Rapidly losing faith in humanity
When I was taking a break from work today, I came across this article online:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25920940/
It says family pets are the failing economy's "latest victim." Apparently, people are finding dead dogs and cats in homes that were foreclosed. When they move, families just leave them there to die. WITH NO FOOD OR WATER. Some survive, but just barely, until they're found. Others turn into skin and bone and then slip away.
Those of you who know me are aware that I love animals, especially dogs. This kind of thing really gets to me. I think the way we treat animals is a very good indicator of our overall character as human beings. That applies on both individual and societal levels. If an individual abuses, tortures, or kills animals, that means he'll probably do the same to other people someday. If there's a society-wide abundance of abandoned and starving dogs, how can we be trusted to deal with anything at all? Say, children or sick people or the environment? I wouldn't trust somebody who abandoned their dog to be a good parent or caregiver in any capacity. Animals, like children, are completely and totally innocent. The way we treat the innocent says volumes about our character.
I know that humans should take priority over animals, but that's no excuse for what we do to them. If you don't have enough money to care for your pet, at least bring him or her to a shelter. That's not hard. It's the right thing to do. The failing economy is no excuse either. What, do we take care of things until life gets hard for us--and then throw it all to hell? Do people turn that selfish when they run up against any kind of hardship? And WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD JUST LEAVE A DOG TO STARVE? I'm trying to imagine the heartlessness that would take.
Apparently I've been too optimistic about the world.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25920940/
It says family pets are the failing economy's "latest victim." Apparently, people are finding dead dogs and cats in homes that were foreclosed. When they move, families just leave them there to die. WITH NO FOOD OR WATER. Some survive, but just barely, until they're found. Others turn into skin and bone and then slip away.
Those of you who know me are aware that I love animals, especially dogs. This kind of thing really gets to me. I think the way we treat animals is a very good indicator of our overall character as human beings. That applies on both individual and societal levels. If an individual abuses, tortures, or kills animals, that means he'll probably do the same to other people someday. If there's a society-wide abundance of abandoned and starving dogs, how can we be trusted to deal with anything at all? Say, children or sick people or the environment? I wouldn't trust somebody who abandoned their dog to be a good parent or caregiver in any capacity. Animals, like children, are completely and totally innocent. The way we treat the innocent says volumes about our character.
I know that humans should take priority over animals, but that's no excuse for what we do to them. If you don't have enough money to care for your pet, at least bring him or her to a shelter. That's not hard. It's the right thing to do. The failing economy is no excuse either. What, do we take care of things until life gets hard for us--and then throw it all to hell? Do people turn that selfish when they run up against any kind of hardship? And WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD JUST LEAVE A DOG TO STARVE? I'm trying to imagine the heartlessness that would take.
Apparently I've been too optimistic about the world.