Declaration of the Participants of Helping Dogs Network on the Bioethical Concept and Principles of Human-Animal Interaction

1. We support any activity related to human-animal interaction, provided it complies with the bioethical concept and the principles set forth in this Declaration.

2. The priority principles of all participants are the principles of Christian morality and mercy. In our understanding, a human being is one who shows love for one’s neighbor, care for others, compassion, and assistance to those in need, as well as respect toward other species. At the same time, we believe that an animal is an intelligent form of life, God’s creation, which lives alongside humans, has corresponding rights, and deserves respectful treatment. We affirm that both the human and the animal have a living energetic foundation.

3. We affirm that every human being has inherent dignity. We profess the aspiration for the good of others, the willingness to devote time, effort, and resources for the sake of helping. Caring for others is what makes a human truly human.

4. From our perspective, Human-Animal Interaction is the interaction and contact between humans and the various species that exist on planet Earth. A human bears responsibility for violations of the ethical principles of such interaction.

5. We believe that all natural needs of both humans and animals must be satisfied as they were created by nature and in accordance with species-specificity, including higher needs: self-actualization and self-realization of both humans and animals. Animals that exist in symbiosis with humans self-actualize together with humans, and conversely, humans who exist in symbiosis with animals self-actualize as well.

6. We welcome those forms of human-animal interaction that lead to harmony, are for the benefit of both species, and foster their self-realization and self-actualization with the intention of causing no harm to either of them. Such forms of interaction include, for example, harmonious coexistence in society, sports, developmental and other forms of interaction, including interventions aimed at helping humans and animals in any sense. This is our principle, which we call the principle of the New Ethics of Human-Animal Interaction.

7. Human honor and dignity, as well as the animal’s right to fulfill its own purpose, are our priorities. Any humiliation or insult of either a human or an animal in the process of human-animal interaction is unacceptable to us. We also do not support an "instrumental" attitude toward animals. An animal is not an instrument and not a toy that can be used to satisfy parasitic needs.

8. We support the principle of “One Welfare – One Health,” as well as other important provisions set forth in the IAHAIO White Paper. We also support and adhere to the concept of the Five Freedoms of the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE).

8. The principle of the New Ethics of Human-Animal Interaction does not contradict other concepts and ethical norms professed by highly respected organizations with authority in this field. On the contrary, our concept complements them: 

“One Welfare – One Health = Synergy = Harmony.”

10. We are guided by the standards of leading organizations in the field of human-animal interaction, such as, for example, ADI (Assistance Dogs International) and IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation), and other authoritative organizations, and we strive to harmonize them with the conditions existing in Ukraine. Our aspirations and efforts are directed towards this.

11. We reserve the right to use our own terminology (for better perception specifically in Ukraine) and our own interpretation of certain provisions (which conceptually does not contradict those recognized worldwide and formulated by leading highly respected organizations in these fields, but only provided that they correspond to national specificities).

12. We consider it a priority to conduct scientific, research, and educational activities in the field of studying human-animal interaction.

13. Any scientific and research achievements obtained as a result of our work are available to all who share our views. However, we reserve the right not to cooperate with those who do not share our moral and ethical concept and not to provide them with any information.

14. We unite, not divide; we create, not destroy. We call for the creation of harmony!

15. Any activity we carry out does not violate the legislation of Ukraine, nor the laws and norms adopted worldwide.