Companion Animals

摘要

Many animals are kept as companions: it is the nature of the relationship, and not the species, which identifies an animal as a 'companion animal' (Kristensen 2008). This paper considers aspects of keeping cats and dogs as human companions, reflectingon the equality of the human-companion animal bond, and the issues arising as a result of a shared lifestyle. The perception of the cat or dog as a member of the family is considered in the context of owners' expectations of veterinary treatment, with particular reference to the potential for 'overtreatment'. As a result, it is apparent that the way we keep and treat companion animals gives rise to a number of conflicts of interests and ethical dilemmas, which deserve to be discussed and dealt with, inthe same way that we have for decades discussed and dealt with dilemmas and conflicts of interests relating to other forms of animal use.