Dieren als een natuurlijke hulpbron. Ambivalentie in de relatie tussen mens en dier, binnen en buiten de veterinaire praktijk

Samenvatting

Animals as a Natural Resource: Ambivalence in the Human-Animal Relationship and Veterinary Practice. Animals are perhaps one of the greatest natural resources upon which human societies depend. From the earliest known societies, we have exploited and manipulated them to service not only our most fundamental, but also our less tangible needs. The relationship between humans and other animals is, however, replete with contradictions. To put it crudely: some species we keep and devour for food, upon others we lavish affection. This article explores the ambivalence and ambiguity that typically characterises our relationship with domesticated animals through an examination of routine veterinary practice. It illustrates the very diverse ways in which animals are treated, both culturally and medically, according to which species they belong. Moreover, it highlights some of the dilemmas that veterinarians experience in their daily working lives, which are, in turn, reflective of the ambivalence and ambiguity that pervade the human-animal relationship.