Summary Of Rob Lailaw's Book 'On Parade'

“On Parade” is a book consisting of 50 pages of information on the numerous types of ways animals are used in entertainment, how most animals in the entertainment industry are treated, and the necessities an animal must have in order for it to stay healthy. Rob Laidlaw, the author of the book, published his book in the year 2010. Rob chooses to write about this topic due to the fact that he worked as a humane society inspector and witnessed a large number of cruel engagements towards animals, specifically in the entertainment industry. This controversial topic sparks the interests of many as more become aware of the cruel ways animals are being treated through the entertainment industry, and being that animals, no matter how big or how small,

Some of these necessities are food, water, and shelter, but are not only limited to that. Most animals need room to be able to walk, climb, run, or swim. He believes that animals are naturally born with the freedom of choice. Animals make decision both minor and major, such as being able to decide which direction to walk or deciding where to find water when there is a drought. They ponder about what they want to do and then they decide, ultimately leading them to naturally have a freedom of choice. These animals also belong in social groups. Groups help give the individual animal protection or even help with hunting and providing food. Animals are also active. They spend time exploring, hunting, finding partners, building shelters, socializing and doing many more other activities. These activities ultimately increase their physical fitness of the animals and he also states that there are scientific studies that prove that animals want to be active. After talking about what animals need to have in order to remain healthy he specifically targets the animals that are use as circus performers. Most of these circus animals spend a lot of time on the road, which leaves the animal to be placed in a small living container no bigger than the animal. Most of the ways these animals are contained are through chains, cages, and small stalls.