In countless fascinating ways, our relationship with animals is an essential part of the human experience. Now, one of the world's leading champions of animal welfare offers a dramatic examination of our age-old bond to all creatures. Wayne Pacelle explores the many ways animals contribute to our happiness and well-being, and he reveals scientists' newfound understanding of their remarkable emotional and cognitive capacities. Pacelle also takes on animal cruelty in its many varieties, as well as stubborn opponents of animal protection?from multinational agribusiness corporations to the National Rifle Association and even our own government. An instant classic, The Bondreminds us that animals are at the center of our lives, not just a backdrop, and how we treat them is one of the great themes of the human story.