The founder of the ASPCA was inspired to start the organization after witnessing a carriage driver in Russia brutally beating an exhausted, collapsed horse in 1863 [19].
For centuries, the relationship between humans and animals was defined purely by utility. Animals were tools for labor, sources of food, or materials for clothing. However, as our understanding of biology, neuroscience, and ethics has evolved, so has our collective conscience. Today, the conversation surrounding "animal welfare" and "animal rights" is a central pillar of modern ethics, reflecting a profound shift in how we view our fellow inhabitants of Earth. The founder of the ASPCA was inspired to