Yes...that means I believe animals have a soul.
They say that faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. In my lifetime I've had my faith challenged many times. In order to survive, I've leaned on faith as an anchor and a lifeline. Would God give me a desire he cannot or will not fill?.....possibly----as our desires can be self-serving, egotistical, or selfish. Sometimes we desire something that is just not meant to be.
I am fortunate that in my career I meet a lot of "good" people. People who dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate. I work with several rescue organizations and see a lot of miracles that enforce my faith in mankind every day. I see millions of dollars being spent on saving and rehabilitating animals in the gulf oil spoil tragedy. I believe God finds favor in these acts of human kindness to the animals that inhabit this Earth with us.
Then there is the other end of the spectrum...where animals suffer by our hand. There are moments in which I see cruelty toward an animal that I simply cannot comprehend. This week a little boy brought in a kitten that he had found that was near death. The kitten had aspirated and swallowed large amounts of fuel oil. In fact, we originally thought the kitten was grey and black---but it turns out he is white and black after several bathings in Dawn detergent. We believe "someone" dunked the kitten in fuel oil on purpose. He simply couldn't have aspirated that much fuel by crawling inside an automobile.
Labored breathing, nausea, malnutrition, dehydration, and exremely weak. Dr. Andrews worked very hard to save his life and it worked. He's now eating on his own and shares a kennel with Bubba, the bottle fed devil cat. :-)
You see stories about animal cruelty on the news every day. Burning animals alive, beating them with sticks, dragging them behind cars, leaving them outside in the scorching heat without water or cool shelter. I can't get my mind around it. I can't understand it...at all.
Do you think animals have rights? Do you think animals have souls?
Animal abuse is a human problem. When animals are at risk...people are at risk. It's a sign that there are serious problems in our community. Statistics show that 18% of animal cruelty cases are the result of domestic violence. An abuser will often use animal cruelty as a means to control a victim. Battered women have been known to live in their cars for months or even years---waiting for a pet friendly shelter. Disturbed children and young adults torture animals as a means of "immulating their parents behavior". That is a tragic statement.What can we do?
If you know of someone whom you suspect might be in a domestic situation where they are at risk and they have pets....offer to temporarily keep their pets while they get their lives back in order. Advise them to have their pets micro-chipped and to keep veterinary records that help prove ownership in the event they get separated from their pet. Establish community coalitions against family violence that include humane societies, SPCAs, animal control agencies, and veterinarians. Be aware of how animal abuse cases are investigated and prosecuted.
Do NOT be afraid to get involved.
Have faith....................
And God Bless
Debby
