Meaningful Multispecies Relationships

An Ethnographic Study in Farmed Animal Sanctuaries

Authors

• Terhi Hannola Helsingin yliopisto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62442/ta.143704

Keywords:

merkitykselliset eläinsuhteet, eläinten turvakodit, monilajinen etnografia

Abstract

In this article I examine relations of humans and other animals in the context of sanctuaries for formerly farmed animals. I answer the following questions: 1) What kind of meaningful experiences human participants describe in relation to animals, and what kind of life for animals do they consider meaningful to be provided for the animals? 2) How do human participants deal with human-animal relations as a part of meaning in life? I approach these questions especially based on viewpoints of study of religion and human-animal studies. The data of the article consists of interviews and fieldnotes from the years 2019-2024.

The descriptions of human-animal relationships in my data were organized around following themes: individuation of animals and respect for their autonomy, positive affects and finitude of both animal protection and life. The human experience of meaningfulness in human-animal relationships is shaped by how conditions for animals to lead meaningful lives can be provided. Constraints, such as restrictions of autonomy and limited possibilities to rescue farmed animals comprises a frame through which the experience of meaningfulness of human-animal relations are both challenged and reinforced.