Interacting with Animals

Animal behavior and welfare is an increasingly complex area of study, with the diversity of the animal kingdom ensuring there is no one, easy answer. Instead, it requires us to take a holistic approach combining scientific principles with both philosophical and ethical considerations to develop all-inclusive policies and legislation that decide how society should interact with domestic, farm, and native animals. With a focus on domestic animals, but with references to wild species to reinforce the arguments made, this book: considers the concept of consciousness, how it can be assessed, and how it relates to suffering and animal welfare more widely; emphasizes the need to better understand how animals behave both in relation to and outside of human influence, considering the diversity of behavior and sensorial capacities across species; includes author expertise across a wide range of animal species, from primates to domestic farm animals, and across living situations from intensive to free-ranging. We are far from having all the answers, so this book also raises areas that require further research and focus, such as the way animals are likely to act based on recent and life-long experiences. Still, this review of the topic, an updated translation of the French language work Vivre parmi les animaux, mieux les comprendre, provides an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in animal behavior and welfare.