Pet subject

From the evidence, it is likely that the domestic dog retains his or her ancient memory of being a wolf. She still has the wolf's instincts and genetic material. Sensitivity to this point is what, I suggest, makes the tragedy of domestication of animals inimical to veganism. Hopefully one day we will be able to appreciate nature without wanting to own a bit of it. In this instance wolves and wild dogs will suffice in themselves rather than being stolen from nature to hunt, herd or get fat in a suburban prison.

In the dog/human relationship the human usurps the role of canine pack leader to ensure the dog adapts to human values of behaviour and hygiene. This distortion, inherent in domestication of an animal, is unavoidable. Domestication is dominion. Unlike a slave, or any other human subordinate, the domestic animal has no prospect of liberation not least because we have dismantled or distorted her natural coping mechanism.

By contrast, whatever we do to our own species there is the chance of freedom...a slave has the prospect, however remote, of exercising free will and being free. A domestic dog has none. Those who defend pet ownership per se run the risk of sounding like a slave master justifying the status quo of slavery as being in the slave's best interests...I cannot understand how, when confronted with the reality of domestication, a vegan's response should be a moral silence, or an attempt to dress up the reality of domestication as acceptable. By the same token, I would not wish the lineage of pigs, bred to be so fat that their legs can barely support them, to continue. In a vegan society, I would hope that we could look after those that remain but let this other emblem of human interference in nature fade into history.

Context is everything. As a (Western) society, we are engaged in a war against nature. Clearly it is right for vegans to help out sentient victims of this war, in this instance to provide homes for dogs 'who would otherwise be dead'. However this should not distract us from the greater personal requirement to end the war and make peace with nature. In this context, there is a world of difference between the act of saving a dog (right) and celebrating or even excusing the domesticaton of another species (wrong). I reckon vegans need to be very careful to avoid the latter simply because it perpetuates the oppression of another animal (domestic dogs). I think there is a tragic, intractable situation out there. I detect a fundamental sadness in the spirit of 99% of dogs I meet, and most of the other 1% are engaged in unvegan pursuits such as herding sheep...This hunch is only backed up by what I've read about the natural experience of wolves.

In essence, we humans have created an ethical problem i.e.the 'domestication' of a fellow species and, as vegans, we should seriously consider how we should address it. Our interference in the life of a companion animals is intrinsic, and, by definition, unavoidable: companionship is - for the animal - a contingent state. The imposition of our will has already taken place. If you can accept this interpretation of reality, how should vegans respond compassionately to the plight of the 'companion animal'?

I passionately believe that our freedom is available to us and is reliant upon liberation of other species specifically and living peacefully as part of nature generally. By contrast, I find it unbearable that the needs of most dogs in a modern, urban context are perforce secondary to those of its 'owner' or other humans...A dog's happiness is so rare and transient for many, many dogs I'm sure...I read somewhere that most domestic dogs sleep nearly twice as much as their wild counterparts, presumably just to fill the time...I could weep...

If we contemplate a vegan society this goal should inform our present ethical stance. I think such a society would inevitably cause a number of animal breeds which have been ruined by man to gradually die out. I've already cited the tragic example of 'factory' cattle. I just wonder if our reluctance to consider whether this would also be kindest for domestic dogs is more about our needs than it is about theirs...