I don't think this fully explains, but the way society as a whole thinks about animals has changed an awful lot over the last 50 years. I also think that the b

I don't think this fully explains, but the way society as a whole thinks about animals has changed an awful lot over the last 50 years. I also think that the boundaries of "polite society" and the law were different in scope. (Not justifying, but considering figures like Strom Thurmond had no problem remaining in office despite issues arguably more human adjacent it does not surprise me.)