Peter Singer, citing bioscientist-philosopher types, suggested in the 1993 edition of his book How Are We to Live that humans are 'programmed to care only about ourselves and our relatives', and that there might be 'an unwavering adherence to the Cardinal Rule; never ask a person to act against his own self interest'.
Singer went on, over years, to profile how the human ethical obligation extends our relational boundaries to other animals who inhabit the world we live in. He became one who chose not to consume animals in any direct or indirect way and who eschewed even undignified treatment of animals. Yes, Singer is vegan.
It is a relatively recent sociological development that many folk now understand that the animals we buy, breed and use for human purposes are entitled to be treated with respect and a personal acknowledgement that they can and do love as well as suffer, and that their needs and behaviours should be taken into account in terms of human lifestyle and consumer choices. Significant numbers of people support those who are willing to stand up for a duty to operationalise a basic concern for our shared home, including animal rights advocates. So long as they do not overly inconvenience the majority
On a philosophical level, men, women and policy makers have gone beyond an emotional understanding that witnessing/turning a blind eye to cruelty to other humans has a debasing effect, and so does toleration of cruel, frightening and brutal treatment of the animals that share our lives. This is no longer only a religious sensitivity.
Nietsche, for example, was driven insane when, on the streets of his Turin, he came across a crowd cheering on a man who was beating his cart horse to death. The philosopher beloved of Nazism (which misunderstood him), who had repudiated Christian compassion and claimed to be atheist, burst into tears and threw his arms around the suffering animal's neck, then was taken home where he stripped off his clothes and started raving.
In our more recent times, researchers have established a link between cruelty to animals and pathological developments in those who perpetrate it and go on to harm partners, children, and even commit random killings of strangers, if not sexual sadism.
When the ABC published footage of outrageously cruel treatment of healthy former racehorses in a Queensland abattoir, everyone, including the sensitive racing industry about to embark on the spring racing season, said they were appalled. In my experience, entering a working abattoir offers a glimpse of hell. But knackers' yards are especially ghastly, because they are not properly regulated, and the victims are found from all kinds of sources and after lifetimes of human relationships.
"Plenty has been said in defensive response to the reality of cruel slaughter of unremunerative racehorses but the facts are clear. The racing industry has always known that knackeries are brutal and inhumane."
With any animal that can relate, as far as we can tell from our limited insights, to a human being or other species, there is the possibility of enduring reciprocated dependency and emotional warmth.
I believe that this revelation, by no means the first, has brought into the public eye the dirty secret about the business of horse breeding and trading, gambling and associated industries. They are vast, and they are important.
As human society changes, so does the awareness of 'relative' self-interest. Many animals have become human helpmeets, protectors, coworkers and guardians, and yet we have not fully understood the ethical dimensions of this. We use not just rabbits and rats but horses and cats to experiment upon for the advancement of cosmetic and surgical procedures, drug and pharmaceutical efficacy and to make money.
Horses have long been critical components of societies, from farming, herding, war-making and transportation to helping disabled and injured to heal and riding for pleasure; and of course for providing the means for profitable gambling, developing veterinary empires, trainers, breeders and of course those who deal with the messy ending of the unsuccessful products. Plenty has been said in defensive response to the reality of cruel slaughter of unremunerative racehorses but the facts are clear. The racing industry has always known that knackeries are brutal and inhumane. It has always claimed to love the means of production. It has failed to make them safe.
Racing Australia, Racing Victoria, Racing NSW, the Victorian government and corporate bookmakers all support having a national register to track every horse bred for racing from the time it is foaled to when it dies. It can't do that when it doesn't have efficient and well funded measures. Once horses retire, they can let them drift away from sight. And now we have seen what happens.
Thoroughbred breeders and others concerned with the 'costs' of doing the job properly are already lobbying. Delicately, of course. But they cannot shunt the human cost of failure to protect sentient and beautiful animals on to those breeders and trainers who do love their animals and care.
One of those, a friend who breeds racehorses, has to my knowledge agonised over selling or leasing or parting with their animals, and when one had to be destroyed through illness or injury had the animal brought in for a specially delicious breakfast and a vet who ended its life, quickly and quietly at home, where they then buried it. I asked for their comment on these latest revelations and cite it verbatim:
'I am delighted that this has brought needed, effective change, resulting in people realising that, when I sell a horse, I can be confident and that my horse will be safe and protected whether that is in training, stables, a pony club or an auction house or retirement paddock: that someone will be watching over them, that they are looked after, and if they can't be kept given a respectful and dignified death, as I would ask for myself. Sentient beings deserve respect because of the joy they bring to our lives.'
Moira Rayner is a barrister and writer.
Main image: Rachel King riding La Chica Bella wins race 3 the NSW Racehorse Owners Association Trophy during Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse on 3 August 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)