New book examines animal welfare in disasters

Irvine with her pet cat, Punnie

University of Colorado at Boulder Associate Professor of Sociology Leslie Irvine recently published Filling the Ark: Animal Welfare in Disasters, a book that examines how humans are not the only victims of disasters.

The book explores the predicament of companion animals as well as animal populations on farms, in research facilities, and in the wild when disasters strike.

Irvine has studied the roles of animals in society for the past decade, and she asserts that humans cause most of the risks faced by animals and recommends better stewardship by humans on behalf of animals not only during times of crisis but also on a daily basis.