We Animals

Drawn from thousands of photos taken over fifteen years, We Animals illustrates and investigates animals in the human environment: whether they’re being used for food, fashion and entertainment, or research, or are being rescued to spend their remaining years in sanctuaries. McArthur provides valuable lessons about our treatment of animals, makes animal industries visible and accountable, and widens our circle of compassion to include all sentient beings. The book includes previously unseen photographs and a final chapter entitled “Notes from the Field”, which is a small compilation of journal entries written while doing investigative work both at home and abroad.

Order the Book: We Animals

Activist Karen Bowman touches the snout of a pig who is en route to slaughter, during a Toronto Pig Save vigil. Canada, 2013

At 3am, Animal Liberation Victoria activists rescue 3 sick piglets who are marked to be killed the following day at a factory farm. Australia, 2013

A dumpster full of dead piglets at a factory farm. Spain, 2009.

A goat at a slaughterhouse. Tanzania, 2011.

Young pigs at a factory farm. Finland, 2015. JMcArthur / Oikeutta eläimille

Appolinaire and Pikin. Pikin was orphaned by the bush meat trade in Africa. Here, she is being transported from the vet clinic to a new sanctuary space at Ape Action Africa. Cameroon, 2009

During clashes between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Japanese whaling fleet in the southern ocean, the Ady Gil was rammed by the Shonan Maru II. The boat later sunk. Crew sustained injuries but there were no mortalities. No charges were laid. Antarctic ocean, 2010

Children are encouraged to interact with the greyhounds before the races begin. Australia, 2010

Children in the indigenous community of Opitciwan in northern Quebec help round up street dogs and family pets for the spay and neuter clinic hosted by Chiots Nordiques. Canada, 2014. JMcArthur / Humane Society International

Jane, a pig rescued from factory farming and now living at Farm Sanctuary. USA, 2012

One of thousands of pigs at a factory farm. Italy, 2015. JMcArthur / Essere Animali

Twenty minutes old and still wet from birth, a calf is taken from her mother, placed in a wheelbarrow and brought to a "veal crate". Spain, 2010. JMcArthur / Animal Equality

Organic, free-range broiler chickens being round up for slaughter. Spain, 2010. JMcArthur / Animal Equality

Next in line for slaughter. Spain, 2010. JMcArthur / Animal Equality

Due to the stress of confinement and an unnatural habitat, mink at fur farms will fight and sometimes cannibalize one another. Sweden, 2010. JMcArthur / Djurrattsalliansen

A calico fox in a fur farm. Poland, 2012. JMcArthur / The Ghosts in Our Machine

When a chimpanzee at Save the Chimps passes away, a key is placed in their hand, symbolic of a key to freedom. The primates at Save the Chimps have all been rescued from lives in laboratories, or from the pet and entertainment industries. USA, 2014.

Ron, a chimpanzee who was used for invasive research for over thirty years before he was rescued by Save the Chimps. Though he had acres of sanctuary on which to roam, he mostly chose to stay indoors, in the comfort of a nest of blankets which he would circle around himself. USA, 2011

A restraining jacket at the Coulston Foundation, where thousands of animals were used in research. USA, 2008.

The sick bay at a monkey breeding facility. Monkeys are bred by the thousands in southeast Asia to be shipped off to labs and universities around the globe. Laos, 2011

The head of a red-tailed hawk at a veterinary school. Canada, 2005

Visitors through junk food to begging bears at Marineland. Canada, 2012.

A lone Humboldt penguin at the Pata Mall in Bangkok. Thailand, 2009.

Fan and Cigar. The bullfights in San Sebastian de los Reyes. Spain, 2009

Visitors can pay to skin snakes and are encouraged to add their bloody hand prints to the wall at the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. USA, 2015

Dead rattlesnakes at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup in Texas. USA, 2015

The manager of the Maple Leaf slaughter plant agrees to give one chicken to the activists holding a 24-hour vigil. People crowd around the bird, who was named Mercy and given refuge at Cedar Rowe sanctuary. Canada, 2015

Anita Krajnc, co-founder of The Save Movement, stops a truck transporting cows from entering the slaughterhouse. Canada, 2015

The Cruellest Sky. Pig in Transport. Canada, 2012

Rabbits arriving at slaughter. Spain, 2013. JMcArthur / Animal Equality