Call for Papers: Special Edition of the Animal Studies Journal
‘Animal Sanctuaries’
Guest Editor: Elan Abrell

We seek articles that consider animal sanctuaries as unique sites of human-animal interaction that both influence and are influenced by the way animals are treated and understood in larger contexts. How do animal sanctuaries contribute to the broader animal protection movement, what limits and challenges do they face, and what sorts of new models for living with and caring for captive animals might they provide?

Papers might consider:

What constitutes a sanctuary?
What do concepts like care, rescue, captivity, agency, freedom, and flourishing mean in the sanctuary context, and how might these concepts vary across different kinds of sanctuaries?
How might sanctuaries differ in their approach to animal care, both philosophically and in relation to the specific kinds of animals they cater to?
How do sanctuaries balance the physical and psychological needs of animals against the material and spatial constraints of captivity?
How do sanctuaries differ from (or what do they have in common with) other forms of animal captivity, such as zoos, aquariums, farms, and circuses?
What are the goals of sanctuaries beyond the immediate care of animals? And how are these goals affected by animal needs? For example, how might the positioning of animals as ambassadors for animal advocacy affect their care?
How effective are sanctuaries at animal advocacy?
What unique ethical dilemmas might sanctuaries face, and what kinds of different approaches to animal ethics inform their missions?
How do sanctuaries foster or restrict animal autonomy? For example, how do they address issues related to animal reproduction or spatial segregation of animals that may be at risk of harm or pose a danger to others?
What new knowledge about animal care, consciousness, and behavior might arise in the sanctuary context? For example, what contributions to veterinary science might sanctuaries provide?
How do sanctuaries respond to issues related to animal death, including euthanasia, external predators, and the feeding of sanctuary carnivores?
What possible visions for animal futures might sanctuaries provide?
Submissions due by 31st March 2017. Please see guidelines and submit online at: http://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/