There are few forms of animal oppression that we celebrate so boldly and blatantly as we do in our use of horses. Once used as a form of transport or a piece of machinery to help build, plough and tow, the horses use has now transferred in most parts of the world to that of an object existing for our entertainment. Whether that be to climb on their back for a pleasure ride, performance or gambling habits (see more here) or to be dragged through the urban landscape in a tacky display of times gone by. All involve the hijacking of one’s life, the breaking of one’s spirit and the assertion of domination, power and control of a magnificent individual, feeding our human superiority complex and catering to our deep seeded insecurities.

The sight of a horse tied to a post in a busy city centre, forced to wait for the next fare is a pitiful one. Such magnificent animals standing defeated, their heads hung low, their sprits broken. On occasion they will throw them about in frustration, unable to free themselves from the carriage shaft and harness that restricts their bodies. They may have another horse tied in alongside them, neither able to escape each other if desired. They will have no ability to move freely or express themselves, no ability to graze or even scratch an itch. There, they will remain for commonly 12-hour days, as adults and children alike come along, pat and poke at them, often to the annoyance of the individual who cannot get away. There they will inhale the city fumes and be forced to contend with busy traffic, cars, trams, cyclists, buses and pedestrians, late night drunk and obnoxious crowds. There, they will be on display as a slave, further normalising and reinforcing animal oppression, sending a message to children that animals exist to serve us. There, as plain as day, a magnificent, powerful and most majestic individual stands broken, humiliated and lowered to the status of a mere vehicle, waiting for you, the all mighty human, to be at your service.

Horses used to pull carriages, like all other forms of using animals as entertainment, is a business that exists for the benefit of the humans profiting from them, not for the horses. Often promoted as a sentimental outing, horse-drawn carriages are not as romantic as you might think and the related issues faced by the horses and the community are common across the globe. Campaigns running to have them banned repeatedly expose the inherent cruelty of the trade, the unavoidable dangers the trade poses to pedestrians; passengers; cyclists; and the horses themselves, the amenity impacts, the strong public opposition and the ever more prevalent understanding that animals simply do not exist to be used for our entertainment.

HORSE WELFARE

Like all industries involving the use of animals, the horses’ welfare is frequently compromised in the pursuit of profit. Many cities undertake Codes of Practice which are regularly proven to act more as a token gesture to reassure people the horses welfare is being addressed rather than a code existing to actually attempt to protect the horses. The Code of Practice that was until recently valid in the capital city of Melbourne Australia allowed horses to be forced to work in temperatures of up to 37 degrees and down to as low as any temperature, for up to 12 hour days. Campaigns throughout the world have proven time and again that the little protections such codes provide are not even enforced due to local councils not having the resources nor the will to bother.

In the peak of summer, the temperatures emanating from the black tar the horses stand can reach temperatures of up to 30 degrees above temperatures gauged, meaning horses can have a heat of up to 67 degrees Celsius radiating at them for much of the day in the peak of summer in hot cities such a Melbourne. Harvard-educated equine veterinarian Dr Holly Cheever[i] explains, “In the critical temperature range of 89-96 degrees Fahrenheit, (31.6 – 35.5 degrees Celsius) a large horse is greatly challenged in his/her ability to dissipate body heat into a hot environment, especially if high humidity is a factor. In a hot environment, a horse can lose 8-10 gallons of fluid with exercise, but if the air is saturated by high humidity, evaporative cooling cannot occur and the horse’s core temperature continues to climb. If the horse becomes dehydrated and cannot produce sweat, life-threatening anhydrosis ensues; keeping a horse well hydrated on urban streets is a challenge in these modern times with no public horse troughs.” It is important to note that in most of the world’s capital cities and regional towns where horses are used to pull carriages operators are not forbidden to force them to work in these conditions and have been regularly documented doing so.

Hard surfaces are an issue for all horses, irrelevant of the breed. Laminitis or founder, a very painful condition, occurs when the connective tissues or lamellae between the pedal bone and the hoof wall become inflamed. In severe cases, the pedal bone can separate from the hoof wall, and penetrate the sole. This condition is often crippling, cannot be cured and can be fatal.[ii] The Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages campaign in Australia has both observed and received reports of potential laminitis in the carriage horses. Unfortunately, lack of transparency from the relevant companies and the absence of any active regulatory body has meant they have not been provided with details of actions taken (if any). Evidence of hoof neglect is a regular occurrence.

Horses are forced to negotiate trams, buses, cyclists, pedestrians, skateboards and cars all day and night, placing them at immense risk of injury and death. Around the world life threatening incidents are commonplace and horses are often killed as a result of their enslavement.[iii] In Melbourne, recent years reports include cyclists crashing under carriages, cyclists being kicked by horses even when keeping to their own bike lane and horses spooking, throwing the driver from the vehicle, running consecutive red lights before crashing into bins.[iv] Another incident resulted in horses running freely over the Princes Bridge with six passengers on board after the driver was thrown from the carriage. He was sent to the hospital with back injuries.[v] More recently a horse was steered into an oncoming tram and his head smashed through the front safety glass.[vi]

On a hot summers day two horses lay injured on the road horrifying passers-by, yet as happened when the horse was struck by a tram, the operator was allowed to leave the scene and no vet checks of the horses were required nor was their wellbeing followed up.[vii]

After their ‘work’ days the horses are predominantly kept in inadequately sized yards or stalls in the inner city, in unacceptable conditions. Forced to sleep in high-rise stalls as has been documented in New York, or in vacant concrete lots under freeways, or on train lines strewn with debris as occurs in Melbourne Australia and many other capital cities, there is minimal security, lack of appropriate shelter and no adequate space to move about and rest.

Some horses are rotated back to paddocks on occasion and others not, depending on the operator. There is no regulation or requirements for any time away from the city. An ex-carriage driver from Melbourne alleges witnessing the horses of the company they worked for being kept in a tiny inappropriate filthy lot for their entire 3-month employment.

Aggressive and violent operators also appears to be associated with the trade globally. Melbourne has frequently documented both verbal and physical abuse from operators towards demonstrators and the general public.

Operators have also been witnessed punching horses in the head[viii], twisting their ears[ix] and being kicked to get back up after falling or collapsing on the roads.

Expert Facts and Opinions

Equine Veterinarian Dr Holly has a lifetime of experience in horse management, including the driving of carriage horses. Dr Cheever has long been documenting the detrimental health implications on New York’s carriage horses. “Carriage horse rides in urban settings remain popular tourist attractions in many cities, but, unfortunately, they place the horses in inappropriate environments that are detrimental to their health and well-being. Unequivocally, horse-drawn carriages and motor vehicles should not share the same roadways, as doing so puts the animals and public at risk. With their exhaust fumes, hard road surfaces, and busy traffic patterns, cities are simply not humane—as opposed to survivable—environments for carriage horses. “
Her evidence of the physical health implications on the horses and dangers posed to both horses and humans has been well documented.[x] Although reflective on New York specifically in this report, the issues of heat prostration, lameness, inexperience, spooking, and stabling are the same faced by horses used to pull carriages globally to varying degrees.

Horse behavioural expert Carlos Tabernaberri travels the world redefining the way in which we interact with horses. He has expressed immense concern for urban carriage horses, not only for their physical but also their mental states. In a letter to the Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages campaign Carlos states “While people may feel entitled to earn a living, I believe it should not be at the expense of the horse’s well-being. After all, the biggest crime of all is for good people to do nothing when they should have spoken. While I do not like to condemn I do not condone the practices of horse-drawn carriages in cities. They do not belong there in this time and age and I am aware like you of the detrimental health issues but most importantly mentally also. So, in short, I am with you.” 

In 2006 a thorough study of equine health and the impacts of the instruments used to ‘break’ and control horses for the various ‘activities’ they are used, was conducted at the University of Saint-Petersburg. Taking part was the research department of Nevzorov Haute Ecole, together with specialists and experts of the Forensic Medical Examination Office in St., Petersburg, veterinarians and journalists. Details of the experiments done to gauge the impact of the ‘bit’ (the cruel metal bar used in the horses mouth) can be found explained in both Volume 1 & 2 of the Nevzorov Haute Ecole Equine Anthology. Results demonstrate the use of bits on horses to be extremely painful – the jerking force exceeds 300 kilograms per square cm – the typical pull, being 80-100 kilograms per square cm. The devices act on a very small area of the horse’s head, which is all wired with nerves so can generate immense pain. Carriage drivers tug at the horses bits regularly to steer and control them through city traffic. Additionally, several have been witnessed very forcefully tugging at the bits to use the horse as weapons against both cyclists [xi] and demonstrators.

