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====== The Ethics of Pet Ownership - A Case Study ======

===== Introduction =====

{{ :spanish_mastin_maui.jpeg?200|}}Please be informed that the forthcoming material describes images of violence, which might be distressing for some individuals. However, no photographs of violence or graphical imagery has been used in this post. 
An Expression of Affection and Trust

The other day we received an email, where we have been asked for advice regarding an ethical dilemma. The email started with a confession, where the owner almost proudly stated that her dog is a prolific hunter. Although, the lady generally appeared happy with her dog’s behaviour, the situation seemed to have changed recently. Her dog seemed to have gone beyond what has been deemed acceptable to her. She explained that she finds it normal that her dog does hunt squirrels, rabbits, small deer or of course birds. She also explicitly highlighted the fact that in any case it would be cruel to control or supervise her dog.
However, the situation did change the very moment her dog brought a cat into the house, as an expression of affection and trust. The dog owner decided to put the cat, who was still alive, into a cardboard box. She felt that this would be a good way to see how things would work out over night. This was the moment when she realised that the dog had already eaten one of the cat’s legs. Immediately, the lady tried to free the cat from the dog’s fangs. However, the moment she did so, the cat went stiff and died.

===== The Dilemma =====

And now we come to the question we have been asked. What first aid measures would we recommend, for future reference, that can be used when this kind of scenario repeats itself? The dog owner also stated in this context that it is not feasible for her to consult a veterinary surgeon for every single critter, that is being caught or injured by her dog. She also wrote that most of the caught animals are mostly not much damaged anyway, and can usually be released straight away.
Specifically, the question has been raised what can be done when an injured animal, for example a cat who lost a leg, is being caught by her dog? In this context the lady reassured us repeatedly that it is very distressing for her to watch this kind of trauma. She finds it also very difficult to handle an injured cat, the way she had to.

===== The Ethics of Responsible Pet Ownership =====

Most animal, and specifically cat lovers, will most certainly be shocked. They are likely to be very much outraged about the horrendous and unnecessary ordeal the poor kitten went through. It seems pretty obvious to most people that this problem is easily and completely avoidable. The dog owner should have done her duty, and just needed to control her dog responsibly. Also, most people would agree that it is not cruel to keep a dog under supervision or even temporary in a safe confined indoor or outdoor area, when close supervision cannot be provided.

It is usually easy to find and provide sufficient enrichment for the dog to ease those situations for the dog concerned. Commonly the advice is being given that it seems crucial to spent enough quality time with a dog. Supervision is one of the basic responsibilities of a dog owner or guardian, which seems to be another consensus amongst many people.

Are you shocked and outraged about was happened to the cat? We definitely would be, if this story would be true, and not being invented. Hang on, am I saying now that this story is fake and not true at all? Well, we are very sorry for the confusion we have now caused. However, one word of advice, the reader should not become too relieved as of yet. To be truly honest with you right now, sadly, this story is true, mostly at least. Maybe we have mixed up the main actors of this story, just a little bit. However, from an ethical and moral viewpoint, it does not makes the slightest difference that we did…

===== The Real Story =====

To make it a completely true event, just re-shuffle the main actors of the story. The human person remains the guardian. Now replace the non-human actors such as the dog with a cat, and the cat with a bird. And in a final step, to make it truly perfect, just multiply this event generously by several millions of birds, mammals and reptiles, which are being injured or killed by cats, as it is happens continuously day by day, week by week, and year by year. If you have done that, then this story is perfectly true, and is not even exceptional.

This story is so common place, and the described attitude is very much ingrained in the minds of many people. In this context, and only to illustrate that kind of thinking, we have been offered standing orders for donations by owners of roaming domestic pet cats in exchange with regular and preferential 24/7 access to our rescue services for the very likely case that their cat is going to catch another victim, which we then could urgently take care of…

Does this change of scenario makes a difference now to what you think and feel? Astonishingly, for a large number of people it seems so, although most people will still going to agree that unnecessary violence and suffering should be avoided. Objectively, based on simple shared basic ethical and moral values, there is no difference whatsoever. Subjectively, for some people at least, there is a considerable difference in opinion, specifically when the person in question is the owner or the guardian of a freely roaming unsupervised domestic cat. So why is that, you might asked?

