The Ethics and Role of AI with Fresh and Frozen Semen in Dogs

Abstract

The use of artificial insemination (AI) with fresh semen has resulted in many benefits for the management of dog breeding, but there are disadvantages that can sometimes be overlooked. Furthermore, poorer quality semen arising as a result of cryopreservation necessitates uterine insemination, which raises the potential for surgical insemination. A number of significant ethical concerns have been raised by key stakeholders (such as The Kennel Club and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) about AI per se, but particularly about the use of surgical insemination. This paper discusses the technological development of AI and explores a number of the ethical issues raised by its application to dog breeding. An Ethical Matrix method is used to map the potential ethical issues for key interest groups, namely dogs, breeders, owners, veterinarians and wider society. There are national variations in the way in which institutions have evaluated potential ethical impacts, and this is reflected in the different regulatory frameworks governing the use of AI in dogs. In order to facilitate decision-making and reduce some of the ethical risks associated with this technology, the veterinary research community could take several proactive steps including: (i) clarifying clinical decision-making processes, (ii) enhancing informed choice among clients and (iii) increasing the knowledge-base of potential impacts of AI.