Human-Nonhuman Animal Connectedness in Times of Disaster by Diàn D Fowles Thesis Submitted to Flinders University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 3rd August 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary .................................................................................................................... iii Declaration ................................................................................................................. iv Dedications .................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ........................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ............................................................................................................ viii Glossary ...................................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 2. Human-Nonhuman Relationships: Context ....................................................... 10 2.1 An historical overview ...................................................................................... 10 2.2 Insights into biological bases for human-nonhuman connections .................... 13 2.3 Overview of the origins of a human/nature divide/disconnection .................... 20 2.3.1 Dominant Western traditions and philosophies ......................................... 21 2.4 An overview of recent major natural disaster events in Australia .................... 32 2.5 Companion and other domesticated animals in Australia – some statistics ..... 37 2.5.1 Companion Animals .................................................................................. 37 2.5.2 Agricultural/farm animals .......................................................................... 39 Summary ................................................................................................................. 41 3. Literature review .................................................................................................. 43 3.1 Human-Nonhuman relationships in times of disaster ....................................... 43 3.1.1 New Zealand .............................................................................................. 44 3.1.2 The United States ....................................................................................... 50 3.1.3 Australia ..................................................................................................... 75 Summary ................................................................................................................. 78 4. Methodology .......................................................................................................... 81 4.1 Rationale for a Qualitative Approach ............................................................... 81 4.1.1 Further notes on qualitative methodology and analytic pluralism ............. 82 4.2 Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 86 4.2.1 Overview of the underpinnings of phenomenology as a methodology ..... 86 4.3 Methods ............................................................................................................ 98 4.3.1 Thesis statement and Aims ........................................................................ 98 4.3.2 Researcher background and context for study ........................................... 99 4.3.3 Study design ............................................................................................. 101 4.4 The six steps of a TA in practice .................................................................... 109 5. Theme 1 – Experiential ...................................................................................... 120 5.1 Codes and extracts .......................................................................................... 120 Advanced planning and preparation (APP) ...................................................... 120 Awareness through adversity (ATA) ................................................................ 127 i Past Experiences (PE) ....................................................................................... 131 Rapid onset events (ROE) and Unpredictability of events (UOE) ................... 132 Evacuations: processes (EVACP), centres (EVACC) and temporary accommodation (EVACTA) ............................................................................. 135 5.2 Sub-Theme 1 – Post Disaster Thoughts (PDT) .............................................. 144 Safe temporary housing for animals (STHA) ................................................... 145 5.3 A word on speciesism and ecological inclusion ............................................. 152 Summary ............................................................................................................... 155 6. Theme 2 – Connections (The ties that bind) .................................................... 157 6.1 Codes and Extracts ......................................................................................... 159 Animals as Family (AFA) ................................................................................. 159 Divided Loyalties/Disaster Dilemmas (DL/DD) .............................................. 164 Refusal to Leave (RTL) and Defiance of Restrictions (DOR) .......................... 168 Animals as Priority (AAP) and Risking Life for Animals (RLFA) .................. 171 Cooperation Between People For Animals (CBPFA)....................................... 180 Impact Of/On Bond (IOB) ................................................................................ 185 Emotional Response (ER) ................................................................................. 189 Summary ............................................................................................................... 194 7. Theme 3 – Disconnections (The ties that blind) ............................................... 197 7.1 Codes and Extracts ......................................................................................... 204 Humans First/Pragmatism (HF/P) ..................................................................... 204 Silent Dualism (S/DUAL) ................................................................................. 210 Taking of nonhuman animal lives (TOAL) ...................................................... 213 Shooters experiences and values (SEV) ............................................................ 217 7.2 Sub-theme 3 Nonhumans ................................................................................ 222 Vulnerability of Animals (VOA) ...................................................................... 222 Animal Size (AS) .............................................................................................. 225 Summary ............................................................................................................... 227 8. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 230 Appendix A Letter of Introduction ....................................................................... 238 Appendix B Information Sheet ............................................................................. 241 Appendix C Animal Behaviour/Impacts on Animals (AB/IOA) ........................ 245 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 265 Filmography ............................................................................................................ 279 ii SUMMARY Complexity defines our relationships with nonhuman animals and we continuously live in a state of dis/connection with them. The disconnection we feel is intimately linked to how we assign worth to them, being both the reason for it and a result of it (once established it becomes self-sustaining). This study explored such feelings of dis/connect as demonstrated by the participants’ words and actions for/on behalf of nonhuman animals during times of natural disaster. The way nonhuman animals are valued has significant bearing on their disaster outcomes and also impacts on the disaster resilience of many humans. A critical hermeneutic phenomenological methodology allowed for a deeper exploration of the participants’ experiences. A Derridean deconstructive technique was applied as a tool for revealing deeper human-centric valuing hidden within the participants’ recountings of their experiences. A dearth of research on the more abstract facets of human-nonhuman relationships in disaster times led to the conceptualising of this study. Qualitative methods, employing unstructured in-depth interviewing sessions, were conducted with eighteen participants. The resultant three key themes around which the data was finally organised disclosed a) the more practical issues that the participants were faced with, b) evidence of the deeper, biophilic connections the participants demonstrated, and, c) evidence of the senses of socioculturally instilled disconnection demonstrated by the participants. Deeper examination