Final Self-Reflection

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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