Respecting Animals ― A Balanced Approach to Our Relationship With Pets, Food, and Wildlife

A legal scholar and animal-rights expert argues for a practical approach to using animals respectfully.

In this fresh approach to the animal rights debate, a legal scholar and expert on the humane treatment of animals argues for a middle ground between the extreme positions that often receive the most public attention. Professor Favre advocates an ethic of respectful use of animals, which finds it acceptable for humans to use animals within limited boundaries. He looks at various communities where humans and animals interact: homes, entertainment, commercial farms, local wildlife, and global wildlife.

Balancing the interests of the animal against the interests of the human actor is considered in detail. The author examines the following questions, among others: Is it ethically acceptable to shoot your neighbor's dog for barking hours on end? Is it ethical for a zoo to keep a chimpanzee in an exhibit? Is it ethical to eat the meat of an animal?

Finally, he discusses how good ethical outcomes can best be transported into the legal system. The author suggests the creation of a new legal category, living property, which would enhance the status of animals in the legal system.

This thoughtful, well-argued, and elegantly written book provides readers with a comprehensive and practical context in which to consider their personal and social relationships with animals.

David S. Favre is a professor of law at Michigan State University College of Law. His books include the casebook Animal Law: Welfare, Interest, and Rights (2nd ed.), Animal Law and Dog Behavior, and International Trade in Endangered Species. He introduced the concept of "Living Property" which was developed in a number of law review articles over the past decade. He created and is editor-in-chief of the largest animal legal web resource, www.animallaw.info. He was a founding officer of the Animal Legal Defense Fund for 22 years, serving as president of the board for the last two years. Presently he is a vice chair of the American Bar Association /TIPS Committee on Animal Law and in 2012 was chair of the AALS Animal Law Committee. He has received a lifetime achievement award from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the America Bar Association Animal Law Section, and the American Association of Law Schools, Animal Law Section. Besides being a professor of law, he served as the dean of the College of Law for four years over two periods of time.