The Ethics of Canine Care

Download or read book The Ethics of Canine Care written by Craig Banks Merow and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2023-06-21 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The social status of dogs has changed dramatically in the past 75 years. Today, most dog owners and small animal veterinarians consider companion canines to be members of their families and communities. However, the attitudes of some dog owners concerning their responsibilities to their dogs--and many of the laws that regulate dog ownership and veterinary medical practice--largely reflect the human/canine relationship and ethical norms of an earlier era. This incongruity leads to unmet needs for companion canines and high levels of stress for many veterinary clinicians. This book presents arguments for human responsibilities to companion canines, a detailed analysis of what those responsibilities entail, and the professional ethical standards and laws needed to ensure that responsibilities are met. A new moral framework--the Custodial Property Framework--is created for the care and medical treatment of companion canines, and is grounded in a detailed analysis of the responsibilities of care generated by the relationship we have with our "best friends."