Stormy May, ex-horse trainer turned human educator exposes the impact of the tools used to control horses in her book and documentary film ‘The Path Of The Horse’.[xii] When referring to the St Petersberg study she states:
“There’s nothing benevolent about a bit. Even the best-fitted, mildest bit has only one function – to cause pain. Even the mildest bit has the capacity to break a horses jaw. When we’re causing pain to another being for our own pleasure, we can never have the sort of relationship that we’re fantasising about. We have horses that go where we say, when we say, at the gate we specify. All our training has done is turn our horses into puppets. To break through this illusion that we are doing the best for our horses, we must be willing to re-evaluate everything we currently take for granted. We must be willing to see things as they are and to call abuse abuse and torture torture, rather than cloaking it in euphemisms such as schooling and correction.” 

Seeing these cruel practices as acceptable everyday behaviour by both the carriage drivers and some members of the public is largely due to horse control and domination being so deeply ingrained and normalised throughout our society.

A GLOBAL MOVEMENT

Many cities around the world have banned the use of horses to pull carriages on both horse welfare and horse and human safety grounds. Most recently Guadalajara (Mexico), Montreal (Canada), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Salt Lake City (US), Mumbai (India) have joined the growing list. In July 2017, the City of Melbourne (Australia) banned the street trading permits of carriage operators[xiii] however the trade continues illegally due to lack of enforcement by councillors and the Lord Mayor. Operators blatantly breach street-trading and road safety laws whilst local law enforcement officers, VicRoads and Victoria Police turn a blind eye. Visit the Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages page for ongoing documented evidence. https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneAgainstHorseDrawnCarriages

SOLD OFF TO STRANGERS WHEN NO LONGER WANTED

Carriage operators will often claim to love the horses they profit from and refer to them as family members when they are challenged. Yet, it is standard industry practice to breed, buy and sell horses at a whim depending on the needs of the operator at the time. Buying and selling living beings for profit, and using them in harsh environments to their detriment is not a sign of love. Horses once used to pull carriages have been documented at horse sales and sold online by carriage operators once they no longer want them. There is absolutely no regard shown for who these horses are sold to, where they will live and how they will be treated into the future. This is not how you treat a loved one or a family member, further proving that horses used to pull carriages are viewed and treated as mere commodities for profit.

NOT FOR ENTERTAINMENT

 Now more than any other time in history, humans are analysing and re-assessing our relationship with non-human animals whom we share this planet. No longer does the past offer a reasonable excuse to continue with practices out of step with societies expectations now and into the future. It is also the responsibility of those elected to not only reflect those values but be leaders in positive change. The use of animals in the circus is becoming widely unaccepted ( the use of exotic animals recently banned by the City of Melbourne), marine parks are continually trying to justify holding marine mammals in captivity, rodeos routinely display agregious animal torture and so-called “sports” such as greyhound and horse racing continue to be exposed for heinous cruelty against animals all in the name of greed. The use of animals for human entertainment is a cruel and outdated concept.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES

Capital cities are abundant with cruelty-free entertainment. Melbourne Australia for example, named the most liveable city, is world class in the arts, vegan food, music, cultural diversity, historic monuments, museums and nightlife. Family friendly day activities are on offer throughout the beautiful gardens, galleries, laneways, theatres, cultural and activity centres. Pedicabs offer a safer and cruelty-free way to explore the cities highlights and push bikes can be hired to make use of the ever-growing cycling routes. At night the city transforms into a thriving restaurant, bar, live music and entertainment hub, whilst family friendly tours and activities go into the late hours.

FUTURE MELBOURNE

Melbourne is set to keep growing at a fast pace with population expected to almost double to 7.7 million by 2051. The City of Melbourne itself is already a thriving metropolis with around 805,000 people using the city every day and more than a million international visitors to the CBD each year. Central Melbourne has one of the fastest growing residential populations in Australia and has seen a proliferation of apartment buildings in recent years. Swanston Street (where the carriage operators continue to illegally trade and park) is the busiest tram route in the world and with current plans for the Metro Rail Tunnel, this location is entirely inappropriate for a fleet of horse carriages. Numbers of bicycle commuters have sky-rocketed and the carriages present a serious road hazard along busy thoroughfares. Horse-drawn carriages have no place in a sophisticated world city such as Melbourne, which continues to develop at an increased density.

What are we reinforcing in people (particularly children) if we condone one of the most majestic beings on the planet being tied to a post much of the day, a metal bar shoved in his/her mouth, a waste bag tied to their body, being jerked to and fro, on injury inflicting surfaces, amongst dangerous traffic and fumes, for something as menial as taking a tourist trip that can be as easily done on foot or by other means? Is this really what we believe horses exist for – to serve us like slaves, in harness all day with no way to move freely or behave naturally? Forcing an animal into submission, to do as we demand, when we demand is not an expression of love and respect. It is the wielding of control and dominance. The most loving thing we can do for any being is to allow them to exist as close to as what comes naturally to them as possible. We must let go of our need to interfere when not necessary. It takes strength to rethink what has been ingrained in human society for thousands of years, to critically analyse and see things for what they are. Our seemingly uncontrollable human desire to intervene rather than observe such beauty from a distance will never give us the true and meaningful connection with animals we so desperately desire.

For an in-depth interview with Vocal Animal on the Melbourne campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages click here.

Author: Kristin Leigh
Occupation: Communications Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Founder & President of Vegan Rising

[i] https://www.hsvma.org/holly_cheever#.VVaow9qqqko

[ii] https://kb.rspca.org.au/what-is-laminitis-and-how-can-it-be-prevented-or-treated_461.html

[iii] http://www.partnershiptobanhorsecarriages.com/accidents-2/

[iv]https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/marriage-proposal-ends-with-horses-bolting-through-city-20130822-2sda9.html

[v]https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/calls-for-ban-after-horse-pulling-carriage-of-six-bolts-in-cbd-20150823-gj5ndp.html

[vi]https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/horse-smashes-head-through-tram-window-in-swanston-street-20160713-gq4t0v.html

[vii] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-20/horses-injured-taking-carriage-passengers-in-melbourne/9464264

[viii]https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneAgainstHorseDrawnCarriages/photos/a.265725283594622/544843885682759/?type=3&theater

[ix]https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneAgainstHorseDrawnCarriages/videos/551155588384922/

[x]https://www.hsvma.org/the_urban_carriage_horse_ride#.VVapBdqqqko

[xi] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-11/horse-drawn-carriage-melbourne-cyclist-incident-evidence-problem/5961362

[xii] http://ourhorses.org/

[xiii] https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbournes-dangerous-horse-and-carriage-rides-to-be-moved-from-city-20170525-gwcm5h.html

“Our community has reached a stage of enlightenment where it can no longer accept the institutionalised killing of native birds for recreation.” These were the words uttered in 1990 by Premier Carmen Lawrence as she banned duck hunting in Western Australia. Twenty-eight years later Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory still surrender their wetlands to a small group of blood sports enthusiasts for almost a quarter of each year.

WHAT IS DUCK SHOOTING?

In semi-darkness, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, duck shooters fire into the sky hoping to kill their legal quota of ten ducks per day. Using shotguns, which contain plastic cartridges filled with up to 200 steel pellets to increase their chances of hitting a bird, the even more unfortunate result is often a fractured wing, shattered beak or a broken leg. Birds with these injuries can easily escape a hunter but will be left to die a slow and painful death over the following days. Whilst difficult to quantify, the wounding rate estimates from RSPCA[i] and modelling conducted by Dr. Geoff Russell[ii] range from 25% to 45%; this equates to tens of thousands of ducks per season. Low visibility making identification difficult, the spread of pellets, or careless hunting also results in other native species eg. swans and coot being killed. On the opening weekend of 2017 at just 1 wetland, 69 shot protected birds were found by volunteers.[iii]

THE FACTS

The rules vary between states. Here we are specifically referring to Victoria.

