Hierarchy, privilege, and companion animals
Dec 9th
This question came into our COMMUNITY mailing list this morning, and we have moved it to the blog to open it up for discussion. Please post your comments and thoughts!
Hi there:
I’m Annie. I’m not sure how many people are registered to this list, since I think the website just went up. I met Miranda through Vegan Outreach and did some leafletting with her at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. I have so many questions about animal rights, since I’m pretty new to this. I hope it’s okay to use this email community for that. I thought it would be a great place for me to ask questions relating to AR and outreach (in particular, dealing with people’s questions). As it sounds like the creators of this website are well aware of, there are so many different viewpoints within this “one” movement, if you can even call it that (as with any social justice movement), and it gets pretty confusing sometimes. I know what I feel in my heart, but
there are a lot of ‘gray’ areas when it comes to reality and rationality. I suppose I’m always thinking about how I can justify my beliefs or actions because I assume people will always question them (and attack them, unfortunately) . . . it’s like a pre-emptive defense of my point of view.
So here are my questions:
1. I do believe very strongly in the idea that the relationship between humans and other-than-human animals is based on hierarchy, power differentials and oppression. I always ask myself, “How is it possible that we can treat animals in such unfathomably horrific ways?” and I often the only answer I can find is “because we can, because we can get away with it, and as history has shown, if we CAN exploit something, we WILL, for the most part.” Exploitation and abuse of power are a part of human history, but so are compassion and ethical evolution. So anyways, the point is that I get that – the oppression idea – and believe in full animal liberation. I’ve heard the argument that it is ‘unnatural’ for animals to be fully liberated
from their human ‘superiors,’ and that like most other species, we too have always ‘used’ other species for our own needs. The first thing I think of is that humanity is in no way bound to the so-called ‘laws of
nature,’ or by our ancestral beginnings. We have also exploited and enslaved each other for thousands of years, and that is not ethically accepted. And IF we have the means to live compassionate, cruelty free lives, why wouldn’t we? Does anyone else have any input on this? I suppose I should read the book (“The Dreaded Comparison”). But I’m just curious what anyone has found in conversations about these issues with other activists and non-vegans alike.
2. So what about pets? I feel guilty about having my cat and dog (don’t worry, I know, I am their guardian not their owner, and if anyone owns anyone, they own me, as I’m excessively devoted to them). Anyways, I adopted my cat from a dumpster and my dog from a Navajo reservation in Arizona where the people (oppressed) do not have enough resources for themselves let alone the many stray, starving cats and dogs there). My dog has so many health problems, probably from the poor nutrition as a puppy and the genetic problems (there’s a lot of uranium and radiation there from the mining that has totally destroyed the environment and the ability of the Navajo people who remain out in the desert to sustain themselves), that sometimes I think he very likely would’ve died if he’d been left out there. I also am thinking about adopting another dog from the shelter, because if there’s anything that would make my dog happy, it would be to live with one of his own kind (I think, I guess I shouldn’t assume that, but it’s pretty obvious). I would NEVER ‘buy’ a dog from a breeder or puppy mill. I will always support spaying and neutering and adoption though, I think. We ‘enslaved’ and domesticated these animals, we can’t exactly just leave them to die in shelters or on the street (right?).
So I guess I’ve answered that question, but it still really confuses me and weighs on my conscience. I have complete control over them. My dog can’t do anything (like go out, or eat) unless I help him with it. I do the best I can to give him a great life and take him out all the time, but I still feel bad.
The other thing about pets, is, of course, the FOOD! At the animal rights conference in DC, there was a discussion about our ‘animal companions,’ and some people were saying that we animal rights people shouldn’t bare the burden of adopting all of society’s ‘throw-away’ animals because they eat meat. He was saying ‘why would you ever invite a carnivore or omnivore into your house and feed them meat?” Yeah, obviously, with people . . . I’m not gonna have family over and cook them up a ham, but when it comes to my pets (especially my cat), I just don’t know. They’re already in my life since long before I became vegan. I’ve heard that dogs can do pretty well on vegan diets, but I’ve heard that cats can get really sick without any meat. Does anyone have any input about that.
I’m sorry if this isn’t the intention of this email list. I just thought it would be cool to discuss some of the most ‘controversial’ issues and arguments that come up inside and outside of this movement.
I have SO much to learn.
