Salvare gli animali. Il viaggio di una veterinaria per decifrare il mistero del rapporto uomo-animale

Night shifts at the veterinary clinic give me plenty of days off, which I usually spend on the couch or taking short trips. But what if I used them instead to visit other veterinarians and scientists across Italy and Europe, searching for what makes humans human—and what drives us to save animals? Whatever “saving animals” even means, that is.
How many children, at some point, have dreamed of becoming veterinarians to “save animals”? Most eventually take different paths as they grow up, but not all. Take Giulia Corsini, for example, who—through work, study, and passion—has explored the very different worlds where veterinarians and researchers operate. She takes us on a journey through clinics and zoological gardens, nature reserves and city parks, circuses and farms. Each environment presents its own set of practical, ethical, and philosophical dilemmas. If the American grey squirrel threatens the survival of the European red squirrel, what should be done? Can animal welfare be safeguarded even in industrial farming? Is the pet boom just a business that results in stressed cats and depressed dogs? And what would really happen if all zoos and circuses were shut down?

More broadly: are we sure our common ideas about animals—whether domestic or wild—truly reflect reality? Along the way, there are, of course, encounters with animals themselves: a massive elephant with tusks covered in metal plates; Romagnolo black pigs saved from extinction (partly) by a handful of farmers; countless dogs and cats, but also unexpectedly affectionate rats; zebrafish, bumblebees, and bees that can count; the ancient shadow of the wolf, reclaiming its place in the mountains; Japanese deer invading England and native crayfish disappearing; robins mistaking a streetlamp for the sun; two female orangutans looking at photos on a phone screen…
By the end of this book—rigorous as an essay yet personal as a memoir—we’ll realize that the childhood idea of a veterinarian wasn’t entirely wrong. It’s just a matter of understanding that the relationship between humans and animals is far more complex than we imagined, full of nuances and contradictions. But if we free ourselves from rigid thinking and prejudices—if we are willing to question ourselves each time—we may still have a chance to save the animals.