INCONVENIENT DESIRES

Transcription

1 INCONVENIENT DESIRES - Should we routinely neuter companion animals? Clare Palmer*, Sandra Corr** & Peter Sandøe*** * Texas A&M University ** University of Nottingham *** University of Copenhagen Dias 1

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4 SO ACCORDING TO AVMA ROUTINE NEUTERING OF DOGS AND CATS IS A MUST Because It serves to control reproduction and thereby limits problems with unplanned reproduction It is good for the quality of life of the affected animals It reduces owners frustrations with unwanted behaviour A win-win-win situation Too good to be true? Dias 4

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7 VIEW OF SWEDISH VETERINARY ASSOCIATION Culturally based differences between countries concerning how dogs are kept affect the extent to which unwanted puppies are a problem. Despite the fact that only about 7 % of bitches, and an even smaller percentage of male dogs, are neutered, problems with unwanted stray dogs is insignificant. Scientific veterinary literature gives reasons both for and against the routine surgical neutering of dogs. Dias 7

8 AIM OF THIS PAPER Our concern is only with neutering in cases where uncontrolled reproduction is not an issue I will discuss the claim: Neutering is, morally speaking, a good thing because it benefits both animals and owners From two perspectives: The veterinary literature A wider ethical consideration Dias 8

9 VETERINARY LITERATURE: BITCHES Documented overall health benefits through prevention of diseases such as mammary tumors and pyometra However, a major operation which may have long-term side-effects such as urinary incontinence Variable effect on aggression Increased likelihood of obesity Dias 9

10 VETERINARY LITERATURE: MALE DOGS Some diseases, e.g. testicular cancer, are prevented Risk of other diseases, e.g. prostate cancer, is increased No basis in literature for the claim that overall there are health benefits rather the reverse Some behavioural problems (roaming and urine marking) reduced Evidence of effect on aggression ambiguous Increased likelihood of obesity Dias 10

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12 OVERALL CONCLUSION FROM REVIEW OF VETERINARY LITERATURE with the exception of bitches, where the benefits of neutering in terms of avoiding serious disease seem significant, there doesn t appear to be a clear, direct welfare case for neutering animals that are kept confined; and in the case of male dogs, the welfare evidence seems to weigh against routine neutering. Additionally, there are enhanced problems with increased weight and obesity. Dias 12

13 ETHICAL ASSESSMENT: CONSEQUENTIALISM Three possible views depending on how the good is defined: Hedonist Perfectionist Desire theory Only from a desire theory point of view will routine neutering seem relatively untroubling Also routine neutering may have negative indirect effects on breeding by limiting genetic diversity Dias 13

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15 ETHICAL ASSESSMENT: RIGHTS THEORIES Possible rights at stake: The right to reproduce The right not to be harmed The right to bodily integrity Interesting analogy to cosmetic surgery On a rights view it seems difficult to support routine neutering of companion animals Dias 15

16 ETHICAL ASSESSMENT: ETHICS OF CARE Ethics of care seems to be ambiguous in relation to neutering: Neutering may serve to deepen the bond between owner and animal However, it may also be viewed as a dominating and manipulative practice However, from this perspective it seems difficult to defend routine neutering Dias 16

17 CONCLUSION SO FAR There are good reasons - both with respect to the health of affected animals and in the light of wider ethical reflection - to be skeptical about routine neutering This, of course, does not mean that there cannot be good reasons in specific cases for neutering cats and dogs even when uncontrolled reproduction is not an issue Dias 17

18 REASONS FOR NEUTERING For the sake of the health and/or wellbeing of the animal (e.g. to prevent problems with pseudopregnancy) To prevent serious behavioural problems (e.g. roaming or indoor urine spraying) For convenience or aesthetic reasons (e.g. because of disgust about bloodstains) How one views these reasons will depend on one s ethical position Dias 18

19 ROOM FOR ETHICAL DISAGREEMENT Is it right of me to neuter my companion animal if it is done purely for convenience reasons? Should convenience neutering be accepted as the lesser of two evils, i.e. to limit euthanasia of companion animals for convenience reasons The latter point will open up the usual debate between more pragmatic views on animal ethics and those of a more uncompromising nature Dias 19

20 CONCLUSIONS Routine neutering of companion animals is widely promoted, even in cases where uncontrolled reproduction is not an issue It is not true that neutering is always to the benefit of the affected animals A wider ethical consideration also casts serious moral doubts on the idea of routine neutering There is room for ethical discussion about what in a specific case counts as a good reason for neutering Dias 20

21 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Dias 21