Sentience, defined as the capacity to feel, perceive, and experience emotions, underscores that animals possess complex neurological structures capable of experiencing pain, joy, fear, and suffering.
In Canada, the recognition of animals as sentient beings has gained significant attention in recent years, prompting profound ethical considerations regarding their treatment and welfare.
The Canadian parliament’s 2019 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act exemplifies this evolving understanding, explicitly recognizing animals as sentient beings. This legislative shift reflects a broader societal acknowledgment of the moral imperative to ensure humane treatment of animals, encompassing domestic pets, livestock, and wildlife.
However, in the province of Ontario animals are deemed PROPERTY. This designation commodifies animals and does not afford them the protections that living, breathing beings is deserving.
Furthermore, discussions surrounding animal sentience intersect with indigenous perspectives that emphasize a profound respect for all living creatures and their intrinsic rights. The ethical implications extend to various sectors, including agriculture, research, and conservation, necessitating a re-evaluation of practices that may compromise animal welfare.
It needs to be understood that there is a calculated reason why the Ontario government will not designate animals as sentient. The special interest groups like the agriculture industry, farmers, hunters lobby the government hard to push back on legislative changes that would move animals away from being property – therefore commodities.
Why? Because if a cow, a dog, horse, cat, a pig etc was suddenly deemed sentient then the current manner in which animals are sheltered, farmed, handled, transported and slaughtered would drastically change. This would mean the industry having to make significant and possibly costly changes and also introduce red tape they do not currently have to deal with.
Look at the Ag Gag laws the province brought in a number of years ago. Making it illegal for someone to misrepresent themselves if employed in the animal industry. For example, someone gains employment in a beef slaughter and processing plant but their true intention is to film what really goes on there.
Animal Justice fought the Ag Gag law and won a partial but significant victory – the province of Ontario is appealing that court decision.
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“It is hard to overstate the role willful ignorance plays in causing animals throughout the world to suffer.”
— Milton Davidson —