Pushing the Limits of Animal Biology and Its Implications for Welfare and Ethics

Stimulating and thought-provoking, this new text looks at the welfare problems and philosophical and ethical issues that are caused by changes made to an animal’s telos, behavior, and physiology, both positive and negative, to make them more productive or adapted for human uses.

These changes may involve selective breeding for production, appearance traits, or competitive advantage in sport; transgenic animals; or the use of pharmaceuticals or hormones to enhance production or performance. Changes may impose duties to care for these animals further and more intensely, or they may make the animal more robust.

The book considers a wide range of animals, including farm animals, companion animals, and laboratory animals. It reviews the ethics and welfare issues of animals which have been adapted for sport, companions, toys, ornaments, food sources, weapons, and a whole host of other human functions. This important book sparks debate and is essential for all those involved in animal welfare and ethics, including veterinarians, animal scientists, animal welfare scientists, and ethologists.