Jessica Pierce Ph.D.

About

Bioethicist and writer Jessica Pierce, Ph.D., is the author of Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets (Chicago, 2016) and The Last Walk: Reflections on Our Pets at the Ends of Their Lives (Chicago, 2012). Additional authored and co-authored books include Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible (New World Library, release date of Feb. 6, 2019, with Marc Bekoff), The Animal's Agenda: Compassion and Coexistence in the Age of Humans (Beacon Press, 2017, with Marc Bekoff), Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals; Contemporary Bioethics: A Reader with Cases; The Ethics of Environmentally Responsible Health Care; and Morality Play: Case Studies in Ethics. Some of the questions she explores in her writings on death and dying in animals are: Do animals have death awareness? Why is euthanasia almost always considered the compassionate end point for our animals, but not for our human companions? Is there ever a good reason to euthanize a healthy dog? Why do people often grieve more deeply for their pets than they do for people?

Books by Jessica Pierce Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Exotic-Pet Keeping as a Form of Human Predation

According to a new study, pet keeping is one of the most significant forms of human predation, accounting for roughly half of exploited species.

Animal Welfare Science May Not Benefit Animals

A recent study found that research published in animal welfare journals often ignores the intrinsic value of animals.

How Hot Is Too Hot When Leaving Your Dog In the Car?

By staying informed, planning ahead, taking preventive measures, and using a conservative approach to “safe car temperature” we can ensure the safety of our four-legged friends.

Silencing Bark Deterrents

Personal Perspective: It is time to acknowledge the negative impacts of ultrasonic bark deterrents and take a stand against their use.

Provide Your Dog With Daily Microadventures

Microadventures offer a gateway to imaginative and enriching experiences for our furry friends.

The Ethics of Canine Care

The new status of dogs as beloved members of human families has not yet been integrated into animal protection laws and veterinary practice. A moral update is needed.

Can Dogs Intentionally Create Social Conflict?

A new book asks whether dogs are capable of willfully managing, even disrupting, human relationships to further their own interests.

Should Pet Euthanasia Appointments Be Recorded?

The audio and video recording of pet euthanasia appointments raises important ethical concerns related to privacy and consent.

Dogs Demystified: A Delightful Guide to All Things Canine

This new encyclopedic and easy-to-read book is a must for becoming fluent in “dog” and for bettering the dog-human relationship.

Why Do We Love Dogs Who Suffer?

A new study sheds light on why people buy flat-faced brachycephalic dogs despite their poor welfare, short life expectancy, high veterinary costs, and caregiving burden.