I don't think so Laurie. I truly believe it's more about what happens after. I also don't think they're "getting a pass". If we're looking at it in terms of flocking or herding behavior, I think they're being perceived as mortally wounded and being ignored because the more and louder they bleat the quicker a predator or scavenger will put them out of everyone's misery. Socially speaking, we've decided not to address or treat the wound, right? Not practically speaking, not truly. In the end, laws are just words on paper if we don't back them up, right? As a society we've made our choices what our priorities are. We all know where the effort goes and where it does not.

So if we're not going to do anything about it, and we don't want to deal with the aftermath, what else is there but to ignore it and continue chewing our cud? At least we'll be left alone for a while.