Ethical Issues in Allowing the Affectionate Ties to Linger
When public attention played on the story, people asked questions on whether it was acceptable to allow the bond to stay. Some people felt it wrong for putting the puppy under the care of the wild animal while other people told the media that nature actually created it for a purpose. Animal behaviorists showed interest and said that monitoring without interference would actually make it uncomfortable for the monkey and the puppy if disturbed.
The owner, solicitous but concerned at the same time, agreed to oblige the bond if his puppy’s health and safety was guaranteed. The professionals agreed, as they found that in as much as the puppy’s wellbeing was checked and all its needs met, then really, the bond need not be broken. This then weighed the ethical concerns against the natural bond that had formed between the two animals.
This delicate balance required constant attention and upkeep, acknowledging the fact that the relationship was an infrequent and valuable occurrence. In permitting the bond to exist with little interference, all parties wished to pay tribute to the instinctual nature of the animals and the single friendship they had created.