Annie
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about 3 years ago
Both American history and world history are fraught with instances of oppression becoming the natural order; indeed, oppression and hierarchy seem to be the foundations of most of what we experience in the world today. However, that in no way makes it right or acceptable. I always go back to the simple notion that animals are currently being used without their consent, and use without consent is oppression. So many systems exist to create ”others” who can be marginalized, animals one of them — and though it’s a daunting task to devote your life to combating these systems, it’s something I can’t and don’t want to compromise on. You hit the nail on the head: if we can live our lives free from oppression, why wouldn’t we?
As for companion animals, I think of dogs and cats as Frankenstein’s monsters: we’ve manipulated their genes and their bodies to suit our needs, and now we have to deal with the mess. Dogs, in particular, are virtually helpless when left in a ”wild” situation, so what is an animal advocate to do? Having volunteered at my local Humane Society for nearly seven years, I could only wish that more animals were given homes with people like you: people who cared for them, ensured their health and well-being (much like human children, whose freedoms are restricted to the degree necessary to keep them safe), and worked to end the practices of breeding through other anti-oppression activism. As long as they’re here, they need somewhere to go.
I’ve met a number of vegan companion animals, including my two cats. For some, it works fine, for others, it just doesn’t click with their chemistry. The two with whom I share my house fall into the latter category: despite meticulous care with cooking, preparing, and supplementing their vegan meals, they just didn’t thrive on it. Ophelia lost several pounds over about six months, their teeth got quite bad, and their fur became very oily. I’ve heard compelling arguments for vegan cats and dogs and have met some for whom an animal-free diet seemed to be working fine. I think it goes back to the fact that the world is an imperfect place, and we’ve basically created a species of animal for whom natural life is impossible — and we are obligated to do right by them until that situation changes.
about 3 years ago
Hiya Annie, nice to ‘meet’ you on the list! You seem like a very thoughtful and considerate person, veganism suits you. =)
I concur with Jenna above – these animals are indeed our responsibility. They are completely dependent on us. They are, in essence, refugees….and we must care for them as such. Of course, this means spay and neuter, and never, ever buying an animal or supporting those who do so.
As for ‘vegan pets’, i think this phrase might confuse what veganism is about. As this website so brilliantly concludes, veganism is a perspective, outlook or even philosophy, where we take steps to eliminate animal exploitation wherever possible.
A vegan dog or cat seems like misnomer…it’d be like a feminist dog, or a racist cat. (Imagine that!!
So i don’t really believe that pets can be ‘vegan’ to begin with!!
That said, i’m fairly confident that vegan food can be given to dogs with little concern for ill-health. I’ve yet to hear a negative story (though of course that doesn’t mean it’s not possible!)
With cats, it’s a whole other story. They are obligate carnivores, and the vegan catfood that is available is very, very risky to use. I don’t believe it’s fair to risk their lives to satisfy our own moral beliefs. (This is a far cry from feeding human omnivore house guests, who WILL be fine with a vegan meal.)
With feeding cats vegan food, we’re forcing them to comply with our own beliefs, and at what cost?? From my own understanding, when a cat becomes ill on a vegan diet, if it’s from crystals, they have about 24hrs from the onset of symptoms to death. That is a *tremendous* risk to take, especially if you’re not with your cat 24/7, or if they hide illness well.
Check out this radio program for stories from two people who had experienced this repeatedly in their desperate attempt to avoid buying flesh for their cats, yet ended up with dead animals in their hands:
http://www.animalvoices.ca/shows/vegan_pets
The owner of the Evolution pet food company is also on the interview, and represents himself and his company very poorly…inspiring little confidence in the notion that we can feed cats vegan food. (This is just one company of course.)
This is a very sensitive issue, and as vegans, i don’t believe there is really a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. This is as gray as it gets. No matter what you do, it’s all ‘wrong’. We shouldn’t be keeping cats. We shouldn’t be feeding them other animals. We shouldn’t be forcing them to be vegan. Etc..
My best advice is that if you’re vegan, and unwilling to feed a cat flesh, please find a herbivorous animal refugee to care for instead…dogs, rabbits, etc..
My two cents, anyway… This is an awful subject, and it’s very easy to get very defensive or angry over..i’ve seen too many vegans fight over this subject, and at this point in the time of our movement, it’s not a critical-enough topic to divide us, imo.
*phew!* Hope that’s helpful!!
- Dave
about 3 years ago
Hi there. Very thoughtful questions, which have already been beautifully addressed. I just wanted to add the suggestion to check out Yi-Fu Tuan’s book “Dominance and Affection” for another look at the ideas of “pets” and “pet keeping” (I put these terms in quotes since they are used in the book, and at the same time realize we need to be mindful of the baggage that comes with the replacement terms like guardian that are used in their place.)