• The duck shooting season runs for 12 weeks, beginning the third weekend of March.
• Duck shooters can use any one of hundreds of state reserves and waterways across Victoria or private land.
• There are 26,000 shooters registered in Victoria, which is 0.4% of the population.
• To be a duck shooter you must pass a Waterfowl ID Test, hold a valid game licence and a firearms licence. Unless you are aged 12-17 and being supervised by an adult duck shooter. In which case you don’t need to know how to ID the legal birds to shoot at.
• If you do not hold these permits you are prohibited from approaching within 25 metres of the water’s edge in these public lands designated as hunting areas. Bird watching, dog walking, and picnics become restricted activities.
• There are eight species of duck that are considered ‘game’ birds and therefore allowed to be killed during this season. All through the rest of the year they remain protected, like all other native birds.
• Each day every shooter is allowed to kill up to ten ducks. This is referred to as the ‘bag limit’

Each year since 1986, duck rescue volunteers attend the wetlands to rescue wounded waterbirds and prevent them from being shot in the first place. These rescuers are there every weekend of the season and many weekdays too.

WHY WE OPPOSE DUCK SHOOTING

No animal should be killed for entertainment, and that is solely what a recreational duck shooting season is.

Even those who oppose such a statement must concede that inherent in recreational duck shooting is the significant suffering for birds and ineffective regulation from authorities.

Being shot is not a good way to die for a duck. The kill is often not immediate and sometimes requires the duck shooter to ‘dispatch’ – which means to kill – by swinging the bird around by the neck.  It is a violent end.

It is also an activity that guarantees some of the ducks will get away wounded rather than be killed.  This will then be a slow and agonizing death over a number of days for this bird. Even an excellent marksman will not hit perfectly every time and the use of a shotgun means that there is a widespread of pellets, not a single bullet, that increases the danger of wounding to nearby birds, not just the target.

Every year there are multiple cases where shooters have killed more than their bag limit or have shot protected species that are not game ducks, which have included swans, endangered ducks like the freckled duck and even bats.

During the opening weekend of the duck season for 2017 at Koorangie Reserve, a massacre larger than seasoned rescuers had ever witnessed took place. Rescuers found it impossible to keep up with the number of wounded innocents needing to be rushed to shore, and the bodies of the dead left behind to rot found them without enough sacks to carry them all.  Later, further gruesome discoveries were made. Hundreds of illegally shot ducks were discarded and concealed in a mass grave. Over 260 protected species killed and dumped whilst authorised officers were on shore at the same wetland, supposedly regulating the behaviour of duck shooters.^[i] In this pit of hundreds of ducks, not a single bird had been used for food (an attempt to justify the killing often used by shooters); they were thrown away fully intact.  These birds were all killed for the entertainment of a few.

THE STORY OF A WOUNDED DUCK

I was standing several hundred metres into a wetland on what would have otherwise been a beautiful day.  The sound of the shotgun from a duck shooter just 30 metres from me echoed in my ears, but fortunately, he had not hit any birds all morning.  I watched as he reluctantly packed up and began walking back to his car.  Without warning, he unslung his weapon and fired rapidly into the sky.  A duck fell, hitting the water near where I stood.  Judging the distance to be too far, and seeing that I was so much closer, the shooter made no move towards the duck.  Instead, he shrugged and resumed walking to his car.  The duck flapped one wing furiously, trying to right herself. She struggled to keep her head above water.  When I reached her and picked her up I could see the pellets had shattered her wing and possibly one had entered her body, yet her eyes remained alert.

I held her in my arms as gently as possible as I made my way to shore where I hoped to get her to the first aid that may help. I whispered to her what I hoped were soothing words, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Hold on.”

I was in sight of shore, so close, but not close enough. I felt a change in the body of the duck held close to me for warmth. I had hoped her injuries would allow a chance at recovery but the sheer trauma of having pellets rip through her was too much for such a little body and her breathing stopped. I walked the rest of the way slowly wanting to scream and rage at the cruelty of the shooter who had taken this life with zero concern, yet I knew that my only option was to get out there again to try to help the next bird because this is the reality of duck shooting.

FAQ AND DEFENCES

“Aren’t ducks pests and have to be controlled?  Farmers need their crops protected.”

Only one of the ducks on the game species list is ever seen eating rice farmers’ crops – the wood duck.  Environmentally they do more good than harm, eating pest insects and weeds as well as fertilising the fields. In some countries, ducks are even introduced to rice paddies to symbiotically support the production.

“It’s a tradition.”

Many things are a tradition that have ultimately been outlawed. Food is no longer scarce and there are many outdoor family activities available to fill the gap. Society has progressed to the point where more than 70% of the population recognise the need to do away with this barbaric hobby.

“Shooters bring lots of money to rural economies.”

Most of the money spent by duck shooters is spent before they leave, purchasing drinks, food, and petrol near home and not in the small towns near the wetlands.

Ecotourism is a better option for the future. It is estimated to bring in a vastly superior amount of money for regional Victoria as opposed to the 1.5% of income generated by duck shooting.[iv]

“It’s better than factory farmed duck.”

That may be true but posing the statement that way is a logical trick.  It implies it is essential for humans to consume the bodies of waterbirds and they will either come from the wetlands or from a factory or so-called ‘humane’ farm. In fact, there is absolutely no physiological need for us to eat ducks and there is no kind way to kill a bird who wants to live. All these methods involve significant and unnecessary suffering.

“At least the ducks get to have a life.”

Yes.  And they would like to continue having that life.  Shooting kills young and old indiscriminately – separating partners where some of these species mate for life and orphaning ducklings who may not survive being parentless.

GEELONG DUCK RESCUE

Geelong Duck Rescue invite you to join them if you feel that the wounding rate is too high, or that no native bird deserves to suffer and that wetlands are for everyone – most of all for wildlife, not for a select few humans. We believe that duck shooting has no place in Geelong or elsewhere and we strive to see an end to duck shooting in our community.

Geelong Duck Rescue aims to protect our native water birds and the unique environment of our RAMSAR listed wetlands. Additionally, we want to raise awareness: the Connewarre State Game Reserve which comprises Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake is actually IN Geelong, surrounded by increasingly built up residential area. Many people living in Geelong are not aware that duck shooting is happening in their backyards.

Follow us on Facebook or contact us directly if you’d like to get involved!

www.facebook.com/geelongduckrescue

Author: Natalie Kopas
Occupation: Pharmacist
Geelong Duck Rescue Coordinator

PO Box 620, Altona, Vic, 3018
info@geelongduckrescue.org.au

[i] http://kb.rspca.org.au/what-are-the-wounding-rates-associated-with-duck-hunting_529.html

[ii]https://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/hunting/the-facts-about-crippling-and-wounding-rates-in-waterfowl-in-australia/

[iii] http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/duck_shooting.php

[iv]http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/263714/Estimating-economic-impact-of-hunting-in-Victoria.pdf

WHAT ABOUT DOLPHIN WELFARE?

In the 1960s, the concept of animal welfare first appeared on the public agenda once intensive factory farming conditions began to emerge and intercept watercooler conversations. Revelations and exposés of the poor conditions these short-lived animals endured – including those animals in laboratories – inspired animal liberation literature, prompted formal investigations into the cruelty allegations, and encouraged formal research into attempting to clarify and define what “animal welfare” meant to both the humans and animals alike. Over the years various categories of definitions of welfare have been proposed, all involving (more or less) health, living conditions, and ‘feelings’ – depending on the motive and influence of the research being conducted.

However, not all animals were included on the animal cruelty radar of the 1960s animal liberation front. Whilst the public were becoming outraged over the treatment of factory-farmed animals, the 1960s also saw a surge in popularity of ‘dolphinariums’ (marine parks basing their business model on performing dolphins) popularised by the 1990s television series “Flipper”. As such, it was not for a further three decades until the concept of “welfare” surfaced in dolphin research, coinciding with a sharp rise in swim-and-kiss the dolphin programs.

Undeniably, assessing any animals welfare would be an inherently subjective task and essentially, in whatever living conditions these animals are subject to, humans need to be able to fundamentally strive for good and avoid bad. Striving for living conditions where purposed animals can exercise all their natural behaviours and display genuine positive emotional states should be a part of any good practice protocols… But if a factory-farm animal, a lab used rat, a monkey in a cage or a dolphin in a tank is objectively measured as being “happy”, does that mean it is morally good?

right

rʌɪt/

adjective

adjective: right; comparative adjective: righter; superlative adjective: rightest

• morally good, justified, or acceptable.

