Ethical issues of animal assisted activities in social welfare practice (사회복지실천 속 동물매개활동의 윤리적 이슈)

Kim Seongho (Kim Seong Ho)

Ethical issues of animal assisted activities in social welfare practice

The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
Abbr : 기사윤
2022, (53), pp.177~204
Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
Received : July 15, 2022
Accepted : August 16, 2022
Published : August 31, 2022

Kim Seongho ¹

¹한국성서대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study explores the historical exclusion and inclusion of social welfare practices for non-human animals, and ethical issues related to animal-assisted activities. With animals proving that they can provide a wide range of benefits to humans, animals are increasingly being used in various social welfare practices. However, caution should be exercised against the indiscriminate spread of animal-mediated therapy driven solely by human interests and demands. In social welfare practice, which has traditionally been developed based on human welfare, all kinds of animal-assisted activities must start with recognizing animals in the social welfare code of ethics and make more apparent ethical positions. This article introduces the history and types of animal-assisted activities after examining various ethical perspectives on how humans treat animals. Then, the meaning of animal-assisted activities in the social welfare practice is discussed. To present the rationale for establishing a code of ethics for animal-assisted activities in social welfare practice, the necessity for ethical operation, the theoretical basis for ethical operation, and ethical issues related to animal-assisted activities, including animal theology or Christian ethical perspective, are considered.

KEYWORDS

Social Welfare Ethics, Animal Assisted Activity, Animal Theology, Animal Welfare, Animal Right, Human Animal Bond

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