BIOETHICS SYMPOSIUM II: Current factors influencing perceptions of animals and their welfare1

Abstract

To address escalating concerns about livestock animal care and welfare it is necessary to better understand the factors that may predispose people to develop such concerns. It has been hypothesized that experiences with, beliefs about, and emotional connections to animals may influence level of perceived obligation toward and therefore concern for animals. However, the extent to which people's classifications of animals and their status as pet owners may impact their views on food animal care and welfare practices remains unclear. An online survey of 798 U.S. households was therefore conducted in June 2012 to understand differences in consumer sentiment towards various animal species, classification of certain species (as pet, livestock or neither), and variations in food animal welfare concerns between dog and/or cat owners and those who do not own such species. Sixty-six percent of households in the survey owned at least 1 animal. Forty-eight percent owned dogs, 41% owned cats, 3% owned horses, and 10% owned other animals. As expected, dogs and cats were classified by most respondents (90%) as pets. Most respondents similarly categorized rabbits (58%) and horses (55%) as pets, although consensus was not found for horses with 27% classifying them as livestock animals and 18% as neither pets nor livestock. Over 80% of respondents classified beef cows, dairy cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys as livestock. The majority of survey respondents were opposed to eating cats and dogs followed closely by horses due to ethical and/or spiritual reasons. Dog and/or cat owners more often reported having a source for animal welfare information (68%) than those who did not own these species (49%). Additionally, dog and/or cat owners were more concerned about food animal welfare for both domestically raised food animals and those raised outside the United States (dog and/or cat owners mean level of concern was 3.88 for domestic animal welfare and 5.16 for those raised outside the United States compared with non-dog or -cat owners with means of 4.46 and 5.46, respectively). Although a causal relationship cannot be established, pet ownership and increased concern for food animal welfare appear to be correlated. These data suggest that increased interest in protecting food animals may stem from interactions with and emotional connections to pets, especially when combined with other factors such as having a source for animal welfare information, education level, age, and gender.

Bonding with commodities: Social constructions and implications of human–animal relationships in contemporary livestock production

“…In other words, it is possible that concerns about the well-being of agricultural animals are related to value systems and beliefs extending from experiences and interactions with companion and other animal species. Recent work by Short-McKendree et al (2014) suggests that this may indeed be the case. In a survey of 798 US households, concern for the well-being of farm animals was found to be highly correlated with ownership of a companion dog and (or) cat.…”

“…It is possible that those who own pets feel a greater sense of moral obligations to all animals, which sensitizes them to animal well-being issues. Further, while proponents of animal production may presume that concerns about industrialized farming are caused by the activities of animal rights proponents, the findings of Short-McKendree et al (2014) suggest that it may well be that those who are already interested in and concerned about animals actually seek out groups that appear to share their values relative to animals and are more likely to be receptive to messages about animal welfare. Consequently, these members of the public may tend to have greater interest in protecting food animals, which in turn may have implications for their purchasing and voting behavior relative to agricultural animals.…”

“…The bonds many people have with the animals with whom they routinely engage as companions may provide a fundamental basis for such concerns (Croney, 2010;Short-McKendree et al, 2014). However, a cursory review of the existing literature produces little evidence of attention to the subject of the human-animal bond relative to agricultural animals.…”

“…Nevertheless, given that discourse scholars have argued that the language used in the livestock and poultry production industries reflects oppressive relationships with animals that position them solely as instruments for human use (Stibbe 2001(Stibbe , 2012Milstein, 2007;Croney and Reynnells, 2008), the absence of the specific term "human-animal bond" in connection with these animals may subtly connote constraints on the relationships that heighten existing welfare concerns. Further to this point, some have observed differences in the discourse pertaining to animal care as a function of characterizing animals as either companions or livestock (Short-McKendree et al, 2014) and noted irreconcilable differences in perceived obligations to animals categorized as "family members" versus commodities (Croney, 2010). Although it must be acknowledged that companion animals, like livestock and poultry, experience myriad welfare problems, the mere classification of animals as "pets" versus "food" at times appears to result in food animals receiving comparatively less consideration for their behavioral and physical needs, despite mounting public interest in protecting their well-being as evidenced by the increased marketing of "welfare friendly" product labels and growing consumer willingness to pay for these (Te Velde et al, 2002;Short-McKendree et al, 2014).…”

“…Further to this point, some have observed differences in the discourse pertaining to animal care as a function of characterizing animals as either companions or livestock (Short-McKendree et al, 2014) and noted irreconcilable differences in perceived obligations to animals categorized as "family members" versus commodities (Croney, 2010). Although it must be acknowledged that companion animals, like livestock and poultry, experience myriad welfare problems, the mere classification of animals as "pets" versus "food" at times appears to result in food animals receiving comparatively less consideration for their behavioral and physical needs, despite mounting public interest in protecting their well-being as evidenced by the increased marketing of "welfare friendly" product labels and growing consumer willingness to pay for these (Te Velde et al, 2002;Short-McKendree et al, 2014).…”