From July 22nd through 25th, 2018, Kayne will convene inside St. Stephens House with top academics from around the world to debate animal ethics and the role of law in creating positive change for animals.
“Despite thoroughbreds elevated status as elite equine athletes the law classifies them with food and fiber animals as livestock,” asserts Kayne. “American Horses are not bred for food, nor are they raised and regulated as food animals. The toxicity of their meat for human consumption is well documented. More egregious is the betrayal of so many thousands of trusting horses who have willingly done all that has been asked and yet sent away to a gruesome end – it’s simply immoral and totally unjustifiable.”
Estimates show that annually between 10,000 and 20,000 thoroughbreds are forced to die at slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico. “Traditionally it’s believed that horses bred into the Sport of Kings are revered and live out long lives in green pastures. This belief is reinforced when the media portrays ‘equine athletes’ as adored, coddled, and pampered,” avows Kayne. “This is true for the likes of Justify, but of the 20,000 thoroughbreds born in the same year more than half will disappear across our borders.”
“I have shared my life with thoroughbreds as friends, teachers, competitive partners and companions, and I am on a mission to change the narrative from what they are to who they are. Pioneering a new ethical perspective such as this is a big mind shift, and it takes a big stage like Oxford.”
The list of international presenters the 5th Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School are among the most distinguished legal scholars, attorneys, animal ethicists and animal welfare advocates in the world:
- Steve Wise, Animals as legal persons (Nonhuman Rights Project);
- Professor Teresa Giménez-Candela and Nuria Menéndez de Llano, The changing legal paradigm for animals in Spain: From things to sentient beings (Autonomous University of Barcelona and University of Oviedo);
- Professor Justin Marceau, Against carceral animal law (University of Denver);
- Carter Dillard, Enforcing cruelty standards through unfair competition law (Animal Legal Defense Fund);
- Professor David Favre, From Ethics into Law (Michigan State University College of Law);
- Dr Randall Lockwood, Bringing animal cruelty investigation into mainstream law-enforcement in the United States (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals);
- Professor Kathy Hessler, Animal custody: Alaska and Illinois and beyond (Lewis and Clark Law School);
- Professor James E. Helmer, Political not metaphysical? Animal rights without animal agency? (Xavier University, Cincinnati);
- Professor Angela Fernandez, A quasi-property/quasi-personhood status for nonhuman animals (University of Toronto), and
- Dr Letícia Albuquerque and Gabrielle Tabares Fagundez, Genetic engineering and animal rights in Brazil: The legal terrain and the ethical underpinnings (Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil)
About:
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics is an independent centre, founded in 2006. Its Director, Professor Andrew Linzey is a member of the Faculty of Theology in the University of Oxford. The Centre has more than 100 Fellows drawn from a variety of academic disciplines from throughout the world. Learn more at https://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/home/
The Summer School is being organized by the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in partnership with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Pillsbury is a leading international law firm with 700+ lawyers located around the world. Further information about Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP can be found at https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/.
Susan Kayne is a life-long equestrian, Certified Humane Education Specialist and devoted Equine Advocate. Discover more at http://www.Susankayne.com