Creating a Just and Joyful World for Dogs

Abstract

Framing debates about how we should relate to companion animals as "rights vs welfare" is misleading and potentially harmful. Far from being the sole territory of abolitionists, many working behavior consultants today are using concepts that come from animal rights theory, although they may not recognize them as such. This article uses the theories of Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka to explain how animal rights can inform how we relate to and treat companion animals in our care, and argues that extending rights to our pets is both a moral obligation and a logical conclusion to the beliefs many behavior consultants already evince.