Michelle Bours

The awkward position of our pets

Department: Man and Communication
Website: www.michellebours.com

Overwhelming Love

Keeping pets is an accepted phenomenon in human society. But the fact that we are the only animals that keep other animals purely for companionship made Michelle Bours wonder just how normal it is. Taking dogs as a popular example she has examined two sides to pet owners’ behaviour. While we love our dogs and believe there is a mutual understanding between us and our four-legged friends, we also control their actions, demanding obedience, and even manipulate their appearance through breeding programmes. These photographs confront us with the awkward position in which we place our pets.