World Poverty, Animal Minds and the Ethics of Veterinary Expenditure

Authors: Hadley, John; O'Sullivan, Siobhan

Source: Environmental Values, Volume 18, Number 3, August 2009 , pp. 361-378(18)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $26.02 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

In this paper we make an argument for limiting veterinary expenditure on companion animals. The argument combines two principles: the obligation to give and the self-consciousness requirement. In line with the former, we ought to give money to organisations helping to alleviate preventable suffering and death in developing countries; the latter states that it is only intrinsically wrong to painlessly kill an individual that is self-conscious. Combined, the two principles inform an argument along the following lines: rather than spending inordinate amounts of money on veterinary care when a companion animal is sick or injured, it is better to give the money to an aid organisation and painlessly kill the animal.

Keywords: pet keeping; giving to charity; utilitarianism; Singer; Shallow Pond

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3197/096327109X12474739376578

Publication date: 2009-08-01