Richard invented the term speciesism in 1970 and later the ethical theory of painism. He campaigned successfully, with others in the UK, to stop otter hunting, pass the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and EU laws to protect laboratory, farm and wild animals. A long term Council member and former Chairman of the RSPCA, he helped found Eurogroup for Animals and achieve the Hunting Act 2004 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He was also Mellon Professor at Tulane University.