The history of animal welfare tells us that achieving good welfare was a result of the mere absence of animal suffering. Highlighting this archaic thinking, is the Five Domains Model – a contemporary framework widely used as a benchmark to assess animal welfare standards; focusing on measuring nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental health state. This framework has been used almost exclusively for animals used for food, work and testing, and occasionally the model is voluntarily adopted by zoos e.g. Zoos South Australia has adopted the model into their Animal Welfare Charter.

But what about dolphin welfare? The catalyst for the worldwide dolphin welfare movement involved the releases of acclaimed documentaries The Cove and Blackfish, triggering global public outcry and shining the spotlight on Taiji, Japan and SeaWorld in the USA. The media and public viciously demanded a ban on wild-dolphin hunting and stricter welfare standards for captive dolphins. Scientists also responded by diving deep into dolphin-focused studies, building upon existing marine welfare research from the 1990’s.

Dolphin abducted to be sold for human entertainment – Taiji Japan
Credit: Justice for Captives

In 2015 the C-Well© Assessment for bottlenose dolphins was developed – one of the first comprehensive and cognitive bias studies focusing on dolphins in captivity – designed to set the industry standard benchmark for dolphin welfare. Then, with the aim of establishing effective conservation protocols for cetaceans, in 2016 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) proposed that they adopted the Five Domains Model also, with special tailoring to adapt to (wild) cetacean needs. It appears that finally, dolphins are beginning to have a clearer voice in the scientific community.

So, now we see dolphin welfare also considered. Not unlike considering the welfare of other animals used by humans, in farms, in labs, in circuses, on racetracks, in backyards, in cages, and in tanks what has this actually achieved if their use is to continue? Their suffering goes on, in all corners of the world… Sure, the Five Domains Animal Welfare Model is a step in the right direction, but it is certainly not the solution. If by measuring happiness is to simply measure the reduction of suffering, we can simply show compassion by trying to eliminate the suffering altogether.

CAPTIVE DOLPHINS AS COMMODITIES IN AUSTRALIA

Meanwhile in Australia, back in 1985 the Australian Government enlisted a Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare to write a comprehensive report on dolphins and whales in captivity. The intent of the report was to target the marine park facilities who were housing dolphins and using them for entertainment purposes. Several dolphin welfare recommendations were proposed by the committee, essentially postulating that it is profoundly unacceptable to capture and house dolphins and use them as commodities for human entertainment. Following these recommendations, all but two dolphinariums in Australia ceased operation. Those remaining are the well-known Sea World Australia on the Gold Coast, QLD and Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Through offering dolphin-human interaction ‘experiences’ and elaborate performances to large crowds, Sea World and Dolphin Marine Magic are in direct violation of the Australian Governments 1985 Senate Committee on Animal Welfare’s recommendations. Furthermore, under the guise of “rescuing” wild dolphins these parks can jump through legal hoops and continue with their breeding programs to ensure the next generation of performers are lined up for the same fate (known as the rescue-breed-release tactic). It’s interesting to note here, that Sea World heavily promotes its rescue programs to gain public support, although only about 0.07% of their profits go towards these initiatives and helping wild animals.

It is also important to understand that there is an enormous difference between the life of a dolphin in the wild, and the life of a dolphin in captivity. For example, in the wild, a dolphin can swim up to 65kms a day, playing and hunting amongst their complex social networks. Whilst in captivity, a dolphin is confined to a small, sterile and artificial space with few other dolphins and fed only at the will of their trainers during training or performances. Put plainly, the life of a dolphin in a pool is wholly unnatural compared to the infinite freedom of the ocean.

Dolphins are not commodities, they are individuals. As a species commonly sighted on coastal shorelines, dolphins are adored and extremely popular in Australia and it is not necessary to pay to see them up close in unnatural environments. It is understandable that having the opportunity to closely interact with these animals can be intriguing and exciting – but what might the dolphin be thinking? Attending a dolphin show or engaging in a meet-the-dolphin experience at the expense of compromised ‘welfare’ isn’t giving these intelligent, sentient animals the respect they deserve.

It is time Australia respects our beloved dolphins. In practice, this takes two simple steps:

• Say no to the show – Stop financially supporting Sea World or Dolphin Marine Magic
• Be heard – Campaign for the rehabilitation of the wild-born dolphins back to the ocean and the release of captive-born dolphins into an ocean-pen

We can achieve true dolphin welfare by simply giving them their freedom.

“A dolphin’s smile is the greatest deception. It creates the illusion that they’re always happy.”

• Ric O’Barry

Author: Chelsea Hannah
Psychology Student
Co-founder, Director || Justice for Captives

Resources:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274256108_C-Well_The_Development_of_a_Welfare_Assessment_Index_for_Captive_Bottlenose_Dolphins_Tursiops_truncatus

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315492266_Report_of_the_Workshop_to_Support_the_IWC’s_Consideration_of_Non-Hunting_Related_Aspects_of_Cetacean_Welfare

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Significant_Reports/animalwelfarectte/dolphinswhalesincaptivity/index

http://kb.rspca.org.au/afile/635/150/1/

https://awionline.org/

Horseback riding is synonymous with romantic notions of wanderlust and freedom.  Of all the ways humans use animals, whether for food, entertainment, clothing or experiments, horse-riding often enjoys the least scrutiny from an animal welfare perspective. Pampered thoroughbreds, a little girl’s best friend, trusty steeds – horses are a symbol of power and status and have been used to advance civilisation for centuries.  Humans domesticated the horse about 5,500 years ago.  They were heavily involved in helping us build our cities, develop our agriculture systems and fight our wars.  No doubt that our use of these powerful and gentle creatures helped us get to where we are today, and helped us get there quicker.

Fast forward to the present day, and horses are still being utilised for a broad range of activities.  From sports and leisure to policing and crowd control, we continue to harness their gentle natures and powerful bodies. The difference today of course, is that we have the option to use horses.  The Industrial Revolution changed our reliance on these animals for laborious tasks, with the advent of powerful machinery and effective transportation systems.  Our relationship with horses is now one of unnecessary use and the pursuit of pleasure.

Many horse ‘owners’ will maintain that their horses are willing subjects – that they desire human interaction in the form of a dominant/submissive narrative, and that they are treated like a member of the family. There is no doubt that many of these horse-carers genuinely believe this, however from the moment a foal is born she enters into a world where she will be viewed only in terms of what humans can take from her. She is not loved for who she is, but for what she can give, when in reality she is an innocent being with a right to her own life.  Maybe she’s destined for the mounted police, maybe she’ll have the dexterity to make an impressive equestrian showpony, maybe she’ll be a fast thoroughbred and ‘earn her keep’ at the races for her human carers. Before any of that, she’ll have to be ‘broken in’.

BREAKING IN

Oddly, the terminology in this earliest stage of horsemanship is disarmingly honest.  Indeed, modern horse-training schools have recently gone to lengths to rename the crushing of an animal’s spirit by repackaging it as ‘Foundation Training’. Another reassuring ethical massage for their clients, the concerned horse-carers forever seeking the right way to do the wrong thing. However, as its traditional name suggests, the training of a horse from free-spirit to learned helplessness requires a mandatory breaking of free-will.  Horses, as prey animals, have an inborn fight or flight instinct that has to be adapted to human needs. Horses need to be taught to rely upon humans to determine when fear or flight is an appropriate response to new stimuli and not to react by instinct alone. Methods in Australia and throughout the world vary, and are perhaps beyond the scope of this website, however the same principle and objective is at the heart of all horse ‘training’. Let’s look at one example.

A popular training method of taming these gentle prey animals is ‘round pen training’, pioneered by Monty Roberts, a horse trainer given saviour-like status in many equestrian circles. Round pens create a training environment where it becomes easy for the trainer to get the horses attention. Their small diameters limit the horse’s ability to flee or evade the trainer, and their shape limits their activity options. This is where the horse learns to fear.

Of course, the ever-present artificial aids are a hallmark of this training. Even carrying a whip into this confined space is a very real threat to a prey animal and the source of great dread.  Roberts boasts of his ability to control his more easily broken horses by merely holding the whip in his hand in a neutral position (“The Man who Listens to Horses – Monty Roberts).  However, this isn’t a display of wonderful horsemanship, it is the threat of violence to one individual by another. All of these artificial aids at the very least threaten violence and are more often than not used violently and painfully to dominate the horse into displaying unnatural behaviours.  The sheer variety of torture instruments used by humans to control horses is overwhelming, we look at just a few of them here.

