S1 Ep3: Martin’s Law

In this episode we explore Martin's Law, passed by the British Parliament in 1822 and championed by Richard Martin, MP for Galway. Martin's law prohibited cruelty to horses, farm animals, and other cattle. But Richard Martin didn’t stop there. The episode covers Martin's efforts to enforce the law, including the famous case where he brought an injured donkey to court, and discusses the act's limits—punishing only conduct deemed "wanton or cruel"—and its legacy as a starting point for animal welfare reforms in Britain and beyond.   Animal Rights Tour is written by Sean Butler, hosted by Carly McCann, and fact-checked by Paulina Siemieniec.    This podcast is produced by the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law, an academic centre of competence dedicated to the study of fundamental rights for non-human animals. Learn more about the Centre at animalrightslaw.org.