For
the impacts that this project has on my perceptions of dogs, although I know dogs
are one of the species that have closest interactions with human beings, I have
found that dogs have been interacting us in so many unexpected ways and for
much longer time during the process of doing this project. They are the first
domesticated species throughout the history, indicating a long time close
relationship with human beings. They are special to human beings because they
are the only species that can understand human gestures and facial expressions.
They are the symbols of faithfulness and loyalty in religions, mythologies,
fairy tales, and other literatures, and these stories constantly form our views
of dogs and strengthen their positions as human companions in society. They
also give inspirations to artists: many artworks and films including dogs have
brought us laughter and deep thinking of important issues. Though the intense
controversy of so-called “vicious dogs” shows the dark side of how dogs’ images
are socially constructed by human beings, it is still an indication of close
relationship and interactions between human beings and dogs. By doing this
project, I have realized that dogs are indispensable companions in our lives.
They are friends, family members and partners. We need to cherish such precious
companionship, and we need to further promote their welfare and rights.
When
it comes to how this project impacts my overall thoughts about human-animal
interactions, I want to talk about speciesism. Though my project is about dogs
only, I have realized that the close relationship between human beings and dogs
result in a supremacy of dogs over other species of nonhuman animals. One of
the factors that made me choose this species is that there are many more
sources about dogs than about other species available online for research
purposes. Connecting with the idea of speciesism, although the abundant sources
suggest a longer and closer relationship between dogs and human beings, they
also suggest that human beings care about dogs and their welfare more than they
care about other species. For example, there are more discussions and programs
related to companion animal abuse than institutionalized violence to livestock
animals, and institutionalized violence to livestock animals is in reality
invisible to the public. It is also common for pet owners to place the
interests of their dogs over the welfare of other animals. For example, few dog
owners realize that their dogs may become predators of another animals’
habitats when they walk dogs outdoors.
As
for how this course influences my perceptions of our relationship with nonhuman
animals as a whole, it leads me to think about two important questions. The
first one is why dogs and cats are perceived as different from other species
and why pet dogs are perceived as different from stray dogs, which is the idea
of speciesism. I think this course really guides me to think about and
concentrate on the welfare and rights of the species that I don’t really have
close interactions with. It raises my awareness of animals and issues that are
generally invisible from the public.
The
other important question this course makes me to think about is how nonhuman
animals are different from human beings and why animal uses are justified if we
are not so different. Though it is also a type of speciesism, but this question
involves more moral and ethical considerations than the former one. Speaking
from many aspects, nonhuman animals are not different from humans. They have
emotions and feelings; they are also very intelligent—they have amazing
problem-solving skills, memories, and even languages for communication.
Interestingly, while there are so many similarities, it is hard to find many
differences between humans and nonhuman animals. I think it is hard to answer
whether nonhuman animals should be used for human benefits, and everyone can
have a different philosophy regarding animal use. Nevertheless, I think at
least this course has led me to think about animal uses more critically.
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