Animal Welfare

Kanzi was upset at being left out of the conversation between Panbanisha and Julie (Cohen 19). Panbanisha was sad that Kanzi felt left out (Cohen 19). Animals can learn to communicate. Panbanisha learned to talk with a keyboard (Cohen 15). Other animals can have conversations with their own kind. The argument that says animals don’t deserve welfare is weak. It takes advantage of the disability of animals to contest their status. According to Schulman, a controversy requires two or more parties, and humans are only one party (Schulman 23). These are the reasons I believe animals deserve welfare.

Animals have emotions. Kanzi was upset at not being in the conversation between Panbanisha and Julie (Cohen 19). This is clearly a show of emotion. Other animals show emotions by doing things like hissing. Panbanisha was sad that Kanzi felt left out (Cohen 19). This is another show of emotion, only this is a show of sadness for another animal.

Animals can learn to communicate. Panbanisha learned to talk with a keyboard and a synthesized voice from a computer (Cohen 15). She can speak English, which is one of the hardest languages a non-English speaker can learn. Other animals have conversations with themselves. The neighboorhood dogs barking at each other is an example of a message-spreading system. We don’t know if the dogs are talking about us.

The argument that says animals don’t deserve welfare is weak. Schulman says that animals cannot contest their own status (Schulman 23). He says humans are bringing the case to court without the knowledge, consent or understanding of the client (Schulman 23). He also says that controversies require two or more parties, and the only party in animal welfare is humans and animals cannot contest their position (Schulman 23).

Animals have emotions, can learn to communicate and the argument against welfare is weak. Kanzi and Panbanisha show emotions on a daily basis. Panbanisha can talk with a keyboard (Cohen 15). Other animals can have conversations with their own kind. Schulman says that animals cannot contest their own status, and the only party in this controversy is humans. I believe animals deserve welfare for these reasons (Schulman 23).