The Role of Neuterization in The Welfare of Urban Animals, Comparative Study of Iran, Europe, Latin America

Abstract

Some ethicists believe that the philosophy of animal rights considers the sterilization/neuterization of animals as a violation of the principle of respect for them, and therefore Trap-Neuter Return (TNR) programs are also impermissible. Because it seems that this act violates the natural rights and freedoms of animals. In response, the present research shows that the approach of animal welfare under certain conditions considers it justifiable to harm some animals (human or non-human) in order to prevent further harm to others. Based on the philosophy of animal rights, causing less harm to some animals to prevent more harm to others, as envisioned in TNR programs, is more compatible with considering the intrinsic value of both categories. Neutered urban animals can be accepted while they have value in their own right. The experience of European and Latin American countries also confirms this opinion. Although the methods of the pioneering countries are implemented to some extent in Iran, in Iran, TNR programs in line with animal welfare has received less attention. The purpose of this article is to investigate the legitimacy and then the impact of neuterization on the welfare of urban animals with descriptive-analytical method, while describing the laws and enforcement procedures in the countries under discussion. The method is to collect library and field materials (interview), during which the existing problems will be examined and suggestions will be made to solve them based on successful measures. As a result, first the concept of animal welfare and the related approaches, the advantages and disadvantages of neuterization will be described and then the experience of the countries in question will be discussed.

Keywords

• neuterization
• animal rights
• animal welfare
• urban animals
• birth control
• free dogs