TOBY.

Mohandas Gandhi once said - “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (1869-1948)

The story I am about to tell is what I believe to be a reflection of our stagnant moral ‘progress’ and the lack of our humanity.

Back in May 2006 I was at a saleyard in Perth in the middle of winter.  As I moved around the yard I saw a sheep lying on the cold wet concrete at the foot of a ramp. Someone had dumped this young sheep: he was either pushed out of the truck or was thrown landing where he lay. Before I could get to him, he was dragged onto the back of a truck and it was then that it discovered he was still alive. I don’t know exactly what was wrong with the sheep, maybe he had severe internal injuries and or broken bones but whatever he was unable to move his body. No one bothered to find out if he was alive and kill him before dumping his body, instead the person responsible just left him to suffer- and he did suffer- in absolute silence.

I cradled his muddy wet head in my hands - his eyes meeting mine. I named him Toby.

I took photos of Toby before he was taken away to be shot. Although the saleyard tried to find out who dumped him no one admitted to it so no one was ever punished.

Never will Toby be forgotten as Toby represents all that is wrong with the farming industry. The animals they use are considered throwaway items with value expressed only in monetary terms. Toby’s inherent value as a being capable of feeling pain and joy just like you and me is, I am reminded by industry, irrelevant.