Are Helper Animals Exploited Animals?
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I was shopping at Whole Foods the other day when the cashier at the checkout, a very friendly and cheerful young girl, asked if I’d be willing to donate to the Dog Guides, a program created by the Lion’s Club to train dogs and dog handlers, to help physically challenged Canadians “in the areas of mobility, safety, and independence.”
According to their website, www.dogguides.com , the lives of over 1200 men, women and children across Canada have been enriched by the program (I’m sure there’s an equivalent program in the U.S.), including people who are blind or visually impaired, and those with hearing and other medically and physically limiting disabilities, at absolutely no charge.
“Dedicated trainers spend six to eight rigorous months training the dog for its ultimate role as a working companion.”
Sounds like a noble cause, right? But is it animal exploitation?
A lot of veganism is focused on what we eat, and not what we do. But can vegans, who oppose animal exploitation of any kind, in good conscience support such programs? Or is it going a bit too far to call the employment of dogs to assist the disabled (or helper monkeys, horse-assisted therapy, and the like) exploitation?
I’d very much like to hear your thoughts on this.
Yes it is animal exploitation, however there are circumstances where I will support such programs.
If the animals are bred specifically for the purpose of becoming a guide dog, then I cannot support it. That’s because those breeding programs involve culling “imperfect dogs” and increasing the shelter dog problem. Those programs effectively steal homes from shelter dogs and they help justify euthanasia in shelters, just like any breeding programs.
However, if the animals are rescued from situations such as shelters, puppy mills, abuse, labs, etc. AND those dogs’ specific needs and talents are kindly funneled into a guide dog program through 100% positive training, I can support that. That is a solution to a problem that winds up helping both humans and animals. Examples: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1930475,00.html
Of course, in a vegan utopia, there wouldn’t be any dogs to rescue, shelters wouldn’t euthanize, puppy mills and animal testing labs wouldn’t exist, and abuse wouldn’t happen. But we don’t live in a vegan utopia. We live in the here and now. And right now, dogs need our help, even if it involves a little bit of restricted freedom in the form of things like guide dog programs.
I don’t believe it is exploitation. I’d say that most people in this country exploit their dogs by NOT giving them a job to do! (“Jobs” meaning going on walks, learning positive obedience skills, etc. – though of course “real” jobs like guiding are even better!)
Dogs love to work. A dog without a job is not a happy dog. A dog that has hours upon hours of focused attention and positive training that will go on to assist a human in a very real way sounds like a very happy dog to me.
All that said, of course it would be far preferable if that dog were a rescue. I don’t advocate the breeding of dogs in any way, for any purpose.
The title “helper animals” labels nonhuman animals used for this purpose as inherently “helpers” to human animals, much in the same way that “laboratory animals” or “circus animals” naturalizes exploitation of nonhuman animals for these purposes. Each is a sentient individual with their own interests that exist apart from human utility.
Using other animals as workers for humans is no doubt exploitation. This industry should be abolished along with all other forms of institutionalized speciesism.
Brandon, what is your practical means to abolition?
It’s one thing to say the goal is to abolish speciesism.
It’s another thing to actually do it.
This issue does fall in that slippery slope/grey area of animal “use”. I think it depends on each individual circumstance. And in a perfect vegan world there wouldn’t be the domestic animals to worry over. But as it is now, if my dog has learned some “tricks” due to positive reinforcement, and he seems to like “the game”, I’m not concerned about “exploiting” him. But training a dog to pull a sled for “sport” is entirely different. Again, I try to judge it on a case by case basis… mostly evaluating the good (or bad) consequences to the nonhuman.
.-= Bea Elliott´s last blog ..WORLD VEGAN DAY – NOV 1 SPREAD AWARENESS! =-.
I think it is exploitation, b/c we aren’t letting the animal do what it would be naturally inclined to do. I don’t think dogs NEED to work, as such. They have been bred for that.
I have seen a couple blind people on the bus. One just uses a cane. One has a guide dog. The one with the guide dog is NOT, to the best of my knowledge TOTALLY blind. She may be LEGALLY blind, but she has some vision. I don’t think guide dogs are necessary. Blind people can learn themselves how to listen for cars (I cross the street without looking a lot of the time, and I’m sighted).
