We're changing Mondays entries starting today. From now on, Monday posts will be written by one of the Doglando Moms. Starting this week, you will learn more about Jessica (who works at Doglando on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays). We hope you enjoy this change, as we feel their contribution to the blog is vital as they are part of what makes Doglando, Doglando. Some posts may not pertain to dogs at all, but it will give us all an opportunity to learn more about the staff at Doglando..... I think they may have other interests ind addition to dogs.... believe it or not:)
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Bernard Rollin is one of the worlds leading animal ethicists, in his essay Dogmatisms and Catechisms: Ethics and Companion Animals, he illuminates how without realizing it one could be treating animals badly, what he calls the idea of invisible mistreatment, in the area of companion animals.
Rollins article, as stated above illuminates three aspects of domestic animals and the consequences of invisible mistreatment. The first topic Rollin touches on is the business of breeding dogs and how it takes advantage of ignorance and leads into further problems. He is quoted as saying:
We perpetuate dozens of genetic diseases of dogs through aesthetically based dysfunctional ‘breed standards.’ […] We ignore the functionality of these animals and treat them as, in the words of one of my veterinary colleagues, ‘living statues.’ Rollins continues to write about how the general population does no research on the breeds that they choose leading up to invisibly mistreating their companion animals.
Because of our superficial needs based on appearances instead of reality the consumerist society we live in perpetuates a desire for picture perfect dogs. We as consumers do not always respect what our companion dogs need, whether it be exercise, socialization, nutrition, or training. The care that one focuses on the companion animal is not necessarily care for the dog but more than likely care for our selves. The research that a consumer typically does is based on looks, not on facts or performance needs, and because of this lack of knowledge and obsession with appearances one can commit (easily) acts of invisible mistreatment.
An example comes directly from my own experiences with my own dog Shiba. At my parents home we have a variety of animals, chickens being one of them. What seemed like all of a sudden, Shiba’s hunting instincts kicked in, and she killed over half our flock one summer (18 chickens to be exact). We didn’t realize it was her because, well we just didn’t think that the bum that sleeps all day and wakes us up at 3AM to play did it. So another breeding season passes, our flock gets up to about two dozen chickens and all of sudden in a matter of a couple weeks, someone has culled the flock AGAIN! We were very angry with our local hawk residents but realized there is nothing we can do, it was just nature. This happens again in our third year of having chickens but someone finally catches little miss Shiba hunting. Who would have known? Yes, I knew that, this is what she was bred for, those are her instincts but MY Shiba? NO WAY! So as soon as my Mom hears it was her, Shiba has to be walked on leash, or tied up so she can’t go hunting anymore. Now, we were neglecting Shiba’s needs, trying to break her of her instincts in order to protect our best interests (because we wanted to keep our chickens). This is therefore an example of invisible mistreatment, who would have known? I surely wouldn’t have.
So readers, what do you think of this idea of invisible mistreatment? Have you recognized anyways you are treating your companion animals “badly” because of this idea? Let us hear what you think.
3 comments:
Hi! I really enjoyed your post, Jessica! One of our dogs is a Labrador (Bo). One of his instincts is to retrieve things (animals, actually, but I will just say "things"). Many, many times we let the dogs out in the backyard, I have noticed Bo either retrieving something from the living room and taking it out or the other way around, bringing something from the outside into the house. None of the other 3 dogs do this. We would often reprimend his action, saying "No, Bo! Leave the shoe here!" or "No, Bo, you can't bring this twig in!". He would feel the negative tone in our voice, and now thinking, I really think we were invisibly mistreating him. This is in his nature. He didn't want to be a "bad dog"! He hans't been doing it very often anymore. I will pay a lot more attention and let this "innocent" action (it's not like he's destroying anything) be part of his day, if he wishes to! Thank you! Denise
Great comment Denise.... and good job for recognizing it in your own actions with your own dogs.
Many times we do the human thing to "label" dog as either aggressive, dangerous, destructive etc... when that may not even be their intention.... but as humans we fail to understand their needs, so we label them as inappropriate actions.
I like to think that my dogs invisibly mistreat ME by not listening to my commands, stealing food, barking at thin air and generally being crazy.
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