The Bit

A bit is a type of horse tack used extensively in equestrian activities. It is usually made of metal or a synthetic material and is placed in the mouth in an interdental region where there are no teeth. Supposedly, the purpose of this instrument is to assist a rider in communicating with the animal. It is held on a horse’s head by a bridle and has reins attached for use by a rider. With all of this horse tack built around the horses head, the rider has a much higher chance of dominating and controlling the horse.

A bit functions through the principle of negative reinforcement: the rider applies pressure through the reins to the bit in the horse’s mouth and the horse is reinforced or rewarded for the correct response by softer contact or a release or pressure, depending on the style of riding. This is in ‘an ideal situation’.

However, a hard-handed rider can make even the mildest bit excruciating. Given the amount of nerves in a horses’ mouth and their sensitive muzzle, the sensation of a chunk of metal lodged into their mouths would be beyond uncomfortable.  Include a rider who ‘knows what they are doing’, or a boisterous inexperienced beginner, the same result will transpire – the horse will experience pulling, jerking, tension. The grind of metal against molar.  A torturous device used expressly to dominate through causing pain and bullying into submission.

Spurs

The spur is a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider’s heel and used for urging a horse forward.

Spurs are used in all disciplines of English and western riding (especially at professional level) and are touted as very useful training aids. How so?  They can very easily stab and gouge a horse’s skin and sides, creating raw open sores.

Respected horseman Harry Hall, a supporter of spurs, will even concur:

“ if they are used incorrectly or by an incompetent rider then they are certainly completely unacceptable. So, is it more of a question of rider rather than the actual spurs?”[i]

However, blaming the rider rather than the instrument is not a valid position to take, as riders are not working with machinery, they are controlling a thinking, feeling, living being.  The regulation of spur use is impossible, as these are legal, available ‘training aids’.  And, just like Monty Roberts’ whip, they don’t have to be making contact with a horse to produce fear and stress.  Their very presence around a horse is severely unsettling, particularly in a prey animal who is hardwired to sense danger and flee from it.

Blinkers

Blinkers are usually made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, attached to a bridle. Many racehorse trainers believe these keep horses focused on what is in front, encouraging them to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. For this reason, they’re also an essential accessory for carriage horses.  Driving horses have a lower chance of being distracted or spooked when their vision is limited. When a horse has been robbed of so many of their other natural behaviours, the inclusion of blinkers to their torturous accessories would truly shut them down, forced into the helplessness that carriage drivers and jockeys would find so desirable. There can be no doubt that this device, designed to deprive an animal of their senses, is instrumental in breaking their spirit. A pathetic sight on a CBD street is a pair of carriage horses, tethered tightly to a pole, hooked up to a heavy carriage, unable to move forwards or backwards, chaos surrounding them, and not even able to see what is happening around them.

Tongue Ties

Now common in horseracing, the tongue tie is reportedly used to prevent noise and airway obstruction caused by the horse pulling back their tongue and pulling their soft palate backwards limiting oxygenation during exercise.[ii] The horses tongue is manually yanked firmly to the outside of their mouth and a band is forced around it and then under their jaw to hold the tongue as low and flat in the mouth as possible. This unnatural position would no doubt be uncomfortable for the horse at best, whilst also severely restricting blood flow. Studies have shown tongue ties can result in lacerations, bruising and swelling of the tongue, difficulty swallowing, and behaviour indicating stress. [iii] A healthy horse that is not over exhurted is capable of breathing on their own. Studies have failed to prove that tongue-ties are effective in preventing displacement yet, even if they were, a tongue tie is just another example of a cruel implement existing solely to assist in forcing a horse into extreme circumstances for the benefit no-one but the human.

TRAIL RIDING

A popular pastime with holidaymakers everywhere, trail-riding is most lay-person’s first introduction to live horse interaction. This activity can be undertaken by riders of all levels, and due to its leisurely reputation is a favourite amongst complete beginners. Accordingly, trail-riding horses have to be thoroughly ‘Broken In’. Trail-riding horses are often the ‘rejects’ of the more lucrative and ‘glamourous’ racing industry. A small percentage of thoroughbreds that aren’t fast enough for the racetrack are sometimes repurposed as intermediate-level trail horses (the ‘lucky’ ones). Trail riding horses tend to be quiet and able to deal with lots of distractions – not prone to spooking or bucking (both natural instincts). A free-spirited horse does not become a trail-riding horse without extensive and relentless efforts to separate his instincts and desires from his actions. Another thing to consider with trail riding and all other activities that require climbing on the horses back is the physiological pain this can inflict. Studies show discomfort leading to pain commences after only a few minutes through compromised circulation. [iv] Skeletal, muscle and tissue damage is almost always displayed. Trail riding is also a highly repetitive existence for horses. They are marched out in single file along a small selection of local routes for the length of a tour. Considering the distance covered by wild horses in their own environment, these constraints mount to mental torture for animals often admired for their association with freedom.

DRESSAGE

Dressage is a highly precise form of riding, usually performed as part of an exhibition or competition.  In these events, a series of predetermined movements have to be completed by horse and rider, requiring great concentration and discipline. The area the entire sequence covers is usually around 20x60metres. For a 550kg animal that values their freedom, dressage is the epitome of everything unnatural and undesirable. Riders show their proficiency by making their horses walk, trot and canter for frustratingly short distances.

A particularly torturous motif in dressage (and show jumping) is the desire for a horse to present with a ‘rollkur’. This is an alarmingly unnatural overbending of the neck, so that the chin is as close as possible to the horse’s chest. Even amongst dressage lovers, this practice is becoming more controversial. Forcing a horses head down into this unnatural position means that he, can only see his own feet, and is dependent entirely on the rider for balance. This limited vision, along with forced precision and unnatural stretching of the neck muscles, equates to physical and psychological torture.

A final insult: a horse shows his inferiority to another horse by lowering his head. The lower the head the more submission. It also works the other way around; if you lower the head of the horse they feel inferior, robbing them of their pride. Dressage breaks down a horse piece by piece, and as they perform this sinister dance, a shell of their original selves remains.

HORSE RACING

“Horses love to race”; a statement often made by a punter or ‘owner’ to justify their lust for this ‘sport’.  Watching wild horses gallop across the landscape is a breathtaking sight, and anyone lucky enough to witness this can plainly see that these horses love to run together.  However, there is a world of difference between a horse running for pleasure using their own free will and being forced to run around a track with an aggressive rider on their back, vying for first place by whatever means necessary – including whipping.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne have shown that after being forced to race where they are pushed beyond their limits, 56 per cent of horses have blood in their windpipe, and 90 per cent have blood deeper in their lungs. ‘Over-whipping’ is a common breach of racing rules with miniscule fines occasionally result. So, there is an acceptable industry standard of the number of times a grown adult can beat up on a horse whilst people cheer him or her on.

Off-track and out of sight from the public, the day to day life of a racehorse is a far cry from the pampered, cherished, meticulous care the racing industry would have us believe. In order to get a horse onto the track with a fighting chance at winning, trainers will resort to unethical and illegal activities.

Doping

On the day of racing, horses are to be clear of any substances deemed prohibited – though they may be used in training.  The fact that hundreds of different drugs are manufactured on a yearly basis, detection is made extremely difficult. However the use of drugs in racehorses is extremely common. Trainers are desperate to give their horse an edge in a fiercely competitive ‘sport’, with no regard to welfare of the horse they are drugging to line their own pockets.

A horse can be given extra temporary energy using stimulants, or pain can be masked via an analgesic. Other drugs can control pulmonary bleeding, an important condition to prevent and manage. The sight of a racehorse bleeding from the nose is an extremely bad look for the industry. Drugging up a horse is a small price to pay to avoid a three-month ban (or life if it occurs twice) in Australia.

Confined Living

It’s tempting to think that these magnificent animals get free reign of the fields and meadows and paddocks in their down-time, but this simply isn’t the case. Most punters don’t give a second thought to what’s happening behind the scenes: beautiful, strong, ‘healthy’ horses are presented on race day and the assumption is they live that glamourous, pampered life all year where they are centre of attention and fastidiously cared for.

In reality, most racehorses are kept for up to 22 hours a day in a stall about the size of a standard bedroom. [v]

For an animal designed to roam, run and explore, evade predators and cover large distances, this stabling is another form of mental and physical torture. Locked up, forgotten about, and excessively lonely – the only aspect of love their trainers have is for the money the horse can potentially make.