It’s a certain mindset that we NEED animals to perform certain tasks. Just like there are homesteaders who feel they need to keep a goat or something for milk and cheese and some chickens, there are people like Scott and Helen Nearing, who kept no animals, did all the hard work of the homestead with their own bodies, and both lived to a ripe old age.
But as far as exploitation goes, it’s certainly mild compared to raising animals for food. If I could have complete abolition of all farms, CAFO’s, and slaughterhouses, but keep guide dogs, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
I’m with those of you who see it not as exploitation if the dogs come from shelters and are trained positively, consistent with their temperaments. Dogs do like to have things to do.
Many people who are not physically disabled have dogs and if you ask them they’ll say they need those dogs. They gain much from living with them. The dogs also gain from it. I can’t find a significant difference between bringing your dog to classes to help him understand his human better and taking the dog through “helper” training for much the same reason.
Yes, it is exploitation. These poor dogs are slaves for life. “Training” and “working” and “obedience” are all SPECIESISM.
Brenda, the trouble with dogs is that they no longer have a natural habitat AND the majority of humans are incredibly speciesist… to the extent that they’re willing to KILL dogs and call it mercy. Dogs on the street, in shelters, etc. haven’t got a chance unless someone is willing to show those dogs how to live with humans, ie, “training.”
From a theoretical perspective, I understand your point.
But the practical, everyday reality for dogs is that “training” and “working” SAVES DOGS’ LIVES.
I can’t make a broad statement about whether it’s exploitation or not. I know blind people who “have” guide dogs and the most defining characteristic of the arrangement is that it is a relationship, and a very loving one at that. There’s a certain humility and grace that comes from being in need, you know? These dogs are not exploited, they are relied upon and cared for and loved in the most touching ways, and both the human and the animal are better off for it. I just wonder if that’s a bad thing? I wonder that about any companion animals that have loving relationships with their humans. The way Brenda sees it, we should have absolutely no contact with animals in a vegan utopia in order to avoid specieism or exploitation. But I would argue that “my” cat knows me, maybe better than some of the people in my life and our relationship with each other is a beautiful blessing for both of us. I love her and she loves me. She can read my moods and I can read hers. We take care of each other. Is that exploitation? Perhaps I’m blinded by my love, but I just don’t see how it can be.
Leslie, I agree with your points. Whilst it may be speciesism in the strict sense of the word, in general ‘pets’ do love their ‘owners’ and their lives with them. We see this when we befriend a stray or wild cat who chooses to come live with us. Back in the old days wolves and dogs befriended men because they got benefits from this mutualistic relationship. And dogs in nature also have a pecking order, and submit to the top dog.
I’m not necessarily a fan of comparing history to what we do now, but I would bet that guide dogs also enjoy their relationship with their human family as is so often evident in any relationship between humans and ‘their’ animals.
Eccentric Vegan, I do agree however that if they are bred for this purpose the industry does have too many downsides to support it.
.-= Niki´s last blog ..Review: Shakahari Restaurant, Melbourne =-.
Niki,
I encourage you to read this enlightening essay from Ida Hammer on the “domestication” of dogs:
Pets or Meat: Confronting the Origin Myth of ‘Man’s Best Friend’
http://www.veganideal.org/content/pets-or-meat-confronting-origin-myth-mans-best-friend
Eccentric Vegan,
There are many practical means to abolish human exploitation of other animals. Some examples include: promoting veganism, advocating rights, and campaigning against speciesism. Joan Dunayer’s book Speciesism offers these ideas and more for activists to take the fight against the system and win emancipation for nonhuman animals. I highly recommend this book for all advocates in the movement.
Brandon,
I completely understand your point that:
And I agree with you.
However, when it comes to animals who have been specifically brought into existence for human utility – the millions of dogs in shelters, puppymills, and on the streets who have no natural habitat and whose existence within a speciesist human society relies upon having some kind of human utility – how shall we rescue them?
If a human rescues a dog from death in a “shelter” and gives them a loving home, I’m fine with that. I don’t know anyone who argues that this shouldn’t happen as a practical measure to take care of those bred for the pet trade.
I oppose breeding or otherwise bringing other animals into existence to be the slaves of humans. I work for a world where all nonhuman animals can live free lives amongst members of their own kind in nature. Rather than domination and control, the human relationship with other animals would be kinship. Letting them be rather than imprisoning them and destroying their habitats.
