Oh, You Savage Beast, You!
How we’re treating animals is getting better, and why that’s good for us all.
My friend Don and I were talking over a pizza and a few cold ones. We’re both lapsed vegetarians, so we share the same good values and intentions, while our willpower is — mutually — not so hot. I like that in a companion!
We were talking about how we had fallen.
Don had gotten off a plane from San Diego to Norway. After long air travel, he was in that befuddled fog when this flaxen-haired maiden with a clipboard and the sincere and warm air of the do-gooder strode up to him and got him to commit to not eating seal meat. Why not, thought Don, and signed.
The next night, dining out with business colleagues, the table was served an array of appetizers. One of which was a seal. “And the worst thing? It didn’t even taste good!” laughed Don.
I used to call myself an omnivore — especially if someone else is paying. Now, I’m thinking about flexitarianism. It’s understandable and straightforward and sounds virtuous while not requiring anything specific. I can pull this one off, I guess.
But the good thing is, we’re having this conversation. Not just Don and me, but societally. It’s one way in which, collectively, we’re improving.
For example, let’s pick a period, say, over the last 25 years.
Back in the last years of the waning century. The time when Google was founded, “Titanic” was sinking everywhere but the box office, the iMac had just launched, The Beastie Boys dropped “Hello Nasty,” and the ink on the Good Friday Agreement was still wet. Remember? Good times, good times!
Since then, we’ve made progress in how we think about animal rights. From conceptually, such as saying “fur parent” and “animal companion” (without snickering); and in practical ways, such as cruelty-free choke collars for canine companions (see, no snicker). Here are some of the ways that we’ve become better at implementing animal welfare care:
Firstly, there’s been a ginormous increase in public awareness regarding animal welfare issues. By means like documentaries, social media campaigns, and news coverage, folks have become more informed about the ethical treatment of animals and the impact of their choices.
And this awareness has led to stronger animal welfare laws. Many countries have implemented more vital legislation to protect animals from cruelty and neglect. These laws encompass animal abuse, animal testing, and the conditions animals are raised for food production.
And another pretty development is the growing global movement for reduced and eliminated animal testing for cosmetic/personal care products. In many regions, testing cosmetics on animals is banned, and alternative methods are being developed and adopted.
There’s also been growing acceptance and adaptation of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. Folks are choosing plant-based alternatives to animal products, recognizing the environmental impact of animal agriculture and the ethical concerns of animal food production, leading to a surge in plant-based food options.
For the flexitarians among us, there’ve been improved farm animal welfare standards: increasingly, people demand better animal treatment, prompting some companies and farmers to adopt higher welfare standards, providing animals with more space and better living conditions. While certification programs like “Certified Humane” and “Animal Welfare Approved” also help consumers identify farms with higher welfare standards.
On the wild side, the animal rescue and shelter system has gone wild, providing care and rehabilitation for abandoned/abused/injured animals while working to find suitable homes forever homes. Plus, spay/neuter programs and education on responsible pet ownership.
Many zoos and aquariums have shifted their focus from entertainment to conservation, education, and research, emphasizing protecting endangered species, providing more natural animal habitats, and engaging in breeding programs to reintroduce endangered species into the wild.
Companies and industries are committing to improving their practices. For example, major food retailers have pledged to source cage-free eggs and reduce antibiotic use in livestock.
These are just a few examples of how animal welfare has evolved over the last 25 years — dude, that’s like a quarter of a century!
While there’s still progress to be made, the growing awareness and efforts toward animal welfare indicate quite a positive shift in societal attitudes and behaviors.
See, you can teach people new tricks!
*So: I just tried out AI, and the section on the improvements in animal welfare was written based on those notes. Then I put my inimitable writerly moves on it.