30th August 2024
Domesticated animals – are they all equal?
“Domestication should not be confused with taming. Taming is the conditioned behavioural modification of a wild-born animal when its natural avoidance of humans is reduced and it accepts the presence of humans, but domestication is the permanent genetic modification of a bred lineage that leads to an inherited predisposition toward humans.” (1)
Humans are not the only creatures to domesticate another living being. The leaf cutter ant is one example. It has domesticated specific fungi for food. (2)
But humans have been the most prolific in domesticating a variety of plants, birds and animals. Dogs were the first animals to join up with humans in the journey of domestication. They were followed some 10,000 to 20,000 years later by sheep, goats and cattle.
Cats and dogs, sheep and cattle, guinea pigs and hens, horses and rabbits, are some of the most popular domesticated creatures. There are 1.5 billion cattle, 1 billion pigs, 1 billion sheep and 26 billion hens in the world at any time (as some are of course bred to be killed). (3) Vis a vis pets there are 471 pet dogs and 373 pet cats (ie not wild or stray animals) (4)
Dogs often achieve the status of honorary member of the family. They have specially formulated food – both regular food for day to day nutrition and treats specially designed to mimic human treats such as chocolates, ice cream, beer, mince pies (Christmas time) and Easter eggs. They are given specially designed beds for sleeping and sometimes separate ones for day time use, and special ‘beds’ in cars. For the summer months they may have special mats that include a cooling element. Dogs can expect to have a wide range to toys and balls for their entertainment. They usually wear a collar, which again can be a design item, as well as a separate harness for a lead for walks. Walks may also involve the provision of one or more coats – warm ones, waterproofs etc – and maybe even boots. If they can’t walk far, they may also have a pram or a carrying bag or backpack in which to travel.
Some dogs get to ride in a basket on the front/ back of a bike. They may have special blankets to calm anxious moments such as during thunderstorms. Some dogs may be dressed in more than coats with frocks and shirts, neck scarves and fascinators.
Their owners will expect to take them anywhere they go – cafes and pubs, hotels and churches, on trains and planes, even in cinemas where they are special screenings. So far I don’t think dogs go to gyms or swimming pools – unless they are assistance dogs. Many venues will provide bowls of water and dog friendly snacks.
When they die, they will probably be ritually buried (or cremated) and possibly with a formal service in a pet cemetery too.
Could an animal receive more devoted attention than this? Why do we do this? Is it simply because they are domesticated animals? Or is it because they are animals that have been bred to be friendly and to look cute? This may well be part of the answer. Some scientists suggest that that dogs have shaped their attitudes to make friends with humans because they can see benefits in so doing. (5)
Why do we lavish such care and attention on dogs but not say on cows? Do we care less about cows because we don’t have a personal relationship with them? Is it because – unless we live in the countryside – we hardly ever see them? Is it because we don’t usually think about the animal when we drink milk or eat steak? Or if we do, the image of the animal is influenced by picture book images of dreamy cows, frolicking lambs and hens pecking away in green friends?
Recently there have been various of articles about cattle and the dairy and meat industry which might prompt us to want to take more interest in the welfare of farm animals and the impact they have on the environment.
Ethical Consumer reminds us that cattle raised for dairy or meat will be slaughtered before they achieve their full lifespan. Dairy calves maybe removed from their mothers within days of birth. And dairy cows are often bred to produce milk in quantities that is at the expense of their health. The industrial scale production means that many animals do not have access to fields or grass.(6, 7, 8)
Industrial agriculture can cause huge problems in terms of pollution to air and water from the faeces produced by the animals. (9)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_vertebrates
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafcutter_ant
- https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cattle-livestock-count-heads?tab=table and others inc https://www.statista.com/statistics/263962/number-of-chickens-worldwide-since-1990/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1044386/dog-and-cat-pet-population-worldwide/
(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_the_dog has a section on socialisation vis a vis the domestication process
(6) https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/ethical-milk-brands
(7) https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/dairy-milk-assurance-schemes
(8) https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/dairy-animal-rights
(9) https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/10-things-you-should-know-about-industrial-farming
The Green Tau 