Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The human-animal bond is currently experiencing a profound paradigm shift globally. The present study addresses the growing transformation of human–animal relationships in contemporary societies. The current study aimed to offer a critical narrative review of the anthropogenization of companion animals in Ecuador, understood as the process through which dogs, cats, and other domestic species acquire social, normative, and moral meanings that transform interspecies coexistence. Based on an interdisciplinary review of academic databases, regulatory documents, and institutional reports, the study integrates evidence from cognitive ethology, human–animal psychology, law, and urban sociology. Three central axes are analyzed. The first axis examined the impact of language, particularly ownership versus guardianship, on care practices. The second axis explores the tension between scientific evidence on animal agency and current regulations. The third axis evaluates the implications of anthropogenization for animal-welfare governance in diverse territorial contexts. The analysis identified contradictions between the biocentric constitutional framework and secondary legislation that retains possessive registers. The findings also revealed the simultaneous emergence of pathological anthropomorphization and positive anthropogenization processes. In addition, significant empirical gaps were identified for the design of coherent public policies. The study proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda and presents recommendations aimed at aligning terminology, education, and governance, with emphasis on territorial strategies and participatory approaches. Overall, the manuscript provides a conceptual framework to guide applied studies and regulatory reforms in countries characterized by sociocultural heterogeneity, such as Ecuador.
Source: World s Veterinary Journal
Author: Meneses Quelal Orlando
Institution: Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7170469147