They don’t usually argue it directly, but indirectly, yes. That’s because it’s very easy to interpret blanket statements about the exploitation of “helper animals” or “pets” as an objection to shelter animal rescue, since most people view “pets” as one class.
Thus, those who work for sheltered animals often call what they do “animal welfare” rather than “animal rights,” even when they agree with principles of animal liberation.
Thus the common misconception that vegans want to steal people’s pets/animal companions.
Thus the myth that vegans support shelter killing.
The nuance in our position can be difficult to grasp, particularly for people whose everyday habits reflect their speciesist attitude: they eat meat.
Therefor, whenever we vegans speak of animal exploitation – for the sake of the animals currently exploited – we should include a short discussion on the practical aspects of rescue: what’s ethical, what’s not, etc.
Just a thought
If you start off with the belief that the existence of dogs and cats as we know them (e.g. not wild) is a travesty, then yes, it is.
On the other hand, I believe that both dogs and humans need stimuli, exercise, goals that they can meet, and close relationships to be healthy and happy. Dogs in particular seem much more calm and alert if their life has a “point” – e.g., if they have a job, and are not just cute decorations.
If it’s between a dog that sits around the house, alone, eats, stares at the wall, gets fat, goes crazy with boredom and barks his head off – and a dog that has a close, reciprocated bond with a human and stays active and intellectually engaged all day – I know which kind of dog I’d rather be.
I do not see this as animal exploitation. I helped train Guide Dogs – in the US, and believe me, I know first hand that these are some of the happiest dogs I have ever met.
Dogs are happier working, and really need a job to do in order to be a happy and balanced canine. Read Cesar Milan’s – the Dog Whisperer – book ‘Cesar’s Way’. He explains it amazingly, but the gist of it is dogs in the wild – as shown today with wolves – have a pack structure, and need a balance of dominance and tasks to balance them out. Read the book, I can’t do it justice.
I am an avid dog lover, and I would never be involved with something if it was harmful to the dogs in anyway.
And yes, these dogs – at least in the US – are specially bred for this program, that is to make sure there are no health or behavior problems. The dogs that do not become guides are adopted into loving homes, but first they are tried to fit into any type of service position – service dogs, dogs for diabetes, search and rescue, K9 dogs. Guide Dogs does not look down on adopting dogs from shelters, and encourages it.
Check out this excellent essay on this topic:
“Four Myths About ‘Helper’ Animals”
http://www.adaptt.org/animalrights.html
Hi
What challenges would Adam have had in Eden that made it necessary for God to give him animals as helpers?
I’ve just finished 3 years working with people with a vision impairment at an Australian university. A number of the students I assisted had guide dogs to help them navigate their way around a campus that easily resembled a rabbit warren.
In Australia, the Guide Dogs program sees dogs (usually Labradors) raised within family settings for the first 3-12 months of their lives, then they go to the training centre to learn how to be guide dogs.
If they can’t be trained, they are sent back to the families from whence they came. If they can be trained they spend the next 7-12 years of their lives living with and assisting people who are blind and vision impaired.
When the harness is on, these dogs know they are at work and they do everything for their blind “master” that they possibly can to ensure these people aren’t harmed by our ever challenging world.
When the harness is off, the people who rely on these dogs LOVE these dogs. When the harness is off, these dogs are the happiest creatures I have ever met.
I understand your concern, but I have seen the richest relationships ever shared between guide dog and the blind or vision impaired people they assist.
As the dogs age, it is better for the dogs to be released from their “service” and return to the families who raised them in the beginning.
The creature left worse off for the end of this relationship is the person, because they have lost their lifeline, their means of navigating an inaccessible world and they’ve lost their best friend.
Criticise a program that abuses the animals, but don’t criticise the program because it relies on animals that provide independence and liberty. Otherwise, one may border on misanthropy and species chauvinism.
Anthony,
The problems with “helper animals” are:
1) Breeders adding animals to an already overpopulated situation, where humans simply discard animals whenever it’s convenient
2) Some training methods for some programs are cruel or dangerous
3) In a perfect world animals would not be used as tools by humans, period.
Hi Anthony,
I appreciate your comments and respect your views, but let me ask you this, so you can better understand where I’m coming from.
Did you choose to work with visually impaired people or were you made to do it?
