The Moral Stress Test: Animal Personhood on Trial

The heart-wrenching ordeal of Ruby the horse in Sonoma County unveiled a chilling viewpoint entrenched in our legal system: "Animals are property," as the County's Operations Manager for Animal Control voiced. But this is not where the conversation ends. Steven Wise, affiliated with the Nonhuman Rights Project, pushes back, advocating fervently for the recognition of animal personhood. He draws parallels to past societal injustices, where marginalized groups, such as women and people of color, were denied personhood. When non-persons are relegated to mere 'things,' they're overlooked and unprotected by the laws meant to ensure justice. Ruby's story stands as a painful testament to this gap in our legal perspective. However, not all is bleak. The tale of Ruth, a rescued chicken in the Sonoma County Trial, serves as a beacon of hope and activism. Her rescue and subsequent visibility in the legal arena underscore the potential for change. But with change comes resistance. Priya and Wayne, some of the people behind Ruth's rescue, now face legal repercussions, highlighting the high stakes of this fight. The broader implications stretch beyond animals, touching on how society views and values life. The Sonoma County jury decision could reshape society's views and values of all living beings. The measure of a good society is how it treats the powerless.

Calls to action:

• Subscribe to Wayne's blog on Substack at ⁠⁠https://www.blog.simpleheart.org⁠⁠

• Take action at ⁠⁠https://www.simpleheart.org/action⁠

• Get involved at ⁠⁠https://www.simpleheart.org/actionlog⁠⁠

• Sign ⁠https://www.righttorescue.com/⁠ petition

• Follow #SonomaRescueTrial

• Share this podcast episode & show with friends