By illustrating the depth of their intelligence and the richness of their social/emotional lives, I hope to remove any doubt about our connection – our bond – to many nonhuman animals.
When I was writing the animal-rights blog for the Albany Times
Union several years back, I often focused on animal cognition
and ethology. My goal was simple: By illustrating the depth of their
intelligence and the richness of their social/emotional lives, I
hoped to remove any doubt about our connection – our bond – to many
nonhuman animals, especially other mammals. The relevant word was/is
sentience – the ability to feel; the capacity for pleasure and, of
course, its counterpart, pain.
In regard to the above, a primary influence for me was Dr. Marc
Bekoff, renowned biologist, ethologist, and writer. Dr. Bekoff is a
regular contributor to Psychology Today; he recently penned an
article entitled:
It’s Time To Stop Wondering if Animals Are Sentient—They Are..
Needless to say, everything he writes fully applies to the horses we
represent.
Here are my highlights from that article:
“It’s clear we know that numerous animals other than ourselves are
sentient beings, and a shift in attitudes is in progress. Given what
we know about animal sentience, it’s time for more action – to use
what we know on behalf of other animals.
“We know they get bored, suffer immeasurably when their bodies are
mutilated and their lives compromised by being forced to live in
horrific conditions of captivity ‘in the name of humans,’ when their
children are ripped away from them to make more meat or milk or
cheese, or when they’re severely abused to entertain us. … We also
know that animals feel pleasure and like to experience certain
activities such as being free to move about and interact with
friends and other animals, play, and feel safe.
“I know some people will respond with something like, ‘We really
don’t know whether pigs don’t like their tails being cut off or
being castrated,’ or ‘We need more data to know that animals get
really bored or enjoy play.’ However, we know it, and it’s high time
to recognize that this sort of skepticism is…responsible for
widespread and continued abuse….
“The abundant scientific database that already exists…supports the
fact that there exist many species of nonhuman organisms on our
planet who are undeniably sentient; deeply feeling, emotional beings
who care about what happens to themselves and others. The fact of
sentience needs to be put to use and into practice to protect and
respect the lives of the other animals our species interact with in
so many ways. … While we persist in pondering the obvious, ignoring
what we already know and have long known, countless nonhuman victims
continue to be abused by humankind, every minute of every day,
planet-wide.
“Future human generations will surely look back and wonder how we
could have kept shamefully failing to…protect sentient non-humankind
from ourselves. … We can, and we must do better. Solid science,
evolutionary biology, comparative psychology, and a dose of common
sense can lead the way. Surely, it’s time to stop wondering if other
animals are sentient – they clearly are.”