That’s the issue. Slavery, even for the benefit of visually impaired people, is still slavery. You refer to the dogs as lifelines, an interesting term, as most animals are viewed as things to be used by humans for humans.
I don’t doubt that the animals are loved and I think it’s great that if the “relationship” doesn’t work out then the animals are returned to their owners, but again, the animals are still treated as commodities, the same as an air conditioner or a curtain rod; if it’s the wrong size or doesn’t fit, you can always return it.
Their “service” is a misleading term too. They don’t volunteer and they aren’t paid for their services. Again, very similar to slavery, albeit a gentle, loving form of slavery.
.-= Daniel´s last blog ..In defense of James Cameron and Avatar (sort of) =-.
Of course it is, because the animals do not behave as in nature. But sometimes it is simply necessary to help people where necessary, to those people animals are literally members of the family.
.-= Sibertiger´s last blog ..Interspecific predatory relationships =-.
I wholeheartedly disagree that Guide Dogs don’t have any choice as to work or not.
I have been a guide dog handler for 20 years and my dogs have, on the whole, worked willingly. they wag their tails when the harness is produced. They do receive compensation in the form of praise, both verbal and physcial whilst working, and play when not working.
I regularly leave my back door open at home. if my dogs were so unhappy with their enslavement, surely they’d take the opportunity to leave. they don’t. They stay.
Finally, I once had a dog who was not happy to work. She made this apparent to me by refusing to do so. a loving home was found for her immediately.
One more point. find me a human who will take me to work, to lunch, home again, out for the evening if I choose, and I’d consider working with them. Perhaps while they’re at it, they could drive me around and read to me and generally knock down those barriers that idiots like some commenters on this page would like to place before me.
For those people who think purpose-bred dog programs are the root of all evil, let me tell you a little about one. Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been breeding their own dogs for thirty years, and they keep a close eye on each and every dog from birth until death. If a puppy or guide-in-training is released, the school scrutinizes a huge list of people wanting to adopt one of their dogs. They do background checks on those people, just like an employer might on a job. GEB, and many other service dog schools that breed their own dogs, takes better care of their dogs than most people. While I was in class, we were introduced to a released puppy who was returned to the school because her adoptive family had allowed her to become grossly overweight. And when a dog retires, the same scrutiny is used in the search for a new home, if the handler is unable to keep the dog. So for the record, most purpose-bred dogs aren’t likely to find their way to your local animal shelter. And if they do, and their place of origin finds out, they will most likely be swiftly returned to it. Many dogs from service dog schools have tatoos or microchips to aid in their identification. My dog has both, because the school is just starting to phase out tatoos in favor of microchips.
And as for the happiness of my dog, she is very much like a child–she’s either extremely happy with me, or pouting. She has her food intake watched more closely than most human toddlers, is groomed on a daily basis (ears and teeth are cleaned every week), receives preventive medical care, and has a toybox full of toys to play with each and every day. Her relief area may be missing some grass, but it is kept clean and well manicured. She doesn’t go outside alone, and even then she must have her leash and prong collar on for both her safety and mine.
If you’re going to accuse anyone of exploiting dogs, accuse the people who take innocent dogs and place them in dog fighting rings, tie them out in their backyards, let them run off-leash in public, and don’t make them behave.
And one more thing: you may think service dog handlers are cruel, but we’re not much different than parents! My guide dog is like my child, and I care for her just the same as I would my child. Yes, that means I have rules. There are things she can not do, like climb on the furniture or solicit attention from the public. But those rules, and correcting her when she forgets them, doesn’t make me cruel. The next time you go on about service dog handlers and organizations exploiting or being cruel to their dogs, maybe you should take a look at your parenting skills? You might learn something, like how to keep your snot nosed toddler from wreaking havoc in the grocery store. Or maybe how to say I love you, even after your teenager calls you the worst parent ever?
One more thing: aren’t humans treated as a commodity? Think about it; if you aren’t a good fit for your job, your employer can fire you even more quickly than a service dog can be retired. And find someone else. Business is business, and we’re all controlled by business. Get over it and leave my team alone!
.-= Laurel´s last blog ..A Few Notes on Service Dogs =-.
Do you even know how guide/service dogs are trained?
