Roaming Wild: The Founding of Compassion in World Farming

Roaming Wild is a book about Anna and Peter Roberts, a British couple who were instrumental in making the animal welfare movement a respectable, highly-impactful, and worldwide organization. It explores their paths to found and steward what is now the world's largest and most successful animal welfare charity, from a backroom of their own home with few funds, at a time when caring for animals and our planet was seen as crankish and sentimental.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

Roaming Wild delves into the unconventional and pioneering lives of Anna and Peter Roberts, a British couple who played a pivotal role in transforming the animal welfare movement into a respectable, highly impactful, and global organization. This captivating book explores the journey that led Anna and Peter to establish and oversee what is now the world's largest and most successful animal welfare charity, starting from a humble backroom in their own home with limited funds and at a time when caring for animals and our planet was considered eccentric and sentimental. This extraordinary tale unfolds across the early 1920s, encompassing their childhoods, the tumultuous years of World War II, their romantic meeting and marriage in the 1950s, and the subsequent years as dairy and chicken farmers in rural Hampshire. However, this ordinary chapter in their story preceded their momentous decision during the tumultuous 1960s to risk their livelihood, adopt a vegetarian lifestyle (as animal farmers), and alienate their peers in pursuit of their compassion-driven campaign. This personal transformation occurred at a time when the British countryside was undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the proliferation of intensive, polluting farms, the introduction of cruel battery and broiler systems, and the devastating impact of monoculture and the excessive use of lethal biocides like DDT on biodiversity. Initially, the Roberts faced rejection from the popular animal charities of the day, as they believed that the public's concern primarily revolved around companion animals or those in circuses, rather than the welfare of farmed animals. Undeterred, they persevered, driven by their unwavering belief in the intrinsic value of all sentient beings and their commitment to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world. Through their tireless efforts, Anna and Peter not only established the RSPCA but also pioneered innovative approaches to animal welfare, such as the development of the "Five Freedoms" principle, which outlines the basic rights of animals to freedom from pain, suffering, hunger, fear, and loneliness. Their legacy continues to inspire and shape the animal welfare movement worldwide, reminding us of the power of compassion, determination, and the unwavering belief in a better future for all living creatures.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849955430