Big Brother choices
A long-standing Massachusetts animal cruelty case drew closer to its
resolution on Thursday when Worcester Central District Judge Thomas Sullivan slated
the jury trial of Elliot Saffran for Feb. 5. Saffran, of Milford, Mass., is
accused of animal cruelty for refusing to euthanize his aged and ailing mare,
for Feb. 5.
Here you have an owner who wants to go against the advice of a veterinarian. The horse did live six more months. Unlike humans I have observed that animals just get on with life as it is, they don't whine or complain about their pains, they live. Three legged dogs and cats are not unheard of living long lives without the limb. There have been days when I don't want to get moving because of my own arthritis but I haven't asked for death yet. (However there have been at least 2 hangovers where I would have PRAISED anyone willing to euth. me.) With critters we human owners can end their lives because of perceived difficulty. Last year because of pressure from the Monterey county SPCA I was forced to put down a horse that was an eye sore but not even close to deaths door. She could walk, trot, canter, and eat her fill on our friends ranch. The vet whom I called in to do the deed and I met and we just agreed that the mare was old, but fighting against the humaniacs would cost lots and lots of money and grief. So she was put down.
So the case above wants to charge animal cruelty. There are laws that are being stretched to force the hand of the owner. I've put down lots of animals in my life, the hardest have been the healthy ones that are being surrendered because their owners are moving or behavioral issues that they haven't been able to change. I do think it is a privilege to put an animal to sleep to cease its suffering. I'm not in favor of people putting Grandma and Grandpa to sleep because they are a burden. I am in favor of a living will in place where you can choose how you would like to be treated when you can no longer speak or reason for yourself.
I suppose the first thing that hit me about that suit was when will it come down that people will be brought to court for not following their doctors advice? Sorry Mr Fatso you didn't lose 30 pounds and thus are proving you are incompetent over your own life and health. Ms Moodswing you haven't filled your attitude pills prescription. You need the government to take over your care.
Legislation of responsibility. We will do it over animals but with humans we already have so many laws that are not enforced. Legislation demanding the lowering of terms for home loans in order to increase the number of people who can become home owners has really mucked up things. I have found it very interesting to learn that student loans are yet another way to provide funds for others to invest. So that ground down my simplistic ideals of free education to improve society as a whole.
On the plus side my Wii age this morning was 35! Spenser is coming over tomorrow morning to play cookie baker! Brushette is FAT from a turkey carcass that I didn't replace into the deep freezer last night. Opening bank accounts is much simpler than I recall.