Jail for of a Sip Water
Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. ~Albert Schweitzer
When confronted with pain and suffering of others, many people look away, but Antia Krajnc of Toronto Pig Save took action. Krajnc intervened where she saw suffering and now faces jail time and a $5,000 fine for providing water to pigs. The group Toronto Pig Save holds weekly vigils with an aim of bearing witness to the suffering of animals in transport on their 110 kilometer journey to the slaughterhouse. The group has coordinated these vigils for several years, calling public attention to the conditions animals face and taking actions to alleviate suffering, like offering water on a hot day while the vehicle was stopped.
Charged with “criminal mischief,” Ms. Krajnc’s case rapidly gained global support with petitions insisting compassion isn’t a crime and urging courts to drop the charges. The case may bring to light the distinction between meeting regulations and meeting moral obligations as it explores Krajnc’s actions. Though research suggests the intelligence, sociability, and cognitive skills of pigs are noteworthy, those in the agricultural industry may not financially benefit from a broader public understanding of pigs.
From activists offering water to researchers investigating animal sentience, advocates for improved welfare are often faced with challenges when confronting the status quo. For instance, an interactive video game designed for humans and pigs called “Pig Chase” enables humans to play with pigs from their homes, moving a responsive light on a touchscreen in a pig stall. Though the game provides mental stimulation for pigs, it simultaneously offers a unique opportunity for humans to interact with them. As such, the game may also encourage humans to consider the sociability of pigs in ways that often go unconsidered, blurring the fine lines drawn between kinds of animals, like livestock and companion animals. If that level of interaction has the potential to impact the view that it’s morally acceptable to eat pigs, one researcher stated, “the industry is not at all interested in promoting that. So if we start going down that road, well, then the industry is not going to want to work with us on improving welfare.” But activists like Krajnc know the welfare, and suffering, of every animal matters, and that even small acts of kindness can make a difference. It’s expected Krajnc’s case will also clarify the harsh realities of animal agriculture and the conditions these animals face even when regulations are met. Perhaps Toronto Pig Save‘s continued vigils and awareness raising campaigns will urge more people to consider what they can do to reduce suffering and value these animals’ lives.