Abstract:
The concept of advocacy is of increasing importance to the veterinary profession internationally. However, there are concerns around the ambiguity and complexity of acting as an advocate in practice. This paper explores what \'animal advocacy\' involves for veterinarians working in the domain of animal research, where they are responsible for advising on health and welfare. In focusing on the identity of veterinarians working in an arena of particular contestation, this paper provides empirical insights into how veterinarians themselves perform their role as an \'animal advocate\'. Analysing interview data with 33 UK \'Named Veterinary Surgeons\', this paper therefore examines what \'counts\' as animal advocacy for veterinarians, considering the way their role as animal advocate is performed. Focusing on the themes of \'mitigating suffering\', \'speaking for\', and \'driving change\' as three central ways in which veterinarians working in animal research facilities act as animal advocates, we draw out some of the complexities for veterinarians working in areas where animal care and harm coexist. Finally, we conclude by calling for further empirical exploration of animal advocacy in other veterinary domains and for more critical attention to the wider social systems which produce the need for such advocacy.
摘要:
倡导的概念在国际上对兽医行业越来越重要。然而,在实践中作为倡导者的模棱两可和复杂性令人担忧。本文探讨了在动物研究领域工作的兽医所涉及的“动物宣传”。他们负责健康和福利方面的建议。在关注在特定竞争领域工作的兽医的身份时,本文提供了有关兽医自身如何履行其作为“动物倡导者”角色的经验见解。分析33名英国“兽医”的采访数据,因此,本文研究了兽医对动物的倡导,考虑到他们作为动物倡导者的角色的执行方式。专注于“减轻痛苦”的主题,\'为\'说话,和“推动变革”是在动物研究机构工作的兽医充当动物倡导者的三种主要方式,我们为在动物护理和伤害共存的地区工作的兽医提出了一些复杂性。最后,最后,我们呼吁对其他兽医领域的动物宣传进行进一步的实证探索,并呼吁对产生这种宣传需求的更广泛的社会制度给予更多的关注。