– We need to start with the assumption that animals aren’t looking for conflict. They don’t want conflict any more than we do. But animals will become aggressive if they become frightened. So the number one point is never to scare them, says Professor Emeritus of Ethics and Animal Welfare, James Serpell.
James Serpell is emeritus professor of Animal Ethics and Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania. He has lectured in the School of Veterinary Medicine on veterinary ethics, applied animal behaviour and welfare, and human-animal interactions. He has also written several books focussing on the latter; human-animal interaction. I first came across his work when he participated in a documentary I found on YouTube called “Dogs, cats and scapegoats. Malignant behaviour: The Cesar Milan effect”. Short version being that there is finally a dominance/pack theory recovering program – it is called science. Embrace it.