It is not an easy read in that it requires constant active thinking, but it’s relatively short. Well worth the effort and very thought provoking.
Enjoying the blog and site very much. Many thanks.
Deb
about 3 years ago
Hi Anne,
You should not feel guilty for having cats and dogs- your non-human family should be fed whatever keeps them healthy. Guardianship is a noble and rewarding relationship for both parties. The very fact that you are even concerned about having “complete control” over them makes it obvious you are a great mom and a better guardian than most of America.
In my opinion, the best way to truly help domesticated cats and dogs is to keep them from even getting into shelters or bad homes. So population control seems to be a good answer. However, I am currently committed to some cats that I got before coming to this realization, so for the present time, I will just be focused on giving them the best quality of life possible. When the day comes that they are no longer in my life, I can then turn my focus to helping their species.
That’s my two cents.
about 3 years ago
Hello all! I’m glad the discussion is so lively.
I currently live with a cat, and I feel the same guilt described by Annie. When I leave the apartment, I feel I need to apologize to her; I can only imagine she gets bored (and, even if she was completely happy, it’s still a matter of my control over her: she doesn’t have a choice). I feel terrible when we take her in the “pet taxi” (cage) to visit our parents for the weekend. She’s spayed, and I don’t even know what to think about that: Is the involuntary steralization of an individual OK if it’s done as an effort to prevent future exploitation (more individuals born dependent on humans)? I feel that these are serious issues–not to be ignored–but I don’t know if I’m comfortable with saying “Pet ownership is always wrong,” either: If we hadn’t adopted this individual cat, she would probably be dead.
In any case, I’d suggest the following readings from The Vegan Ideal. These posts, along with the documentary ‘Earthlings’ and the book ‘The Dreaded Comparison’ (Marjorie Spiegel), were what started my questioning of “pet ownership”:
http://theveganideal.blogspot.com/2008/06/pets-exploitation-and-affection.html
http://theveganideal.blogspot.com/2008/07/pet-ownership-and-police-violence.html
In a comment on the second post, Noah makes a short but compelling (in my opinion) argument for sanctuaries as a solution to this problem of, “We created them; we are now obligated to care for them (even though it’s exploitative).” Does anyone know more about these sanctuaries or where I could read more?
For now, I try to show respect toward the cat I live with. I can tell, Annie, that you also try to respect the cat and dog you live with; I admire you for being so dedicated to your ideals. It’s great to have you on board!
It’s great to be a part of the discussion!
Everybody’s great!
Steven
about 3 years ago
Thanks, Steven — those two posts from The Vegan Ideal just kind of turned my world on its head.
I’m looking over at the two cats who share a home with me and just now recognizing how my relationship with them perpetuates exploitation. This may seem like a radical notion, but both Dani and Noah’s arguments against pet ownership are extremely compelling and well-reasoned. We all have so much learning to do and so far to go…
In that spirit, I am wondering what is the solution for humans simultaneously committed to ending exploitation but also guardian to companion animals? Should we turn the cats loose in the backyard in the name of animal freedom? Should people looking to save a racing greyhound from euthanasia instead adopt ten and start a sanctuary?
I ask these questions in all seriousness. It is essential to do right by the animals who share the planet with us, and there’s no better time to start than right now. I think it’s interesting that so much time and energy has been devoted to the fight over feeding pets vegan food, when perhaps the fight should really be over having pets at all.
jenna
about 3 years ago
I think the question of guardianship vs independence is one that we face with regard to human children as well. When does a parent let go of a child? I find it problematic that so many “children” are living in their parents’ basements just surfing the internet until they’re 30. There was a great Zen master once who, having been diagnosed with terminal cancer, said that sometimes we have to die in order for our students to grow, and he acted quite happy about his own passing. He also would promote them to new responsibilities saying that they must do it even though they are not yet ready.
I often feel I am not up to a task, but I find encouragement in these words. There are things we will never quite be ready for before doing them. Animal liberation is one of those things.
