Cruelty cuts to the Bone
PERHAPS NO OTHER animal is more a subject of abuse and derogation
than the pig. We employ the pig as a metaphor for gross and
unpleasant table manners: "he eats like a pig"; as
indicating a lack of hygiene: "dirty as a pig"; or
for just plain nastiness: "he's a real pig". However,
the pig in real life, in its natural environment, is neither
dirty, gross nor nasty, but instead is blessed with sensitivity,
intelligence, curiosity and charm. It is time we reappraise
our attitudes to pigs, for they are surely animals worthy of
our love and compassion, not disparagement, unkindness and abuse.
As the growing number of people who are adopting pigs as companions
can testify, pigs are naturally playful, curious and sensitive
animals. They are also highly intelligent. For example, John
Robbins, author of "Diet for a new America", relates
a story of pig heroics which was widely covered in American
newspapers. Carol Burke and her eleven year old son Antony were
enjoying a swim in a Texas lake, when Antony strayed too far
from shore into deep water, and began to panic. Fortunately
for the terrified boy, Victoria Herberta had also brought her
pet pig Priscilla to enjoy a swim at the lake. Priscilla, obviously
noting Antony's distress, immediately rushed into the water
and swam strongly out towards him. Luckily the boy managed to
stay afloat until Priscilla reached him. Antony then took hold
of Priscilla's leash, and as bystanders watched from the shore
in amazement, Priscilla pulled the boy to safety.
Such stories of pig intelligence and integrity abound among
the many guardians of these wonderful animals. For example,
Doctor Mike Seltzer, a long-time companion of Boris, a pot-bellied
pig, relates how Boris would usually accompany himself and his
family on their regular outings together. One day his children
were going for a walk with some of their friends, and Mike,
thinking that they might not appreciate the company of Boris,
kept him inside the yard, which was fenced, with a bolt-lock
on the gate. However, such confinement was no match for Boris,
who went straight to the gate, unbolted it with his snout and
trotted happily after the children, who were delighted to see
him.
These stories of pig intelligence are well confirmed by awelter
of research by animal psychologists, many of whom rate the pig
as above dogs in terms of intelligence and problems solving
abilities. For example, Professor Stanley Curtis from Pennsylvania
State University has taught pigs to play special computer games
where they demonstrate sophisticated learning and problem solving
abilities. The pigs appear to learn the fundamental aspects
of such games as quick as the smartest chimps do. They can also
remember their lessons for more than three years. Similarly,
Dr Julie Morrow-Tesch relates how pigs can be trained to use
computers to control the environment in their pens; adjusting
the controls to their personal preferences. Pigs of course have
demonstrated their extraordinary olfactory sensitivity for centuries
in their ability to snuffle out rare truffles. More recently,
their hypersensitive noses have been employed by police to detect
drugs.
The image of pigs was given a substantial boost recently by
the film Babe, which portrayed Babe the pig as an intelligent
and highly moral animal who could carry out the difficult sheep-herding
role normally played by dogs. Although this film was obviously
a fantasy, it may well have its counterpart in real life, according
to Katy Cropp, a sheep-dog trials winner. Katy reports having
been able to teach pigs to carry out the rounding up and splitting
of sheep in much the same manner as dogs are capable of doing.
These examples of pig intelligence raise important questions
about the use to which we often put these much-maligned animals.
As Dick Smith, author of the book "The sheep dog",
on which Babe was based, notes "we don't tend to eat animals
that we rate high in intelligence, like dogs and chimps. So
if pigs are as intelligent as these animals, as seems to be
the case, then we shouldn't eat them either." Indeed, after
the screening of Babe, pork consumption declined 40 per cent
in Australia.
It is clear pigs are intelligent, curious, sensitive and highly
social animals who have a heightened capacity for suffering.
It is simply not acceptable, therefore, that we continue to
treat them in the manner that we do: confining them in narrow
stalls, where they have no opportunity to display their natural
behaviours, and where they go literally mad with boredom and
despair. The widespread use of pigs in bio-medical research
and as transplant donors similarly needs to be reassessed. In
general, it is time we rethink our feelings and attitudes towards
these engaging animals. The next time someone calls you a pig,
simply smile and say: "thanks for the compliment".
Published with the kind authorization of SAFE New Zealand
www.safe.org.nz
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