Unable to graze. Unable to socialise. Not free to move. This mental torture manifests itself in abnormal behaviour. Like any animal, human or otherwise, confinement leads to symptoms of boredom, stress and anxiety such as wood chewing, walking back and forth, swaying to and fro.

Confinement also leads to physical symptoms in a horse, such is their sensitivity.

Stomach Ulcers

Trainers favour high protein intermittent feeding as it is thought to maximise the horses’ performance, but this diet is a disaster for the horse.  Confining the horse used for racing to a stable denies them access to graze.  Constant grazing of fibrous food is essential in helping slow the production of stomach acid and neutralise conditions in the stomach. When a horse is confined to a small stable and fed to a timetable, there is no way to neutralise the acid that will damage the stomach lining. This leads to painful stomach ulcers.

Nanny Mares

A dirty secret horse racing will go to great lengths to conceal is the practice of ‘Nanny’ mares.  A ‘Nanny’ mare is kept pregnant for her milk supply as insurance against a prize broodmare dying while giving birth.  A surrogate mother is assured for the thoroughbred foal in the shape of this ‘nanny’ mare, and as she steps in to raise the thoroughbred foal, her own baby is treated as wastage and killed.

Death Toll & Wastage

The statistics on horse racing are dire and leave little room for debate on whether or not it is a cruel activity.  In Australia, horse calendar year 2016-17 alone, 137 horses died on track at race day. These are just the deaths that are reported from on track injuries and cardiac arrest – many more happen in trials and trackwork and many die away from the track, hours or days after injuries have occurred, where there is currently no requirement to record the death in official stewards reports. Yet still, this is a tiny proportion of the horses that die in this ‘sport’. It is estimated that approximately 13,000 horses exit the industry every year, most of them ‘failed’. Knackeries and slaughterhouses exist throughout Australia killing and cutting up the bodies of these apparently prized individuals to become pet food or to be shipped overseas for human consumption. This is where failed, and even once successful, horses used by the racing industry go to retire.

Jumps Racing

Hardly requiring an explanation, even some lovers of ‘regular horse racing’ are appalled by the brutality of making a 550kg animal galloping at speed jump at a height with a rider on their back. Indeed, jumps racing is said to be 20 times more dangerous than any other type of horse racing. It’s important to remember that, by supporting any type of horse racing, you’re also propping up the jumps racing industry, where just like flat racing horses lives are valued at how much money they can be forced to make for their exploiters.

It is obvious that any kind of horse racing does not have the horses’ best interests at heart.  This is a multi-billion-dollar worldwide industry reliant on the public remaining in the dark. So far, they have enjoyed great success pitching the ‘horses love to race’ lie, but in an era where ignorance is often a choice and more people are waking up to the evils of this industry, they are clearly on borrowed time.

Horses are complex, sensitive, powerful, soulful creatures we are lucky enough to share our world with.  Even our highly civilised, 21^st century sensibilities cannot fail to notice that, of all the species in the animal kingdom, there are few who so openly and affirmatively bask in and relish their freedom in a way we can easily interpret.  It’s so very obvious to anyone with eyes to see.  It is time we stop interfering with these gentle beings and let them live the way nature intended, the way every instinct in their bodies commands, and every desire in their hearts wish.

FOR HORSES USED IN RODEO’S – click here

FOR HORSES USED TO PULL CARRIAGES – click here

FOR HORSES USED FOR MEDICINE (PREMARIN) – click here

Author: Catherine Wright
Occupation: Project Administrator
Animal Rights Activist

[i] https://harryhall.com/blog/post/spurs-kind-or-cruel/

[ii] https://theconversation.com/over-20-of-australian-horses-race-with-their-tongues-tied-to-their-lower-jaw-99584

[iii] https://theconversation.com/over-20-of-australian-horses-race-with-their-tongues-tied-to-their-lower-jaw-99584

[iv] Stormy May in ‘The Path of the Horse’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQUMAJCh1fA

[v] https://www.horseracingkills.com/

Cover image by Erin Dolson on Unsplash

“What did the animals do wrong?” the young child asked their Mum. In the simplicity and honesty of a child, they saw the animals exactly as they are in a zoo…in prison.

Searching for peer-reviewed articles on this subject from a true animal care point of view was not easy. One of the first articles I read (Bashaw et al, 2007 p.95-109) stated quite early on in the piece, ‘The observers noted that a change in the animal’s habitat causes them to be more active and thus more enjoyable to watch by visitors during the day.’ The care was not for the welfare of the animals, but rather how could they be more interesting and entertaining for the humans to look at.

I lived in hope for some sort of connection, some attempt even, to place the writer of any reports into the animals’ position. How would a magnificent Sumatran tiger feel in a small space when in their natural habitat their territory can be more than 10,000 square kilometres? (Science, 2018) I lived in hope for some empathy.

The argument that zoos keep endangered species from going extinct is often touted, and upon first mention, seems very plausible. Whilst a certain species of animal sits in the safety of a zoo, they cannot have their habitat taken over by developers, they can’t be shot by poachers or hunted by predators. Any illness they may get can be quickly addressed by the zoo’s vets and their diet is well maintained. What a great argument for some species, but the questions remain of who created the near extinction in the first place, and is a zoo really the place to keep a species safe?

This argument is covered in ‘Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads’ where the author quotes Peter Singer when he said, “what is the point of preserving animals if they are having miserable lives?” (Keulartz, 2015 p.340) Although at the time, Singer was not opposed to zoos safely and humanely capturing animals for conservation, he did concede that this was not usually what happened. Zoos primarily keep animals for human entertainment.

Long before I was vegan, I always felt uncomfortable about visiting zoos. I guess I always knew that deep down it was wrong and struggled with the cultural norm of this being a thing that you did with your family. Not long after becoming vegan, I did attend a zoo, not yet having made the full connection of my contribution to the suffering and ‘use’ of other living beings held in captivity. Still trying to rationalise why it was ok to visit the zoo, despite the real nagging truth that I knew it wasn’t right, I visited a ‘nice’ zoo; the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Gorillas kept here, a species considered to be endangered, are kept in a small enclosure in the centre area of the zoo close a children’s playground and family picnic area. At this playground were pipes that children could hit and push around to create loud ringing noises. The noise was overbearing! I can’t imagine sitting there all day in a small area you cannot escape from with this loud repetitive noise. Hardly a ‘nice’ environment.

Yes, it can be argued that zoos contribute to conservation, but statistics quoted in the Keulartz article show that this is not an argument that stands up. Only 15% of threatened species of terrestrial vertebrates are held in zoos, and these populations are too small to breed with the space and conditions they are able to offer these species also inadequate (Keulartz 2015). The success rates of breeding programs are low, and the reintroduction of a species to their natural habitat is expensive and not viable with conditions in their environment changing all the time due to the reasons they are endangered in the first place (habitat loss, climate change etc) (Keulartz, 2015). The replication of their natural environment is also hard, with teaching a captive animal to feed themselves as well as evade predators, something that would not be easy to do, no matter how well educated in the ways of a particular species caregivers may be.

Should we, as humans, be looking to preserve certain species through captivity, or through righting the wrongs of our past? Surely the latter should be where our energies and financial efforts are focused.

Another argument often used is that zoos are necessary for education. The detrimental effects of a zoo on those captive there would outweigh this claim. For example, an Elephant in captivity will live for 19 years, compared to 56 in the wild. Over the years, there are many documentaries where one gains far more educational information than visiting a zoo. And, is the behaviour we are observing of many of these animals a reflection of their natural behavior? Or, are we simply educating on the behaviour created from captivity? What is a tiger pacing the same steps in circles through her enclosure over and over, creating deep holes in the earth, teaching us about tigers, ironically other than that captivity is wrong?

A study commissioned by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) (Falk et al, 2007) claims that zoo education has a positive effect on the attitudes of people towards other animals. This study has been seriously questioned in a study by Lori Marino and colleagues, of Emory University. Marino and team conclude that this study (Falk et al.,2007) contains at least six major threats to its methodological validity that undermine the conclusions of the study. This study urges the AZA to stop citing and quoting this article, as it is so misleading and the conclusion unwarranted (Mario et al, 2010 p. 136).

