In Switzerland it’s illegal to keep a budgerigar alone in a cage and today there is a referendum on whether animals should have legal representation if they are mistreated. I’m not keen on the latter but quite like the double budgie law and similar. What better test for humanity and decency than how you treat those in a lesser position.
It makes me think of work. Our company would spend a fortune on management training but it didn’t change the standard where a manager would talk about anything on the phone while you sat twiddling your thumbs in his office, but as soon as his boss came in the phone was put down. Then you’d listen while he roared with laughter at the slightest hint of a joke his boss made, while agreeing after what a fabulous chap he is even though neither of you were certain. They weren’t all like that though, only around 80%.