In its most basic sense, Anthrozoology is the study of human interactions with other animals and is often used interchangeably with Human-Animal Studies (HAS).

The lives of humans and other animals have been intertwined since the beginning of humanity, but the systematic study of the ways in which humans relate to and think about members other species, and vice versa, is relatively new. Anthrozoology emerged as a distinct academic discipline in the late twentieth century. It is inherently interdisciplinary and overlaps with other disciplines including anthropology, sociology, psychology, geography, behavioural science, and zoology, and employs a wide range of methodologies to address different aspects of human relations with other animals.

I align with EASE’s notion of Anthrozoology as Symbiotic Ethics and consider all animals to be ethically significant beings. I believe the lives of these beings are infinitely more important than any research project, career ambition, or the acquisition of knowledge.

While critical animal studies (CAS) and scholarly activism play an important role in advancing anthrozoological scholarship and driving social change, I do not believe everyone needs to be an animal rights activist. Likewise, I believe scholars who are supportive or sympathetic towards animal farming, entertainment, and sports involving non-human animals should not feel alienated. Excluding those who care about animal welfare but do not follow an abolitionist or vegan philosophy would do the field and the animals an injustice. However, I do believe Anthrozoology should strive towards improving more-than-human animal lives in some way.