30 POINT-OF-VIEW

Veterinary Times
The author believes that in some cases, working dogs are likely to be left tied up, whereas pet dogs have full use of the living quarters.

THIS is a continuation of a series of case study presentations regarding issues in veterinary ethics that could occasionally be encountered by private practitioners. It is hoped that this series of case studies will encourage participation and discussion among colleagues, and that readers will share some of their ethical dilemmas so that these may be presented and discussed in future articles. If you would like to share or discuss cases, questions, comments or critiques can be sent to fb@vetethics.com

FRANK BUSCH
PhD, MRCVS

kjhuob

provides ideas for getting to grips with farmers that have less-than-progressive beliefs, in the latest article in his ethics case study series
However, some rural farming areas are socially isolated and, therefore, excluded from the ideas and effects of any renewed social ethic. The same applies to many of the older generation of farmers, who may live in isolation. This is where, as a practitioner, you will find (more often than not) the most hardened characters and singular views. Compassion rarely features, as it presents an emotional dimension that is decidedly not in line with their predominantly conservative and patriarchal beliefs and social structure. Change is often unwelcome, and there can be considerable lamentation regarding the demise of some farming practices and traditions. Our professional ethic, which usually develops in line with the social consensus ethic, will often clash with the views held by our most isolated clientele, making it extremely difficult to implement changes for the benefit of all animals on the farm. Hills2 argues that any humananimal relationship is addressed from the perspective of the motivational bases of attitudes toward animals. As has been showcased throughout this veterinary ethics series, responses to animals very much depend on instrumental self interest, empathy and/or identification, or peoples beliefs and values about the nature and status of animals. Hills reports that some farmers exhibit a heightened instrumentality viewpoint and reduced empathy, and clearly support and act in line with the dominant status of humans theory3. This is in contrast to the urban public view, which evidences moderate levels of instrumentality and empathy, and a neutral value position, with some individuals exhibiting considerable ambivalence (agreeing with both equality and dominance)4.

Case study: rural farming practices

After a long career in mixed animal practice, you have observed varying practices concerning on-farm euthanasia of unwanted dogs and cats, including working dogs that are killed when they can no longer work or when they seem to be no longer profitable. From the farmer who shoots every stray dog that gets on to farm land, to the stockman who regularly drowns kitten litters, you have been witness to many differing disposal techniques. Many of these procedures appear less than humane. On what should the decision to keep or kill the animal be based? Is it a matter of species, economics or the type of service that the animal provides? How can you influence such decisions, and how can you help improve the overall situation? This case study is not only about the ethics of killing healthy animals (which we have already referred to1) and the logistics of euthanasia, but also that of client attitudes and ingrained customs. The aim of this case study is not to prejudice against rural farming communities, but to showcase the extreme end of the farming scale, with its complexities and resulting challenges. It goes without saying that plenty of rural farming communities can rightly pride themselves on their excellent stockmanship and progressive farming methods and attitudes.

Animals as tools
It is not surprising that farmers with such mindsets have no qualms, for example, about shooting any dog that crosses their property boundary (occasionally out of a matter of principle, rather than to pre-empt the effects of a potential livestock worrier), poisoning competitors (such as foxes), drowning unwanted puppies and kittens, and disposing of an old working dog as soon as it can no longer be worked. To such an individual, animals are tools to be used as one sees fit. As such, in the case of farm dogs, these animals are frequently kept on chains5 (functioning as a form of intruder alarm system), bred for money (through the sale of puppies) or locked away until further use (hunting, herding, retrieving, baiting etc). Because such animals are considered to have mere instrumental value and can be easily replaced, they have to survive on the bare minimum and usually receive no prophylactic (vaccination or worming) or therapeutic treatment, as destruction of the animals or the withholding of treatment is

