Differences between pet training and animal conditioning

Only one of these guys deserves a timeout. Wild Horse Photography / Getty Images People talk to their pets every day: praise when they are good, reassurance when they are confused, and affection when they cuddle. We also speak to animals when they misbehave. “Why did you do that?” someone could ask their dog. Or … Read more

Training an animal? An ethicist explains how and why your dog – but not your frog – can be punished

People talk to their pets every day: praise when they are good, reassurance when they are confused, and affection when they cuddle. We also speak to animals when they misbehave. “Why did you do that?” someone could ask their dog. Or we can scold the cat: “Don’t touch that!” – as we move a family … Read more

Animal resistance memes are everywhere – here’s why you shouldn’t be too quick to laugh at rebellious orcas and sea otters

Memes transform her into a beret like that of the socialist revolutionary Ché Guevara. In one caption she proclaims, “Accept our existence or expect resistance… an otter world is possible.” My study focuses on the relationships between animals and humans, through the prism of social justice. As I see it, the public joy over destroyed … Read more

Animal resistance memes are everywhere – here’s why you shouldn’t be too quick to laugh at rebellious orcas and sea otters

Memes galore surrounding the ‘killer whale revolution’ have flooded the online domain. They happily show orcas launching attacks on boats in the Strait of Gibraltar and off the coast of Shetland. One particularly ingenious image shows a killer whale masquerading as a sickle crossed with a hammer. The cheeky caption reads: “Eat the rich”, a … Read more