Books by Peter Christie

We love our pets. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other species have become an essential part of more families than ever before-in North America today, pets outnumber people. Pet owners are drawn to their animal companions through an innate desire to connect with other species. But there is a dark side to our domestic connection with animal life: the pet industry is contributing to a global conservation crisis for wildlife-often without the knowledge of pet owners. In Unnatural Companions, journalist Peter Christie issues a call to action for pet owners. If we hope to reverse the alarming trend of wildlife decline, pet owners must acknowledge the pets-versus-conservation dilemma and concede that our well-fed and sheltered cats too often prey on small backyard wildlife and seemingly harmless reptiles released into the wild might be the next destructive invasive species. We want our pets to eat nutritionally healthy food, but how does the designer food we feed them impact the environment? Christie's book is a cautionary tale to responsible pet owners about why we must change the ways we love and care for our pets. It concludes with the positive message that the small changes we make at home can foster better practices within the pet industry that will ultimately benefit our pets' wild brethren.

Bideford History Tour is a unique guide to the fascinating past of an historic English port town. Sited astride the River Torridge, its two halves are linked by the thirteenth-century bridge with its twenty-four arches all of different sizes. Founded by the Saxons, it has a long and fascinating history as a port and market town. Peter Christie and Graham Hobbs guide the reader through its charming streets, showing how its famous landmarks and hidden-away gems have transformed over time. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited on this tour to discover for themselves the changing face of Bideford.