ABSTRACT

Laboratory animal science represents a challenging and controversial form of human-animal relations because its practice involves the deliberate and inadvertent harming and killing of animals. Consequently, animal research has formed the focus of intense ethical concern and regulation within the UK, in order to minimize the suffering and pain experienced by those animals whose living bodies model human diseases amongst other things. This paper draws on longitudinal ethnographic research and in-depth interviews undertaken with junior laboratory animal technicians (ATs) in UK universities between 2013 and 2015, plus insights from interviews with key stakeholders in laboratory animal welfare. In our analysis, we examine four key dimensions of care work in laboratory animal research: (i) the specific skills and sensitivities required; (ii) the role of previous experiences of animal care; (iii) the influence of institutional and affective environments and (iv) experiences of killing. We propose that different notions of care are enacted alongside, not only permitted levels of harm inflicted on research animals following research protocols, but also harms to ATs in the processes of caring and killing animals. Concluding, we argue for greater articulation of the coexistence of care and harms across debates in geography about care and human-animal relations.

摘要

实验动物科学代表了一种具有挑战性和争议性的人与动物关系形式，因为它的实践涉及有意和无意地伤害和杀死动物。因此，动物研究已成为英国强烈的伦理关注和监管的焦点，以尽量减少那些活体模拟人类疾病的动物所经历的痛苦和痛苦。本文借鉴了 2013 年至 2015 年间对英国大学初级实验动物技术人员 (AT) 进行的纵向民族志研究和深入访谈，以及对实验动物福利主要利益相关者的访谈的见解。在我们的分析中，我们检查了实验室动物研究中护理工作的四个关键方面：(i) 所需的特定技能和敏感性；(ii) 以往动物护理经验的作用；(iii) 制度和情感环境的影响以及 (iv) 杀人经历。我们建议同时制定不同的护理概念，不仅允许按照研究协议对研究动物造成一定程度的伤害，而且还允许在护理和杀死动物的过程中对 AT 造成伤害。最后，我们主张在有关护理和人与动物关系的地理学辩论中更好地阐明护理与伤害的共存。但在照顾和杀死动物的过程中也会对 AT 造成伤害。最后，我们主张在有关护理和人与动物关系的地理学辩论中更好地阐明护理与伤害的共存。但在照顾和杀死动物的过程中也会对 AT 造成伤害。最后，我们主张在有关护理和人与动物关系的地理学辩论中更好地阐明护理与伤害的共存。