Programs take puppies from a program of [pet] dogs who have not passed the final requirements of certification for one reason or another, but are of sound genetics and temperament. Those puppies are kept with the mother until weened and then sent to live with families, these families are called puppy raisers and donate their own time and money to care for, socialize and give rudimentary training to the dogs for about a year. Those dogs are then evaluated to enter the first part of a six month program where they are accustomed to accessible devices and handicapped people, then they are evaluated and the process of teaching complex tasks begins. Dogs who do not make it are given first refusal to the puppy raiser as a pet, if the puppy raiser is unable to commit then the dog is given up for adoption, no not through a shelter but through the program, or they are trained for emotional support and placed with some type of therapist to be used in a hospital setting. Or as a special companion dog to someone who has no physical handicap, but an emotional or developmental one. Dogs who pass are matched with a person who has been thoroughly screened and who’s life could benefit from the help of a service dog. Guide dogs for the blind are taught a little bit differently as they need to make decisions to refuse to cross the street when cars are comming. A graduation ceremony takes place after a two week seminar where people who are being matched learn to adjust to their new friends. Life after they are matched with a person is not much different from a regular dog. They do not work full time, but do lend a hand to their human friends when needed. Many of these dogs express a sincere need to help care for their people. Service Dogs are not slaves, they are above all else, friends to people who need support. When dogs retire at about age ten they stay with the person to the end of their days. Those dogs do not work as the person gets a new service dog to assume the role of tasks, though many retirees never go into complete retirement. Many are driven to keep a watchful and loving eye to their two legged companions.
To the person who thinks a guide dog is not needed because you can cross the street with out looking, you are wrong. You have peripheral vision which keeps you safe. Many visually impaired persons lack a clear periphery or have trouble with depth perception. Guide dogs for the blind are not just about crossing streets, they also help people remain in their homes and work by refusing staircases, pushing the correct elevator button and providing emotional security. Many things you do you take for granted with out noticing. Quite a few guide dogs are also seizure response dogs as well, these dogs can anticipate seizures and call for help if the person is incapacitated.
The reason this is not exploitative is because these dogs, have the urge to help people and are quite capable of compassion, just as we humans should be. It is not exploitative because these dogs are better cared for and loved on a level you cannot understand if you don’t have one yourself. It is an unbreakable bond that isn’t just the result of training or breeding.
Believe me, I have one myself.
There is nothing morally wrong about ‘helper’ dogs being trained to provide a service to human beings as long as they are treated humanely.
Domestic dog species have developed a relationship with humans to benefit themselves as well as us.
Be honest to yourself and ask the question ” If I lost my sight in an accident, would I consider using a guide dog?”
I acknowledge that i havent read the comments as im in a bit of a rush and was just looking for a picture to show my nephew.
I am a vegetarian + fish, whatever the closest term is. I also have raised/socialised a couple of pups for “Guide Dogs Victoria” my state’s dogs for the vision impaired organisation.
I’ve raised 2 pups so far for the organisation, and believe strongly that the dogs lives are significantly enriched by the experience. i cant speak to the standards/conditions of every organisation like this but certainly in all of my experience the dogs spend their first year from 7 weeks of age living with a family. During this time there are 3-4 visits from someone from the organisation, we walk the dogs daily (appropriate distances, they dont walk any further than a block for the first 4-5 months)
after they go in for training the dogs are assessed according to various criteria to ensure their suitability. my first pup didnt pass her test so she was offered to us to adopt and we kept her. we’ve now had her for ~8 years. my second pup passed her test and is now undergoing training.
I’ve never seen any of the dogs treated with anything but love and care, even if corrected by a quick jerk on the leash the dog is very quickly praised as soon as its behaviour returns to what it is being trained to do (for example to avoid pulling on the leash while working)
Training takes 6-12 months and the dog then spends most of its time with the ‘client’ (blind person) Labs are chosen among other reasons because of thier tendency to transfer their loyalty very easily so they dont suffer when their living situation changes.
at the age of ~10 the dogs are retired and they are offered for adoption to the general public.
In my opinion i really think that the dogs have a much better life than an average pet dog who is left alone for 8-10 hours every day, and while i obviously dont speak ‘dog’ in my experience the dogs actually enjoy being able to learn new things and be able to be praised for showing what they know how to do. obviously opinions and situations may vary but in my experience i think the dogs are certainly not exploited.
Regards
Damien