About

The veterinary profession is in a crisis of poor retention, burnout, and high suicide rates, partly due to inadequate preparation of professionals for ethically challenging cases (Williamson et al. 2022). The recent ban on XL Bully dogs, for example, has created tensions within veterinary teams. The euthanising of healthy animals for public safety heightens “moral stress”, a phenomenon recognised as critical by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS 2023). 

Since the industry's inception, Veterinary practice has shifted from a focus on agricultural production to companion animal health, highlighting the human-animal bond. New challenges include end-of-life decisions, treatment futility, and refusal of treatment. Traditional ethical frameworks including utilitarianism and deontology dominate veterinary ethics but fail to capture the emotional and relational complexities of modern practice. Alternative approaches must consider human-animal relationships, emotional stress, and the intrinsic value of non-human animals.

Scholars, notably Quain (2022) and Ashall (2023) have explored moral stress and its impact on veterinary teams, advocating for ethical reflection to improve relationships. Ashall advocates a feminist ethics of care in veterinary contexts (2022). However, its practical applications and limitations remain underdeveloped. I address these gaps by developing a feminist ethics of care framework tailored to veterinary practice. 

As an active member of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Ethics and Welfare Committee—one of only 11 members—I am positioned within a key decision-making body that influences policy development guiding government and association members. This project generates tangible impact by developing an educational toolkit that equips veterinary professionals with the skills to navigate ethical complexities while mitigating moral stress. 

Key outputs include a doctoral thesis, an educational toolkit, and a policy briefing paper. Dissemination will occur through the BVA, conferences, and academic publications. Integrating contemporary moral philosophy into veterinary ethics, I transform how human-animal relationships are navigated in the profession.