Morality of the owner-pet relationship

• Main Author: Teng, Adeley Yi Siu
• Other Authors: Li Chenyang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::Philosophy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165460
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this paper, I consider the question of whether keeping pets is morally permissible. I consider three common objections - the dependency objection, the slavery objection, and the property objection. The dependency objection shows that domestication is morally impermissible, and the act of keeping pets is morally obligatory. The slavery objection does not hold because animals do not have autonomy. Lastly, the property objection also shows that keeping pets is morally permissible and it also helps us to realise that we need to change the status of pets as property because it entails neglectful treatment towards them, which goes unpunished. I reach the conclusion that the human-pet relationship is overall morally permissible, or even morally obligatory, because of the large numbers of companion animals in this world which are in need of loving homes. As agents with the power to improve their well-being, we have a moral obligation to take care of them.