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Sentience and animal welfare
Animal Behaviour 118 (2016) 1
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Animal Behaviour journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/anbehav
Book Review Sentience and animal welfare, Donald M. Broom. Wallingford, U.K.: CABI (2014). Pp. 200. £75 hardback, £35 paperback. Since the 1960s animal welfare science has risen to great prominence in a variety of contexts; however, progress is often hampered, in my opinion, by semantic arguments about defining terms such as welfare and sentience. These disputes can lead authors to propose certain groups of animals should be given welfare considerations and others not based upon definitions that are idiosyncratic. This book, written by a leading light in the field of animal welfare Professor Donald Broom, therefore, is invaluable in navigating the hotly debated world of animal ethics and welfare. Broom provides a concise and succinct text exploring many questions and ethical scenarios in this field specifically defining sentience and how it can be intrinsically linked to ethical decisions regarding not only animal but also human welfare. The exploration of key concepts, human attitudes to animals and the history of welfare science sets the scene for a more detailed discussion of the components of sentience: brain function and cognition, positive and negative emotions, awareness and consciousness, and finally motivational drivers and an animal's needs. When exploring cognitive ability, planning and problem solving, Broom provides examples from spiders to primates demonstrating cognitive abilities are observed throughout the animal kingdom. Evidence that an animal experiences suffering has been vital for decisions about whether it should be protected from negative welfare challenges and Broom reviews convincing evidence for pain-related responses from crustaceans, cephalopods and fish to mammals. All of this discussion demonstrates that ruling out certain animals based upon any arbitrary selection criteria is going to be difficult and that the precautionary principle where animals should be given the benefit of the doubt would be an intelligent means of decision making. These scientific
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.05.023 0003-3472
examples clearly set the scene for some of the ethical dilemmas Broom presents. Specifically, the questions are raised, at what stage of development should an individual be considered sentient and as such given welfare considerations? What about the treatment of those with dementia in old age or brain-damaged individuals? These are important problems, if somewhat uncomfortable to contemplate. Finally, Broom discusses contemporary issues including the sustainable use of animals, the welfare of wild animals and those that humans consider pests, and the positive and negative outcomes of genetic modification of animals which has compromised animal health in some cases. A crucial point is made in that it is the public, the consumer, who drives animal welfare and can demand that animals are kept in better conditions since they can influence legislation and retail companies' codes of practice for animal producers. This consumerdriven change has resulted in many positive outcomes for animals including more ethical housing for birds and pigs. Thus Broom proposes that educating the public is vital to improve the legalities of using animals and enforce better standards for ensuring animal health. This book is a must read for undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and anyone with a keen interest in animal welfare and ethics. It is written in a very clear and appealing style with excellent use of thought-provoking examples to stimulate one's intellect. Its accessibility would also make it attractive for veterinarians and any members of the public who wish to immerse themselves in animal welfare science. Lynne U. Sneddon University of Liverpool, The BioScience Building, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K. E-mail address: [email protected].
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Animal Behaviour journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/anbehav
Book Review Sentience and animal welfare, Donald M. Broom. Wallingford, U.K.: CABI (2014). Pp. 200. £75 hardback, £35 paperback. Since the 1960s animal welfare science has risen to great prominence in a variety of contexts; however, progress is often hampered, in my opinion, by semantic arguments about defining terms such as welfare and sentience. These disputes can lead authors to propose certain groups of animals should be given welfare considerations and others not based upon definitions that are idiosyncratic. This book, written by a leading light in the field of animal welfare Professor Donald Broom, therefore, is invaluable in navigating the hotly debated world of animal ethics and welfare. Broom provides a concise and succinct text exploring many questions and ethical scenarios in this field specifically defining sentience and how it can be intrinsically linked to ethical decisions regarding not only animal but also human welfare. The exploration of key concepts, human attitudes to animals and the history of welfare science sets the scene for a more detailed discussion of the components of sentience: brain function and cognition, positive and negative emotions, awareness and consciousness, and finally motivational drivers and an animal's needs. When exploring cognitive ability, planning and problem solving, Broom provides examples from spiders to primates demonstrating cognitive abilities are observed throughout the animal kingdom. Evidence that an animal experiences suffering has been vital for decisions about whether it should be protected from negative welfare challenges and Broom reviews convincing evidence for pain-related responses from crustaceans, cephalopods and fish to mammals. All of this discussion demonstrates that ruling out certain animals based upon any arbitrary selection criteria is going to be difficult and that the precautionary principle where animals should be given the benefit of the doubt would be an intelligent means of decision making. These scientific
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.05.023 0003-3472
examples clearly set the scene for some of the ethical dilemmas Broom presents. Specifically, the questions are raised, at what stage of development should an individual be considered sentient and as such given welfare considerations? What about the treatment of those with dementia in old age or brain-damaged individuals? These are important problems, if somewhat uncomfortable to contemplate. Finally, Broom discusses contemporary issues including the sustainable use of animals, the welfare of wild animals and those that humans consider pests, and the positive and negative outcomes of genetic modification of animals which has compromised animal health in some cases. A crucial point is made in that it is the public, the consumer, who drives animal welfare and can demand that animals are kept in better conditions since they can influence legislation and retail companies' codes of practice for animal producers. This consumerdriven change has resulted in many positive outcomes for animals including more ethical housing for birds and pigs. Thus Broom proposes that educating the public is vital to improve the legalities of using animals and enforce better standards for ensuring animal health. This book is a must read for undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and anyone with a keen interest in animal welfare and ethics. It is written in a very clear and appealing style with excellent use of thought-provoking examples to stimulate one's intellect. Its accessibility would also make it attractive for veterinarians and any members of the public who wish to immerse themselves in animal welfare science. Lynne U. Sneddon University of Liverpool, The BioScience Building, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K. E-mail address: [email protected].