Our relationship with animals is complex and contradictory; we hunt, kill and eat them, yet we also love, respect and protect them. This ambivalent relationship is further complicated by the fact that we attribute human emotions and intelligence to animals. We even go as far as likening them to children and treating them as family members. Drawing on a diverse range of case studies, Animals in Person attempts to unravel our intimate and fascinating link with the animal kingdom. In what way does the fox hunter love his/her hounds? What is the history behind our legendary love for dolphins and what role does the way in which we communicate with them play in this? How are we able to keep animals as pets and also lock them up in zoos? Global in scope, the case studies are taken from a range of different societies in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Through an analysis of practices such as livestock care, hunting, pet keeping, and the use of animals in research and tourism, Animals in Person highlights the thorny relationship between humans and animals.