===== Cognitive Dissonance =====

The main reason is called cognitive dissonance, according to the experts. Cognitive dissonance is a psychological theory proposed by Leon Festinger in 1957. It refers to the mental discomfort or tension that a person experiences when they hold two or more contradictory beliefs, values or attitudes simultaneously. This discomfort motivates individuals to reduce the inconsistency, often through changing one of the conflicting beliefs, justifying the behaviour or trivialising the importance of the conflict. Cognitive dissonance plays a crucial role in decision-making, attitude change and how people justify their actions to themselves.

The theory of cognitive dissonance can help to explain why some cat owners justify their pets killing birds or other wildlife. Many cat owners usually feel a strong affection for their pets and care about animal welfare, but at the same time, they may recognise that their cats’ hunting behaviour harms wildlife, especially birds. This creates a contradiction: they love and care for their cats, but they may feel uneasy about the negative impact on the environment and animal life.

===== The Arguments =====

To resolve this dissonance, cat owners might justify their pets’ behaviour in several ways. They might try to minimise the impact. They might downplay the severity of the issue, convincing themselves that “cats are natural hunters,” so it is ‘natural’ and just part of their instinct. This contradicts the fact that cats are domestic animals and not part of wildlife or the natural ecosystem.

Cat owners may also argue that it is in the cat’s nature, and thus it’s not something they can or should control. Some might shift blame onto the birds or wildlife, suggesting that the species being hunted are already vulnerable or that it’s ‘just the way of nature’. Other cat owners might emphasise the companionship and emotional benefits their pets provide, arguing that the joy their cats bring them outweighs the harm caused by hunting.

Or, in other cases, owners might believe that they are doing their best by keeping their cats indoors most of the time but still justify the occasional outdoor excursions, believing that the birds are still “fair game” or that the damage is minimal, although the latter is being scientifically proven beyond doubt to be completely wrong.

These rationalisations help the individual reduce the tension between their love for their cat and their awareness of the harm caused by its hunting. In essence, the justification allows the person to maintain a sense of coherence in their beliefs and actions, avoiding the emotional discomfort that would arise from acknowledging the full scope of the conflict.

===== Pain Relief =====

Regardless of any cognitive dissonance or difference in ethical views, here are the facts, which must not be ignored. Birds, just like humans, cows, pigs, dogs, bats, reptiles, frogs or cats and many more animals, only to mention a few families of the animal kingdom, are sentient beings. This means that these animals do feel pain, anxiety and happiness, amongst other emotions. This also means that a bird being caught and injured by a predator, such as a dog or cat, will be in shock, distressed and in pain. Subsequently, it seems just logical that these animals are likely to be in need of pain relief, after being rescued.

===== Handling =====

Handling a wild traumatised animal is likely to make things worse, and can even be fatal. Having said that, there is obviously no other choice, when the victim should have a chance of survival. However, the least one should definitely do is to keep handling at a minimum. The bird needs to be kept in a quit, safely padded and well ventilated, but otherwise covered cardboard box and brought immediately to an experienced wildlife rescue, rehabber or veterinary surgeon.

===== Antibiotics =====

Animals caught by cats or dogs, even without visible injuries, need to be assessed by experts and should never be released straight away. The saliva of cats and dogs contains Pasteurella bacteria, which are well known to cause a fatal infection within 48 to 72 hours in particular in birds, which is caused by their high metabolism. The tiniest scratch, puncture wound or break in the skin contaminated with the saliva will cause a severe systemic infection and a slow agonising death, unless appropriate antibiotics are being administered in a timely manner, meaning within a few hours after the incident.

===== Hidden Injuries =====

Injuries are often difficult to detect by a lay person, including wing or leg fractures. Internal injuries are most often not visible at all. Usually, in wildlife rescues all dog or cat victims will be treated and monitored accordingly to make sure that they are fit to be released after successful treatment. This ensures that these animals have a good chance of survival in the wild. This is required by law in the UK, and aims to avoid further unnecessary suffering of the animal concerned.

===== The Bigger Picture =====

One other last thought in this context. Cognitive dissonance can occur in many different situations, and is not just a specific response uniquely linked to the above described cat owner scenario. There are many other similar occasions where cognitive dissonance plays a significant role and is being the root cause for hypocritical opinions, attitudes and actions.

Many of those hotly debated problems cannot be genuinely addressed without acknowledging the bigger interconnected link between animal and human rights. The abolition of exploitation is the key, meaning the abolition of exploitation of human and non-human animals. Exploitation must not be regulated, but must be abolished. Rights should be based only on sentience, and on no other cognitive characteristic.