Some humans use their companion as a tool. In certain cases, we could even use the term slavery. They’re not always aware of this, but often they talk about their animal like an object or piece of equipment. One Voice denounces all of these immoral practices.
An animal is not something to make us feel good or a tool to be used. It has the right to live a life that respects the requirements for its species without being condemned to work. As humans, what right do we have to compel these dogs to attack or even bite to defend our homes, our shopping centres or our military bases ? What right do we have to risk their lives to save ours in areas at risk ? What right do we have to separate them from them from their host families, train them without mercy and condition them while still puppies to assist humans with visual and physical impairments ? And, more generally, what right do we have to subject them to hours of physical treatments and exhibition for them to win trophies and for their puppies to increase in value ?
Completely unnatural behaviour
Sometimes a leisure activity such as agility can transform a dog’s life into a nightmare. Some people can turn an activity that strengthens the links between dogs and humans into an extremely stressful competition, where the idea of pleasure has disappeared, leaving only fear of failure. For some disciplines such as performance in the ring, some even train their animals to become aggressive: they train them to attack threatening individuals or prevent anyone from approaching an object (among the objects used: a bike, a bag or… a pram). But there is nothing natural about this behaviour. A mother will teach her pups not just to refrain from biting (i.e. to control the strength of their bite), but also all the rituals that precede an attack: in dogs, often intimidation is enough, there is no need for blood to flow. So, if dogs are to be trained to bite they must first be "reprogrammed" ensuring that they are no longer balanced dogs but dangerous animals with no conscience that only obey their "master’s" voice. This training is extremely violent and aggressive and is therefore unacceptable !
Misleading appearances
For most dogs concerned, so called “working” dogs, their day to day existence is far from ideal. There are exceptions, such as most Newfoundland sheepdogs which, without any training at all, have a natural tendency to jump into water to rescue people and are unhappy when they are prevented from doing so. It is important to let instinctive behaviour express itself. It should even be reinforced while the dog is enjoying it. However, as soon as we start to contradict or attack the animal or even cause it to suffer this is no longer a tolerable activity but a lack of respect. One Voice is opposed to these practices that often appear misleading but are no less violent.
