Why do students continue to dissect animals in biology classes? Why, despite the excellence of teaching resources for veterinary and human medical education that substitute for dissection, do those provided for pre-college students fall short in convenience, flexibility, and coordination with the curriculum? Why Dissection? Animal Use in Education looks beyond the typical yes-or-no debate about dissection to understand how we came to our current practice of dissection in intermediate and high school biology, even as preparation of health professionals has moved away from dissection. Despite the many forces that support the continued use of dissection in pedagogy, teachers retain much autonomy in how they teach in the classroom, and legislation in many states provide specific requirements for what should and should not be taught in separated science and health curricula, offering students the option to not engage in dissection. Why Dissection? walks students, teachers, and parents through these options to help them make more informed choices regarding their science education options. Why Dissection? covers the whole gamut of issues surrounding the use of animals in science education: BLThe early history of dissection, and the controversies in the development of science education and dissection. Educational testing, national and state educational standards, and the place of dissections Legislation and regulations related to the use of animals and dissection in teaching The animal used in teaching The volume includes information on the many organizations who supply relevant information and materials on dissection and teaching resources. Databases and other specialized websites offered heresimplify the effort required for teachers to identify promising resources and those that will become available in the future.

The Perfect Puppy: Breed Selection and Care by Veterinary Science for Behavior and Neutering Age provides the most updated and expert knowledge on dog breeds to guide the selection of a puppy or mature dog. It offers the latest information on breed-specific behavior profiles and guidelines for spaying or neutering, health conditions, and life expectancy. Researched and written by experts in veterinary science and animal behavior, this book is an unbiased and data-driven analysis of 80 of the most common dog breeds, based on interviews with 168 practicing veterinarians. It covers behavioral expectations per breed, while addressing traits or issues that can arise from environmental factors like home size, presence of other dogs, and human family dynamics. This book is written and formatted to be used by veterinarians for optimal guidance on canine adoptions, while also appealing to breeders and potential adopters as well.

For a happy relationship with your cat, go beyond the looks and make your pick based on demonstrated breed behavior. This is the advice of the Harts, two experts in animal communication and behavior, whose new book takes the process of selecting a cat to the next level by offering data-based behavioral profiles of a wide range of cat breeds. Developed over a lifetime of research and through extensive interviews with eighty veterinary experts, the profiles are presented in easy-to-use graphical form. A history of the development of different breeds is presented, and then breed-specific differences across a range of variables are discussed. These include twelve behavioral traits, in areas such as affection, sociality, activity level, and litter box use. After giving guidance about choosing a cat, the authors present some strategies for avoiding problem behaviors and resolving those that emerge. They also share fascinating theories about the origins of various common cat behaviors, including purring, yawning, eating grass, “flipping out” on catnip, and staking out territory. While the focus is on purebred cats, there is also lots of good information for owners of blends. The book ends with helpful guidance on further reading. Based on the latest science, this is a great book for anyone interested in the fundamental building blocks of feline behavior, and an invaluable handbook for cat owners.