WHY THE QUESTION

     Why this book?  For years, I asked my religious and philosophical teachers again and again, "Where are the other animals in your spiritual teachings?"  Their answers didn't make sense to me.  The usual answer was -- "It's not in the Book." (i.e. Books used by the teachers to teach their followers about the religion.)  Realizing I had no excuse to ignore my own question, I began my quest.  Surely there would be an answer.
      The research took several years and is still ongoing.  Billions of articles and ideas about the human experience are on the Worldwide Internet.  Millions of books published down through history address the subject.  By simply going through thousands of books' indices it became clear to me that the other animals are missing in religion, history, psychology, philosophy, ethics, sciences, belief systems.  I sadly realized that the other animals are not a priority in the human experience -- other than food or service or entertainment. True, if one goes to a bookstore, there are usually sections set aside for books about (the other) animals and how they affect our environment and ecology of the planet.  Some books tell stories about the animals as heroes who saved the lives of countless people both physically and emotionally.  HOWEVER, the questions remain:  Is our actual behavior toward the other animals affected by the fact that they are separated from the human experience?  Where and how do the other animals fit in our religious-ethical-moral belief systems?  

    True, the animal soul is understood by millions of Hindus, Buddhists, mystics, certain philosophers, the American Indian, African and other ancient cultures.  According to these religious-cultural societies,  people are taught from early childhood that all life forms should be respected; and all life forms populate the after life with them.  However, the QUESTION remains -- do these same peoples actually treat the other animals as they do other humans?  Look it up.