Palgrave Studies in Animals and Social Problems

Because other species make up the economic, sociological, emotional, and moral fabric of society, they play important roles in countless social problems. Some criminal activities have connections to animal abuse and fighting. Income inequality and discrimination have historically influenced pet prohibitions in rental housing by disproportionately affecting residents with low incomes. Confined livestock operations, animal hoarding, dog bites, and zoonotic disease transmission have public health and environmental implications. Wildlife poaching and the illegal traffic in endangered species threaten conservation efforts and defy international law. Because animals lack voices and social power, they cannot attract attention to the social problems that involve them. Incorporating animals into the study of social problems provides a clearer understanding of what groups and individuals consider problematic, how problems emerge on the social landscape, and what solutions might address them. This series transforms the scholarly analysis of social problems by focusing on how animals contribute to and suffer from issues long considered uniquely human.  For further information on the series and submitting your work, please get in touch with Leslie Irvine (University of Colorado Boulder, USA) at Leslie.Irvine@Colorado.edu.