Many shelters conduct behavior-based evaluations on animals they take in, but there are few better descriptions of a dog's temperament than an honest assessment from its owner through a questionnaire. Shelters are not in the business of giving up on the animals they receive, and they need the best information the owner can provide to keep both the animals and potential adopters safe.

These owners might think they are bettering their pet's chances by concealing behavior problems, but what they don't realize is that they are really worsening things for both their pets and the shelter.

For years I've been trying to understand why people who keep these animals are prepared to invest so much money, time and emotional resources. Superficially, there's no apparent gain from it.

Humans — who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals — have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and 'animals' is essential if we are to bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them, eat them — without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. They are just too much like us.

You see the characters capable of wonderful and shabby behavior. Anne is more complex. She?s the one you see make the journey. She gives her inner thoughts. She?s very harsh on her mother. I think the characters are richer.

Raccoons and bats are the animals you find [rabies] in the most,