?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=The+ethics+of+rodent+control&rft.creator=Meerburg%2C+Dr+Bastiaan+G&rft.creator=Brom%2C+Prof+Frans+W+A&rft.creator=Kijlstra%2C+Prof+Aize&rft.subject=+Environmental+aspects&rft.subject=+Food+security%2C+food+quality+and+human+health&rft.subject=+Production+systems&rft.subject=+Health+and+welfare&rft.description=Because+western+societies+generally+see+animals+as+objects+of+moral+concern%2C+demands+have+been+made+on+the+way+they+are+treated%2C+e.g.+during+animal+experimentation.+In+the+case+of+rodent+pests%2C+however%2C+inhumane+control+methods+are+often+applied.+This+inconsistency+in+the+human-animal+relationship+requires+clarification.+This+paper+analyses+the+criteria+that+must+be+met+when+judging+the+use+of+animals+during+experiments%2C+and+investigates+whether+these+can+be+applied+in+rodent+control.+This+is+important%2C+because%2C+until+now%2C+animal+welfare+has+been+less+of+an+issue+in+pest+control%3A+effectiveness%2C+hygiene+and+cost+efficiency+have+been+leading+principles.+Two+options+are+available+to+solve+the+inconsistency%3A+the+first+is+to+abandon+the+criteria+used+in+animal+experimentation%3B+the+second+is+to+apply+these+criteria+to+both+animal+experimentation+and+rodent+control.+This+latter+option+implies+that+rodent+control+methods+should+not+lead+to+intense+pain+or+discomfort%2C+and+any+discomfort+should+have+a+short+duration+and+should+allow+escaped+rodents+to+lead+a+natural+life.+Adherence+to+this+option+will%2C+however%2C+require+a+shift+in+the+design+of+rodent+control+methods%3A+effectiveness+will+no+longer+be+the+leading+principle.+It+will+have+to+share+its+position+with+animal+welfare+and+humaneness.+&rft.publisher=Wiley+%26+Sons&rft.date=2008-12&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F14931%2F1%2FPMS.pdf&rft.identifier=Meerburg%2C+Dr+Bastiaan+G%3B+Brom%2C+Prof+Frans+W+A+and+Kijlstra%2C+Prof+Aize+(2008)+The+ethics+of+rodent+control.+Pest+Management+Science%2C+64+(12)%2C+pp.+1205-1211.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F14931%2F