“In this deeply personal account of her involvement in the humane raising of sheep, self-described shepherd, animal lover, and committed carnivore Catherine Friend leads us through the lives of meat animals—in our industrial food system, and on her farm—with metaphor, compassion, and wit. Acknowledging how complex the ethical choices have become, her goal is to show us how important it is to ‘remain at the table,’ helping support those farmers who raise animals humanely. A rich and enjoyable read.”
--Joan Gussow, author of This Organic Life

“I loved Catherine Friend’s philosophy on how to be a compassionate carnivore, and I cried when I read the chapter ‘Letter to My Lambs.’ It really is possible to deeply care about animals and eat meat.”
--Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation

Publishers Weekly, March 24, 2008
".... Friend has a unique and intimate perspective on the morals, economics and practicalities of raising and eating meat humanely. With low-key, Midwestern humor, she takes readers on a tour of an abattoir, writes a love letter to her lambs heading for slaughter and relates how chivalry has been bred out of roosters.... Readers interested in the subject will likely be familiar with Friend's overall treatment, but fostering a long-term commitment to the cause, she believes, is an act of respect that will affect the lives of the millions of animals raised in this country every year,and her suggestions are so reasonable that even the most rampant, mainstream meat-eater might consider trying them."