In respect of our attitude to animals, are we Australians a cruel people - not compared to any other country, rather as adjudged by our collective introspection.
As a litmus test to the above proposition, two cases are forwarded for consideration.
Case 1
The first case concerns the fate of retired racehorses:
`What happens to these magnificent animals when they are finished racing? When they are not fast enough or strong enough, or injured? When they show no aptitude? When bred for speed they become surplus to requirements? They become what the industry calls ``wastage``. Discarded...``once they are no longer an earning proposition they start costing money. That means they need to offload the horses as soon as possible``...``The racing industry is slaughtering thousands of animals annually as they are discarded to make way for younger, faster horses``...Horses that are not sold as riding horses or not rescued, go to the kill pens - to be sold as dog meat...``After the glory, fame, adulation, they end up at a knackery awaiting for a bullet in the head``...``they suffer, they quiver, they shake, they mourn. There is absolutely no dignity for horses who kept people employed and made them money``...mares will be kept for breeding when they finished racing, sent to slaughter when they are too old to have foals.`(Susan Chenery, 28/9/2013, ``They shoot horses don`t they``, Good Weekend - Sun Herald, Sydney, pp 16,17,19).
This is not about the (disputed) numbers of racehorses affected, nor is it about the manner by which horses are slaughtered, nor is it about instances of continual caring of retired racehorses. This is about the seemingly prevailing Australian public`s indifferent attitude to the bestowing upon the owners (and breeders) of racehorses the legal opportunity to slaughter their horses once they no longer get their pleasure (financial or otherwise) out of them.
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Surely this is cruel. These horses are retired work horses. We (society) breed them, we own them, we bet on them; once that`s finished we can slaughter them, `turn them into dog meat `if we so wish. What crime have these animals committed for them having to endure this finality? and what kind of society are we as the prosecutors of thi finality.
Case 2
The second case concerns the caging of birds.
Clearly, captive birds (cage, aviary) give their owners amusement and companionship...clearly, also, is that the birds natural movement is severely restricted. Budgerigars (for example) `` occur throughout the vast inland area of the (Australian) continent. It is highly nomadic and ranges over great distances in quest of water and seeding grasses``...``flight is an innate biological function...birds that normally fly vast distances in the wild are confined in small places.``
All birds should be able to come and go as they please. The caging of birds is an axiomatic act of cruelty, is it not. Again, what crimes have birds committed that they should be incarcerated. Why can`t we let the birds be birds.
The role and the only role private aviaries (of any size) should have is that for the caring of sick or injured birds and that subject to tight regulation and effective policing thereof. Public zoos, whilst also caring for ailing birds, have an additional role involving population restoration programs for species threatened with extinction providing that case is demonstratively evident. Other than stated, public zoos should not be exhibiting healthy birds. (Holland P & References, this blog, Let the birds be birds:::end the cruelty of caging birds,2015)
So, we have racehorses slaughtered and birds incarcerated; racehorses likened to clockwork toys - they`re wound up to race, and when the mechanism goes kaput, they become knackery possibilities. Caged birds, on the other hand, may be likened to jailbirds, their innocence falling on deaf ears. Where is the legislation outlawing these and other presently legitimate cruel practices; where is the Liberal and Labor Parties - the proclaimers of principle, humanity, and effectiveness. Where is the national leadership on this national circumstance - missing it seems.
So, are we a cruel people? appears so, based on the above two cases. We legalise cruelty; we give cruelty legitimacy ; a modus operandi. In other words: Animal Cruelty continues to be an Institution in Australia..
Where is the national leadership on this issue.
Where is the national leadership on this issue.
