Saving Molly: A Research Veterinarian's Choices

"This is the story of a brave little dog by the name of Molly--a bush dog, blind in one eye, and poor-sighted in the other." So begins Saving Molly, research veterinarian James Mahoney's introspective book about his pets and his work with lab-test animals. While on vacation in Jamaica, Mahoney stumbles upon a very sick puppy and nurses her back to health. He goes to great lengths to save Molly's life, driving for hours in search of scarce medical supplies, staying up all night to feed and medicate the forlorn creature. This experience prompts Mahoney to review his life as a pet owner, animal lover, and a man who decides which monkeys at the lab get assigned to experiments. For many years Mahoney worked with monkeys involved in AIDS and hepatitis research at New York University's Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates, also known as LEMSIP. In this book, he grapples with the difficult questions raised by his work: How can a person who loves animals subject them to the stress and pain of experimentation? After a lab animal has endured many experiments, doesn't humanity owe it a nice retirement? Which tests are justifiable, and which are not? Mahoney believes that although people do not have a right to test on animals, it is necessary, and since it is something that needs to be done, it should be done with compassion. Mahoney describes his efforts to improve living conditions for lab animals. Mostly, though, this book stays away from the lab and doesn't dwell on the details of the experiments. Instead, Mahoney focuses on happier things. He contemplates his relationships with several of the lab's chimpanzees, describing their distinct personalities. He recalls times when he saved lives and took needy animals into his own home. Mahoney clearly loves animals and derives great satisfaction from his work as a healer. This book is a thoughtful account of his struggle to make sense of his life and his work. --Jill Marquis