Consider how in today's world some animals are used for scientific research and commercial product testing, and yet others are our beloved pets. What are your thoughts on our treatment of animals?

The animals in The Wonders are retired circus performers that have been given sanctuary. Consider how in today's world some animals are used for scientific research and commercial product testing, and yet others are our beloved pets. What are your thoughts on our treatment of animals?

Our treatment of animals is shocking, particularly what is done on factory farms, in research facilities and other entertainment venues such as Sea World and circuses. But times are changing and the tipping point is coming. More and more research is finding out that animals have a rich and full emotional life, they feel pain, and they don't want to die. This book is particularly affecting as it explores what it means to be human through the three main characters. Do you need a heart that beats to be 'human'? In Leon's case, no. He felt love and the whole range of human emotions. Kathryn looks like a wooly non-human animal, but is fully alive as a human being. Again and again, the author causes us to pause and reflect on our humanity and our relationship to other beings.

I understand that sometimes medicines need to be tested before they are given to humans. I cannot condone cruel testing just so we can have a better mascara or anything frivolous. For the sake of our too large stomachs animals are badly abused. I am not a full time vegetarian, but I limit the amount of meat and fish I consume. I am one of those people who loves their mixed breed rescue dog as much as I love my kids.

I know we need to use animals for testing but I absolutely hate cruelty to animals..there has to be a way to do a better job in this area

I am against almost all animal testing because so much of it can be done without animals. Researchers only use animals because they are inexpensive. There may be a small percentage of testing which needs to be tested on animals but it is no excuse for the cruelty inflicted on these innocents. I am a vegan because I am aware of the abuse inflicted on animals in food production. I live on a ranch (a very kind one) and can tell you there is no difference between pigs, cows and horses etc and dogs. They all love, have a distinct personalities, and grieve when they lose a friend. All animals suffer. Pigs are more intelligent than dogs. Meat is unhealthy and linked to cancer, filled with antibiotics and hormones and God know what else. Animal factories cause severe pollution to the water table. We could feed all the hungry in the world if we didn't need to grow crops to feed our "meat." I have to get off the band wagon now.

I too am a big animal lover. Even my pet birds have distinct personalities. I hate seeing and hearing on the news any abuse to animals. But it is a dilemma, so many people have horrible illnesses, like Huntington for example and I myself have MS. How can research be furthered and still avoid cruelty to animals I wish there was a clear cut answer but I don't know what it is. But for frivolous reasons like furs and cosmetics, we can certainly do without those.

It's easy to love our pets but turn a blind eye to what is happening in the animal world though I think social media has greatly increased awareness. But as Diane's said, it can be difficult to find a balance between animal welfare and the research that saves lives

Naturally I'm not into the cruel treatment of animals. I tear up every time I read about the poor rescue animals. But thank god that is slowly becoming a thing of the past. As for the testing using animals, that is something I have no answers for. I believe those in power need to find other methods.

I think that ever so slowly the world is beginning to be aware of the living conditions of factory farms for cattle and pork and chickens etc. and is, again slowly, reacting and demanding change. As for the use of animals for drug testing etc. I am a bit ambivalent because I know of many medications that we would not have today were it not for that work and evidence. It is hard to say that the rat should not have to die so that Aunt Betsy or the neighbor's infant can have a pill that is making them able to function and have a normal life.

The number of animals used in testing is tiny compared to the number we eat. I don't object to testing animals as long as they are treated as humanely as possible. I don't see where testing them is any worse than eating them, and testing can really improve or save people' lives.

Why do we have to torture animals when the labs' goals are usually human medicines or human cosmetics. Why not ask prisoners to volunteer and give them an extra pack of cigarettes or an extra phone call home - - whatever. The more one works with animals, the more one realizes the incredible levels of intelligence, and to see them locked up in lab cages or forced to perform in circuses in Dark Ages. Documentaries such as "Food, Inc" make a person realize that it is not one's imagination that chicken breasts are the size of what turkey breasts used to be. Pathetic that food in developing nations is often naturally healthier than American grown food filled with chemicals, antibiotics, genetically modified food, and/or grown in inhumane conditions.

My daughter was a biochemist at a pharmaceutical company for a few years after she graduated from college. Her job was to "sacrifice" rats and dissect their livers for drug damage. She said those rats seemed to have distinct personalities and she was having nightmares about her job. She quit and went to nursing school and now works with adolescents. I strongly feel no sentient creature should be "sacrificed" in the name of science.

As for animal cruelty – there is no excuse. One of our horses looked like a hat-rack with a tail when he was rescued. He was a race horse that was injured on the track and sold to someone who felt no need to feed him. Fortunately, he didn't lose his trust in humans and just loves to be loved.