There is no doubt that when looking at a problem, we need to find a solution. Having a solution also encourages those in a position of power to actually listen to us. The reality exists that there are many animals kept in zoos that, for a variety of reasons, cannot be rehabilitated to live in the wild in their natural habitats. So, what can we do with all of these animals? Do we kill the giraffes to feed to the lions as was the case at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark? Absolutely not! As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said in his book ‘The Little Prince’, “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” Although those in captivity are not necessarily tamed, we are still responsible for their welfare and must therefore look to the best possible outcome we can offer them. There are several sanctuaries that can take in different species of animals and offer them care, without exploitation. Yes, funding these sanctuaries can be an issue, but surely that is the least we can do, after so many years of captivity and ‘use’ at the hands of humans.

The time has come to stop continually looking at what humans want as the dominant species of this planet. This planet isn’t made to have a dominant species, but rather to live in harmony with each other. Many wrongs will be righted when our species realises this. Not only will we save our planet’s endangered species, we just may save our own as well.

Author: April Meddick
Occupation: Communications – Local Government
Animal Justice Party Member & Volunteer

Cover Image by Bear Witness Australia Witness #1

References:

Bashaw, M., Kelling, A., Bloomsmith, M. and Maple, T. (2007). Environmental Effects on the Behavior of Zoo-housed Lions and Tigers, with a Case Study of the Effects of a Visual Barrier on Pacing. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 10(2), pp.95-109.

Science, L. (2018). Tigers: Facts & Information. [online] Live Science. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/27441-tigers.html [Accessed 4 Jun. 2018].

Keulartz, J. (2015). Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 28(2), pp.335-351. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10806-015-9537-z

Falk, J. H., Reinhard, E. M., Vernon, C. L., Bronnenkant, K., Deans, N. L., Heimlich, J. E. (2007). Why zoos & aquariums matter: Assessing the impact of a visit to a zoo or aquarium. Silver Spring, MD: Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

Marion, L, Lillienfeld, S, Malamud, Nobis, N and Broglio, R 2010, Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? A Critical Evaluation of the American Zoo and Aquarium Study, ‘Society and Animals’ 18, 126-138.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/animal-emotions/201004/zoos-and-aquariums-do-not-accomplish-what-they-claim-they-do accessed 26 June 2018.

Anyone who has encountered a greyhound will know that they are gentle and affectionate dogs who want little more than a soft bed and a loving home. Tragically though, as greyhounds are bred for no other purpose than to race and win, the vast majority who don’t make the grade are discarded and will never get to experience that loving home. Further issues resulting from using greyhounds as commodities for the gambling industry are highlighted below.

THE NEVER-ENDING CYCLE OF THE BREEDING AND KILLING OF YOUNG AND HEALTHY DOGS

In Australia, around 20,000 greyhounds are bred each year in the hope of finding the next fast runner. Of these dogs, 7,000 of them (40%) will be considered too slow to pay their way or unsuitable for racing. These dogs are considered “wastage”.

Greyhounds Australasia, the peak body for Australian greyhound racing admitted[i] that the industry has been responsible for the deaths of up to 17,000 healthy greyhounds per year, with most killed before their fifth birthday. In 2016, Greyhound Racing Victoria’s annual report  [ii] revealed that over 3000 registered greyhounds (more than 8 dogs per day) were killed in 2015-2016 for reasons including “owners unable to find homes” and “end of career decisions by their owners”.

Many greyhound deaths aren’t recorded in industry annual reports. Several mass graves[iii] of greyhounds have been discovered in Australia, where dogs have been killed brutally, either shot or beaten to death.

This huge excess of unwanted greyhounds also makes them vulnerable to be sold to vet clinics where they are routinely drained of blood then euthanised[iv], and to universities[v] where they are experimented on and killed. Furthermore, many unwanted greyhounds are offered for free on Gumtree[vi] or other websites, where they can be easily collected as live bait for illegal dog fighting rings or used for cross-breeding hunting dogs. Forced cross-breeding with larger dogs frequently results in severe physical injury or even death to the greyhound mother during the birthing process.

WIDESPREAD DOPING AND LIVE BAITING

Investigations by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland have revealed that live baiting is a routine and accepted training method used by dozens of Australian greyhound trainers.

Greyhounds are baited with small live animals, such as possums, rabbits, piglets and kittens to encourage them to chase. These animals are tied to a lure where dogs are taunted and stimulated into aggressive behaviour before being allowed to maul them to death. The incredible cruelty and suffering involved in this illegal, but common practice, cannot be understated.

Dogs are being drugged with cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine and EPO. Sydney trainer Christos Arletos has been racing greyhounds for 25 years and says there “never was, and never will be” a level playing field for the punter. “Eighty per cent of greyhound trainers are looking for something to dope their dogs,” he said[vii]. This has been validated with scores of people in the industry found guilty every year for this practice.

Doping is such a commonly accepted practice in the greyhound racing industry, that just days after trainer Linda Britton[viii] was suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to doping dogs with anabolic steroids, industry officials awarded her the title WA’s No. 1 Trainer. Unsurprisingly, a 2018 report[ix] also revealed that greyhounds test positive for drugs 10 times more than horses at races.

POOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HIGH RISK OF INJURIES

An average of 5 dogs are killed every week on the track in Australia, while up to up to 200 are reported injured during official races each week. These serious injuries include broken legs and head trauma and some even die from cardiac arrest due to the extreme physical stress of racing. In many cases, it is more ‘economical’ to have an injured dog killed rather than treat the injury.

Another significant welfare issue both on the racetrack and also during transport to and from the track is heat stress. Greyhounds are particularly sensitive to hot weather, and it is legal to race and transport them on days exceeding 30 degrees.

When they are not racing, greyhounds can spend over 23 hours of every day in small kennels and are commonly bred in puppy farm-like conditions, with poor hygiene and general care practices. Others (like Phoenix featured in the video below) that are not racing, are kept in paddocks with little socialisation.

VULNERABLE TO EXPORT

Australian greyhounds are being exported to appalling conditions in Macau, China and Vietnam where they face extremely cruel treatment and certain death. There are no adoption schemes in these countries and so each and every one of these dogs are killed once they outlive their usefulness.

The federal government permitted the export of 590 greyhounds deemed too “slow” to Macau in the two years after the country was blacklisted by the racing industry over the 100% death rate and poor welfare standards.

The New South Wales greyhound regulator even charged its own board member, Michael Eberand over the unauthorised export[x] of a dog, highlighting that the entrenched culture of greed over ‘welfare’ goes all the way to the top.

ADOPTION RATES ARE A DROP IN THE OCEAN

The industry’s Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) operates in most states but rehomes only 6% of all pre-raced and ‘retired’ greyhounds. The longest established GAP in Victoria rehomed 536 greyhounds in 2014, and the other states significantly fewer. There are other rescue groups rehoming greyhounds, but those efforts still amount to only 10% of dogs born into the industry living out a natural lifespan.

As long as greyhound racing exists, the cruelty and killing will continue. There is simply no way of making this ‘sport’ victimless. Even if the thousands bred and killed each year became hundreds, the number would still be unacceptable. If the hundreds were to become tens, it would still be unacceptable. Not one animal should suffer and die for human greed and entertainment.

Greyhounds are born companions — just like any other dog. You can help these gentile[xi], affectionate dogs by vowing to never bet on greyhound racing, and to support a ban on greyhound racing. The ACT is the first state or territory in Australia where greyhound racing will be illegal because of extreme animal cruelty, and it won’t be the last.

Amy’s passion for raising awareness for the plight of greyhounds is dedicated to her first beloved greyhound companion, Joanie.

Author: Amy
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Founder Companions Not Commodities – www.companionsnotcommodities.com

Article cover image by Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

[i] https://www.greyhoundracinginquiry.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Exhibit_J.PDF

https://www.greyhoundracinginquiry.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Exhibit_J.PDF

[ii] https://gallery.mailchimp.com/af6e39bd97629b9f9dc3ee1dc/files/GRV_Annual_Report_2016.pdf (p12)

[iii] https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/at-least-99-underperforming-greyhounds-killed-buried-in-mass-grave-report-finds-20160719-gq92rs.html

[iv] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-07/blooding-greyhounds/5076970

[v] https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/05/25/greyhounds-used-killed-dental-studies/

[vi] https://www.gumtreegreys.com.au/about

[vii] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-15/greyhound-racing-industry-hit-by-doping,-cruelty-allegations/5024714

[viii] https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/group-wants-top-trainer-charged-ng-ya-385572

[ix] https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/greyhounds-test-positive-for-drugs-10-times-more-than-horses-at-races-20180425-p4zbmj.html

[x] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/05/greyhound-racing-nsw-board-member-charged-over-unauthorised-export-of-dog

[xi] https://australianracinggreyhound.com/news/welfare/research-finds-greyhounds-are-the-safest/2036/

“RSPCA Australia does not believe that there is any justification for subjecting animals to this level of stress and potential for injury, when the event is carried out only for the purpose of human entertainment or sport.”