either more convenient or less obsolete, unlawful (explain and expensive 6. The concepts of leave a copy of the relevant owner responsibility, as set out in legislation with the owner) and legislation7, and the framework not in line with the social ethic. of the five freedoms8, are fre- A hint that several authorities quently perceived as unwelcome could press for prosecution may infringements into ones private help your endeavours. If you sphere. More valuable animals feel that incompetence on the on the farm (such as livestock farmers part may be the reason a tradable asset) will fare bet- for his inertia, you could suggest, ter, although they also have to or even arrange for the farmer frequently contend with the bare to see other farming set-ups that minimum of care. However, you know are progressive or as such animals are part of the exhibit best practice12. farmers assets, they may be Regarding the unwarranted presented for treatment, usually killing of kittens, you may sugonce all other avenues have been gest that your client cages the explored. Animals that present animals and takes them to your less individual value sheep, practice, or you could instruct pigs or poultry will again fare one of the feline rescue organiworse9. Frequently, these own- sations to trap and, in time, ers are not aware of their anach- rehome these animals. ronistic behavYou may want iour; after all, they Compassion rarely to reiterate the difmerely follow in ference between features, as it the footsteps of euthanasia and presents an emotional k i l l i n g , u n d e rlocal traditions. dimension that It is clear from scoring the social is decidedly not the above descripcommitment to tion that such a in line with their the former, and person will not be endeavouring to predominantly easily receptive to get the clients to conservative and mere suggestions recollect their or warnings from, patriarchal beliefs own aversion to or dealings with, and social structure. unnecessary sufChange is often any authority. fering13. Only the Apart from prevention of sufunwelcome being a major fering in the name challenge and a time-consum- of animal welfare provides a good ing process, such cases can be a reason for killing14. Prescribing to significant burden and task for the such an ethic obligates to finding veterinary surgeon willing to take alternatives to killing. on all issues on the farm if the farmers beliefs clash with his or Sympathising vets her professional and/or personal However, some veterinarians ethics10. Unless you can use your also view animals as having mere aesculapian authority11 to insist instrumental value. For such colon changes being implemented, leagues, the killing of a healthy you will find it hard if not animal (an animal that is not impossible to deal with such a suffering) for reasons relating to character. Unnecessary pain and client economics is less of an suffering will continue unless you, issue than for a colleague whose as the veterinarian, will be able primary obligation is to the anito effect change in the farmers mal (rather than the owner), and mindset and his or her approach who considers his or her primary to animals. Education is called for task to restore an animal to on the part of the veterinarian to health or to preserve life15. overcome ignorance, ingrained For veterinarians who do (cultural) attitudes, customs, not, in their personal ethics, see habits and, often, a serious clash animal life as morally requiring of values. This would include a preservation, the issue is clear: demonstration that certain local animals may be killed at the traditions or customs are now owners request. However,

these practitioners are as morally culpable as the client when they save the owner money by taking the animals life. I have already highlighted that the answer to the killing of healthy animals is not to be found in our social consensus ethic, which, as Rollin points out, is essentially silent on any matter of right to life for creatures other than humans16. As Rollin notes, such decisions are left to a veterinarians personal ethics, his or her own view of right and wrong, good and bad, justice and injustice, as these apply to animals. Professional veterinary bodies like the Ethics and Welfare Group (EWG)17 and also the RCVS18 continue to establish ethical principles and guidelines regarding these matters as part of our professional ethics. Maybe because of the guidance-only approach, veterinarians (as well as animal protection societies) remain split evenly on convenience euthanasia of healthy companion animals19,20. Connected to this is the unresolved dichotomy regarding the worth of an animal, as attached to it by the owner, which consequently dictates its treatment or demise. But apart from owner-directed value assignments regarding the worth of an animal, we also have the society-directed value assignment, according to societys current ethical stance and the general classifications of livestock (the terminology livestock already indicates that other treatment characteristics will apply) and non-livestock. For the latter, a sub-dichotomy exists, staying with the farm-setup (as described above), where working dogs (tools) are exclusively kept outside and receive inferior treatment to any pet dogs, which usually have access to living quarters21.

Contradictions
How much these perceptions have been internalised is best illustrated by a conversation I had with a friend.
continued on page 32

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