With regard to guardianship, I think we must ask ourselves: is there a time when animals must truly depend on us, as human child depends on a human family? Are we preparing them for their own liberation in serving as their guardians? Should the answer be a denial of guardianship, I expect there are exceptions, as with Genie, the girl who never fully learned to speak: still under guardianship to this day, and she’s an “adult” by law… though, in her case, this guardianship has been a sad story of perpetual abuse. It’s just one case… I wonder what it could signify. I know we strive to live in solidarity with other species… so what word would be fitting to describe our relationship with them instead of guardian? Co-inhabitant? Friend? It makes me think: Dog! Man’s best friend! Or is that a coincidence… I have some limited knowledge about dogs having evolved from wolves who adapted to living off of human communities by their own choosing.
about 3 years ago
this is a really interesting discussion that i had never before considered. i think aiko puts it very well. yes, these companion animals do depend on us, but we develop symbiotic relationships with them. it’s obvious to me in most cases that when an animal is rescued, he or she is grateful and affectionate and loves the person who adopted him or her. i can understand the argument of potentially furthering exploitation by caring for companion animals, but i honestly think that by not welcoming these animals, who would otherwise die, into our homes, some of us would feel even more guilt and depression for not “doing” anything about the situation, and these rescued animals might not get to live life at all. one could of course argue then that perhaps death is better than living in captivity, but because cats, dogs, and the like have been domesticated and bred to human specifications already, i don’t think this is the case for them. in my opinion, it requires much less confrontation to adopt a refugee animal than to leaflet, and this makes it a great starting point from which people can begin to understand veganism.
i think it’s perfectly ok if not admirable for someone to adopt such an animal. not doing so might do more harm than good on both sides of the equation. if you have companion animals, don’t feel guilty. just do your best to give them the healthiest, happiest life possible under the present circumstances.
s
about 3 years ago
I agree with Sarah (and others) that current “owners” of pets shouldn’t feel guilty about what they’ve done or continue to do by caring for those individuals. Many of these “owners” (myself included), especially if they’re vegan activists (!), seem to have only the best intentions, and most of them have considered these issues and therefore are at least sensitive to them. When I write about wanting to end “pet ownership,” I am writing about long-term goals for the movement–future plans for action (“where to go from here”); I don’t mean to condemn anyone for what they’ve already done.
And Sarah brings up a point that I’ve also struggled with lately: Real individuals are caught up in these oppressive systems. In the long-term, yes, I want the exploitative practice of “pet ownership” to end completely; I don’t want any other animals to be bred to be dependent on us. But if my reaction to that future goal is simply just to boycott shelters and ignore the individual animals currently held in them, then I feel I am turning my back on those individuals (whose fate could be death).
On a side note (or maybe this is just an illustration of the same issue)–I used to enjoy walking dogs at the local shelter. But now, since I’ve grown more sensitive to the power relationships, I rarely do it, because it hurts too much–because I don’t want my leash to hold them back–because I don’t want to put them back in a cage at the end. Yet I have to acknowledge that they’d probably rather be walked on a leash than not be walked at all. I find it to be a very difficult issue.
I’d end by noting that, for those of us currently living with cats and dogs, I think there are more and less respectful ways to do it. A sanctuary would provide a most respectful way to live with them, but notice: Even then, they are not truly free. They will still be fenced in (no matter how big the yard). Because of this, for these human-dependent animals, I see it as a spectrum of “more free” to “less free.”
Ways to emphasize MORE freedom: Try to avoid chains, leashes, and cages as much as possible/practical. Try to keep as large an area as possible for free roaming and exploring–that is, I think it’s better to keep a dog in a very large yard (with access to indoor shelter, too) than in a small apartment. Try to never treat a cat or dog like a doll for you to dress up or exploit for their cuteness or affection: If they want their own space, you can respect that. Do your best to prevent the separation of family structures–that is, I feel it’s a serious wrong to take a puppy away from their mother. (I used to think it was OK for people to post an advert saying “free kittens,” because “At least they’re not trying to exploit the cats’ lives for money!” But the family structure is still being torn apart in most of these cases, and I see that as a seriously oppressive act.)
I’m sure other people have more suggestions, and I’d welcome anyone to share. I know a lot of us are in this same boat. By following these guidelines, I think current-”pet-owners” can provide an environment for a cat/dog that is similar to the ideal–sanctuaries. I also think it’s a great idea for concerned activists to support the development of sanctuaries and advocacy work that focuses on educating people about pets through an anti-oppression perspective.
