won five national book awards and redefined the animal protection movement nationwide.
Irreconcilable Differences is available through Amazon.com. A limited number of signed copies will also be available through the No Kill Advocacy Center at a slightly higher cost in order to help fund their lifesaving programs. For more information, visit www.nathanwinograd.com.
