The Making of Pets by Yi-Fu Tuan

The question of pets is a controversial one. Many societies across the world claim to love animals, particularly dogs and cats. However, if you look a little closer you will find that is not really based in reality. The way in which we breed animals in the pet industry leads to untold suffering, genetic defects, millions of animals killed in shelters and on the streets each year. Pets are often mistreated and thrown out at the first sign of financial trouble. Even the ones we claim to love are often treated in a way that is unsuitable to their natural state of being. 

Dominance & Affection explores these dynamics and the cruelty that often accompanies the creation of “pets.” For even when cruelty is not direct, years of genetic manipulation through inbreeding and trait selection dilutes their natural state and causes suffering (popular flat-faced dogs like French bulldogs and Pugs spring to mind, along with cats such as Scottish folds). Tuan does not just explore pets but many other cruelties, such as zoos and circuses. His writing provokes you to rethink your relationship with animals, even the ones you claim to love.

“Contact with power often ends in death. What was once alive becomes inanimate matter. Thus trees turn into tables and chairs, animals into meat and leather. In war, humans become corpses. Short of death, tress turn into potted plants, animals into beasts of burden and pets.”

Title: Dominance & Affection: The Making of Pets 

Author: Yi-Fu Tuan

ISBN: 978-0300102086

Publisher: Yale University Press

Yi-Fu Tuan was born in China, Tianjin and later became an American citizen. He was a Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin but wrote extensively on the subject of psychology. He is referred to as then “father of humanistic geography” and was awarded a number of prizes throughout his career, including the Vautrin Led Prize in 2012. Tuan passed away at the age of 91 in 2022.

Abdourahamane Ly, guest curator for Veganuary at Global Literature in Libraries Initiative, has been vegan for the past seven years now. He is extremely passionate about animal rights and encouraging more humans, especially Africans, to go vegan. He was born in Guinea in West Africa but spent the last 13 years in China. He is currently in Rwanda spreading the vegan message. You can follow him on Instagram at @fulanivegan and X at @fulanivegan.