Talk Back: Readers Speak Up
Many readers responded to the two comments that were posted to the blog on Friday (see here). Below is a sampling of the remarks we received. If you would like to join the conversation, offer a comment below.
These are the types of comments that hurt deep inside and make you remember why you want to speak up for animals. The fact that people think they can do whatever they want with an animal because it is "theirs" is very disturbing. I wonder if they would say the same thing about their children or family members. To some of us, many in fact, that is exactly what our animals represent. I appreciate you posting this feedback as it helps me remember the very real "other side". Love your blog, by the way! —Ted
It becomes everyone’s business when an animal is being hurt. To think animal cruelty is acceptable just because that animal is on your property is insane.
Animals are not property like furniture or cars—they bleed the same color of blood as humans. —Nicke
The answer is very simply expressed in this quote from a friend of mine: "The true measure of a community lies in how it treats the most helpless among us—our children and our animals. To the degree that another living being depends on us for its well being, we are diminished as "human" if we don’t in some way "humanely" respond." (Joan Antczak)
Your inhumanity to "your" animals, does impact me as a member of the "human community," whether you think so or not. —Donna Chambers
This is in response to Ken Raymer and "Very Upset Reader".
Animal abuse and animal cruelty is EVERYONE’S business – a society that "turns its head" to the blantant cruelty & torture of an animal says that we do not value morals, compassion, and life itself. You can apply the "butt out" and "it’s my right" logic to anything, would you say the same about child abuse? "It’s my child, so I can do whatever I want"??
Animals are a population of beings that are essentially helpless and they are vulnerable therefore, we have the duty to protect them, not to exploit them for our own amusement. That is the difference between us and animals – we have morality and responsibility to guide the decisions we make. When someone can torture animals they are torturing a group that cannot speak for themselves or defend themselves – much like the children and disabled in the world. If you exploit the most vulnerable like animals, you can certainly do it to humans. There is a proven link between violence to animals and violence to humans.
A ban on animal fighting is a positive step in our country – our laws reflect our values. And I know most Americans value LIFE and compassion. We don’t turn the other way and "butt out"—we defend the defenseless because it’s the right thing to do. —Susan
