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Animal Welfare and the Paradox of Animal Consciousness
In this paper, Marian Dawkins gives a summary of the history of the study of animal consciousness, and describes problems that scholars currently have in proving or demonstrating animal consciousness. In describing the history of animal behaviorism and related scholarship, as well as the the study of human consciousness, Dawkins explores how human shortcomings in understanding our own cognition also hamper our ability to recognize consciousness in other animals. However, Dawkins ultimately questions whether a detailed knowledge of animal consciousness is even necessary to provide animals with the welfare that they deserve. READ MORE

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Beyond Morality: Developing a New Rhetorical Strategy
In this article, author Maxim Fetissenko presents a critique of animal advocacy strategy focused on moral arguments, and offers possibilities for alternative approaches based on appealing to human self-interest. Using the slavery abolition and anti-apartheid movements as historical precedents, Fetissenko notes that such movements have always had a strong ethical / moral component, but their results were ultimately bolstered by the self-interest of others. Outlining examples of current animal advocacy campaigns, such as Proposition 2 in California, the author seeks to understand and analyze why certain strategies appeal more to the general public, and how they can be altered to get a better outcome for animal rights. READ MORE

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Mercury in Fishes from 21 National Parks in the Western United States— Park Variation in Concentrations and Ecological Risk
This report is from the United States Geological Survey and the National Park Service, Air Resources Division. It looks at mercury concentration in fish located in 84 different sites across 21 national parks around the US. The study of "unprecedented spatial breadth" found that mercury levels can vary greatly between different parks, and even within parks themselves, marking the need for more localized monitoring. In some cases, high mercury levels were found in extremely remote areas, indicating that in addition to local monitoring, more research should be carried out into the transport of mercury through the ecosystem. READ MORE

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‘Never an It’: Intersubjectivity and the Creation of Animal Personhood in Animal Shelters
In this paper, Nicola Taylor asks sociologists to open themselves up to the further study of human-animal relationships, and specifically the way that identity and subjecthood is constructed across the human-animal dualism. Using two animal shelters from the U.K. as case studies, Taylor examines the way that animals living at those shelters are treated as persons and accorded personhood through the actions of shelter staff. Taking account of the processes of naming animals, as well as how individuals are placed into homes, Taylor shows that shelter staff take great consideration and labor in making sure that the animals in their care are taken seriously as individuals and persons. READ MORE

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Diffusion Communications in Animal Advocacy
In this paper, scholar Alexandria Graff makes a case for applying Everett Rogers' theory of the "diffusion of innovations" to animal advocacy. Taking veganism / animal rights as an "innovation," Graff maps Rogers' theory in relation to animal advocacy and offers a multitude of new ways for advocates to see their work. Though diffusion theory has often been a way of thinking about technological innovations - for example, we use diffusion theory when we are thinking of "early adopters" of new technologies or apps - it is very much applicable to the diffusion of social movements and their related ideas. READ MORE

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Autonomy in Chimpanzees
In this article, researchers make a strong case for chimpanzee autonomy. Spending most of the piece outlining a definition of autonomy itself, the authors prove that chimpanzees satisfy the basic definition and all of its essential conditions. Citing a variety of already-published research on chimp psychology, they show that acknowledging chimp autonomy is more or less a foregone conclusion if one were to view it from a non-speciesist perspective. The evidence has already been established, and can be easily combined to support the proposal of autonomy. READ MORE

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A Comparison of Body Size, Coat Condition and Endoparasite Diversity of Wild Barbary Macaques Exposed to Tourism
As different communities around the world strive to find ways to preserve and protect threatened species, some are turning to tourism as a means of bringing in revenue to be used towards conservation efforts. However, tourism still has an impact on the environment and animals. This study from Morocco looks at how exposure to tourists is affecting the body size, coat color, and the amount of parasites found in local Barbary macaques, evaluating each group based on different levels of tourist exposure. READ MORE

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Operation Catnip: Working Together to Reduce Free-Roaming Cat Populations Ethically and Effectively
In this well-researched editorial for The Veterinary Journal, Annette Litster presents a strong case for the support of trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs, which she argues is the best method for both controlling and moderating free-roaming cat populations. Addressing issues such as the effectiveness of lethal animal control methods, human abandonment of cats, and the contention that free-roaming cats are a threat to avian species conservation, Litster discusses each aspect in turn and provides compelling evidence that non-lethal programs are the best possible solution. READ MORE
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