This statement forms the crux of the policy from Australia’s peak animal welfare body, the go to organisation of governments of all levels when formulating policy, and was written on May 2^nd 2016. Throughout this article I will refer to the RSPCA policy on rodeos not because I am a firm believer in their infallibility, but because an in depth examination of their stand on rodeos reveals that in this instance, they got it right. Indeed, they have focused solely on the animals’ perspective, where I will attempt to throw a looking glass over some of the arguments put forward by the “Pro” lobby. Where RSPCA excerpts appear, they will be in inverted commas

“Arguments put forward in support of the use of horses, bulls, steers and calves in rodeos tends to focus on the fact that these events have been part of country town life for many years, that they are good for the local community and that the animals are well treated and “enjoy” their work.”

Let’s examine the history. “Bushman’s Carnivals” originated in Northern NSW in the late 1920’s, but weren’t popularised in outback communities until the late 1930’s, when Queensland brought the American style of “Rodeo” to Australia. Featuring the bucking horse and bull riding, roping, and barrel events are all now a part of rodeo in Australia. QLD continues to be the state where these events are most popular, with events that other states, calf roping for instance, are still held despite all others banning it based on animal cruelty grounds. Calf roping is the practice of running down and lassoing from horseback a young calf around the neck then drastically halting the horse, usually resulting in the calf being jerked violently off his/her feet by the neck. The competitor then rushes to the downed calf, lifting the highly stressed animal into the air and slamming him/her into the ground and quickly tying the legs together, adding to the terror already being experienced by such a young animal. This is not a situation that a young animal could possibly have experienced in a normal paddock life situation.

If that were not bad enough, young children are encouraged to learn to rope by mimicking the actions of the adult competitors by roping a calf that has been tethered to a stake in the arena, thus perpetuating a new generation of animal abusers. Indeed, it could be argued that teaching them this, or taking children to these events, normalises violent behaviour and stereotypical violence between city and country residents, both in attitude and action.

Rodeo is not a historically significant part of Australia, but a recent import from the US.

To refer to RSPCA again: “Looking at the participation in rodeos from the animals’ perspective, there is little evidence that these animals “enjoy” the experience. Rodeo horses and bulls buck repeatedly as an instinctive reaction to the discomfort of being ridden and to the presence of flank straps which have been tightened around their underbelly. Horses and cattle are prey animals and their reaction to being ridden in this way is the same as being attacked by a predator, a situation where they are subject to increased stress, anxiety and panic. In many rodeos, horses and bulls will hurl themselves at solid objects in order to rid themselves of the rider. Only when the rider has been thrown and the flank straps loosened do they quieten down.”

If this is not enough to inflict upon them, extensive video evidence exists that shows horses and bulls subjected to electric shock on the testicles and in the anus, as well as tail twisting and slapping, prodding of the eyes and ears to rile them up to increase their fear response to make for a better show for the crowd. There is also video evidence where horses and bulls have straps that attach to the testicles, that tighten more as they buck and become more panicked, increasing their stress levels immensely.

The risk of significant injury to these animals is obviously extremely high, with a large number of broken limbs the most recorded injury by on and off site vets, usually requiring euthanasia. Most recently, at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event that toured Australia in December 2017, a bull suffered a horrendous break to a hind leg during the Adelaide show, resulting in his immediately being put down.

The point to this is that human beings have the choice to participate in high risk activities, these animals do not.

A recent rise in the popularity of “Bush Based Eventing”, such as the Denni Ute Muster, has seen an increase in an entirely Australian flavour of so-called “Redneck Culture”, where if you are a farmer or live in a rural town or affiliate with that lifestyle and dress to code, you are accepted as a “Bushie”, a legend, salt of the earth Aussie.  A true blue worker who keeps the country afloat for the latte sipping hated Greenies. You are someone to be feted and admired, the tough outback Aussie, never to be criticised- because that would be “Un-Australian”.

However, the rise in public awareness of animal cruelty issues has firmly placed the harsh spotlight on rodeos as a cruel and unnecessary form of entertainment, a form of animal abuse and consequently caused a national reflection that has begun to expose those in the bush counter culture who support it as out of touch, uneducated and living in a past that was never a part of Australian culture.

The view widely held by supporters is that that this perspective is solely that of “city folk”, and that they know nothing of animals or animal cruelty, and should, therefore, shut up and go away.

These polar opposite points of view are having a far deeper impact than merely pitting animal rights against rodeo supporters, with the farming/bush/pro community rapidly becoming extremely insular, isolating itself from mainstream society in a “counter culture” style that it ironically accuses the AR community of. This is fostering a siege mentality, with an underlying suspicion and almost a hatred of “outsiders”. This attitude, in and of itself, causes the same reaction from the anti side, leading to a view that the pro’s are unevolved, Neanderthal rednecks, uneducated dangerous thugs.

This “Us versus Them” divide has seen an escalation in violent incidents, with peaceful protestors physically assaulted by rodeo attendees. This gives rise to a question in 3 parts.

How to- a) Stop the assaults b) Repair the social divide c) Affect change

In addressing a) and b), it is my opinion they cannot be achieved without including c), putting forward a suite of holistic changes. First and foremost, the continuation of rodeos must cease, and be outlawed by legislative methods, nationally. There is no evidence to suggest that any perceived financial benefit cannot be achieved by some other non-violent celebration of community.

By an educative process that encourages empathy and compassion towards other animals and opening up a dialogue, (which it is acknowledged will take an extended period of time), it MAY be possible to bridge the perceived gap in culture between city and country, which will by nature lead to less or no assaults, certainly none at rodeos because none will be held.

In closing, Australians, regardless of their place of residence, have a moral, ethical and legal obligation to move forward as a combined society, one that eschews animal exploitation in all its forms. Indeed, I believe it is the only way we can move forward.

Author: Andy Meddick
Animal Justice Party MLC Western Victoria Region

Petting zoos normalise animals kept in captivity for children and the public, giving the impression that animals exist for them to be treated without regard for their wellbeing. What children learn when they see animals in petting zoos is that it is acceptable for animals to be frightened, to be kept in captivity, to be stressed and transported long distances for entertainment. Not only are these animals confined to a small area, they have countless people petting, hugging and poking at them.

Animals used in petting zoos for the entertainment of children suffer from boredom and disorientation. Separated from normal social groups and natural habitat, the stress of captivity is heightened by unusual noises.  There is also a lack of shelter where animals can escape to, to remove themselves from contact with humans if they choose. Many children and adults are unaware that many animals in petting zoos do not like to be handled.  The body language of animals is ignored. Along with ignoring the social and behavioural needs of the animals, their physical needs are often neglected – shelter from the weather, especially during the summer months, often limited access to fresh water, and the animal feed is often dependent on the children/public feeding the animals.

Petting zoo operators perpetually breed or purchase animals so that they will have an endless supply of “cute babies” to draw the crowds. These babies are prematurely removed from their mothers, denying the natural socialization process for normal development and then these babies, frighted, are driven from place to place for entertainment.

Animals in petting zoos are typically sold or disposed of when they reach a certain age, as they lose their “cuteness” and become too difficult to transport.  Some petting zoos also home slaughter the animals.  This is an unregulated industry and there are no standards that they are expected to adhere to.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

We should be teaching children about compassion, and to view animals as living, sentient beings whose lives matter to them and who do not exist for the purpose of our entertainment. This cannot be taught to them from within small glass and wire enclosures where the animals can be mauled and poked as children please.

The alternative is to visit a sanctuary. At sanctuary’s, the animals needs are put first, and they can interact with visitors if, and only if, they decide to, on their own terms and in their own surroundings.

Unlike a petting zoo, at a legitimate sanctuary, the animals have been rescued and you can be certain they will not be killed and replaced with younger animals once they get too big.

Visit an animal shelter to provide company to lonely animals.  You can even volunteer in these environments. Seeing animals in the wild by visiting nature reserves is also a great way to teach children about animals as they should be living.

Author: Jaysherrie Terraqueos
Founder of Melbourne Goat Save