Toward a vegan world,
Steven
about 3 years ago
A tip for cat guardians: My kitties obviously want to be outside (weather permitting), but letting them roam freely in the neighborhood is basically a death sentence. However, we’ve found a compromise. We’ve installed a netting on top of our back yard fence. It keeps our cats in the yard, while keeping other cats out (no fights). We’ve got a cat door, so they can come and go, but we know they’re safe. It makes me feel much better about our relationship, and it obviously makes them happy.
about 3 years ago
Since I’ve gotten old enough to adopt pets of my own, I have always taken in elderly cats, usually with some sort of special need. It is the same way I understand the “spectrum” Steven mentions, in a sense – am I doing more harm by adopting kittens, who will have no trouble finding a new home, or am I doing less harm when I bring in someone who really needs my patience and comfort with medications, etc.?
I do not think, in this case, I misunderstand my privilege. I know that I have money to pay for vet bills, that I can and will rearrange my life around a cat who needs extra time, a special schedule. I also know how much I will grieve, painfully, when my cat passes on. I will enjoy their company, make as many adjustments as possible to make their lives as comfortable as possible, and we will share their remaining time and make it some of the best either of us has known. I don’t need special praise for any of this. My reward is my relationship with the felines with whom I have the great pleasure of sharing my home. I believe I do my best to respect them, their needs, and consciously work to not prioritize my needs over theirs.
Do I think or know my money could save more birds than cats, for example? Could I have saved ten chickens, sent money to a sanctuary to pay for their food, for the same price? This kind of logic is damaging because while the answer may be “yes,” my adopted cats would die alone in shelters while ten chickens lived a bit longer. Why play oppression against oppression in this way? Why berate ourselves with guilt when we do the best we can? An ideal is great unless living up to it drives you to madness. Isn’t this the exact thing we’re trying to end? Aren’t we done making these comparisons about which oppression is worse? All of it needs to end.
And so, the ideal, for me, is to end all forms of oppression. I believe that when non-vegans spend time with animals, they can begin to understand the personalities and rights of animals as our equals. This can happen on a spectrum, where people first meet a very social cat, then a chicken, then a pig. It doesn’t take long to understand that all animals – companion, farm, and otherwise – are our friends, deserving of our love and respect. While I agree that a world without pets would certainly be a less oppressive world, I also don’t see a clear path to eradicating that specific oppressive behavior, and for now, I am unwilling to believe adopting a few pets, in hopes of giving them better lives, is an ignoble motivation or behavior.
about 3 years ago
I believe species privilege is more of a factor than class privilege. In most cases, we as humans have and exercise the power to determine every aspect of the lives of the non-human animals we keep as pets: we spay/neuter them, we keep them on leashes or behind fences, we determine when to have them euthanized.
There do seem to be some non-oppressive cat-human relationships, namely where the cat ‘adopts’ the human and is able to freely come and go. I haven’t ever seen a dog-human relationship that parallels this situation.
In many cases, however, it seems that there is a master-slave relationship with cats and dogs. From a recent post on The Vegan Ideal ( http://theveganideal.blogspot.com/2008/12/abduction-and-pets.html ):
—
Rescues and shelters are more likely to use the term “adoption,” but pets obtained from these sources are also abductees forces to live as dependents in human households.
—
So I’m wondering: Are terms like ‘companion animal’ and ‘guardian’ euphemisms that mask the true nature of the relationship? With an oppressive arrangement, doesn’t it make sense to say we are the owners of our pets?
This is not to say that those of us who keep pets have bad intentions or treat the non-human animals with anything but kindness and love or that the non-humans are necessarily unhappy with their lives. However, I don’t think our good intentions enter into the calculation as to whether or not this is an oppressive relationship.
about 3 years ago
I think it can be fair to say that this IS an oppressive relationship of sorts, but I’m already very weary of the hardline The Vegan Ideal has been taking on this lately, namely as it sounds totalitarian when many people are on paths to goodness that don’t need dogmatic roadblocks thrown in the way. An ideal is one thing, but as I said before, it doesn’t do any good if we drive ourselves mad trying to live up to it. We do the best we can.
I may oppress my cat because he is neutered and lives in a closed space, but the alternative is that he dies alone in a shelter, recovering from wounds he got living in the streets. I have a friend who has a pet bird, who would have otherwise been wild but fell from his nest and was not rescued by his bird mother. Is she oppressing her bird by saving his life? This logic is unhelpful and disrespectful of how we best navigate situations we all encounter.
I like this recent post from the Animal Writings blog. It speaks to how having a pet can be a source of healing for many, and I believe only when we spend time with and commune with animals do we remember our responsibility to advocate for them.
http://www.animalwritings.com/2008/12/nine-years-ago-today-cat-came-over.asp