All Creatures Great And Small
There was a terribly sad story in the news last week about a nine-year-old boy who poured lighter fluid on a kitten and then set it on fire. The kitten died a horrible death while this boy and some of his friends stood by and watched. When I see a story like this I always wonder why the boy would want to be so cruel to a defenseless animal. Did he not know that his actions would have such painful consequences… or did he realize it but just not care? I would guess that no one ever took the time to show him that animals have feelings too.
It is never normal for children to be deliberately cruel to animals. Extensive research has shown that how children treat animals is a good indicator of how they will grow up to treat people. Children who never learn to care about animals’ feelings often become adults who are incapable of caring about the feelings of the people they’re in relationships with. If children don’t learn gentleness and kindness to animals, it is more likely that they will be unable to express these same feelings to family and friends.
Animals have always been an important part of my life, and I wanted my children to love them too. Even as babies, they knew how to be gentle with an animal because I had shown them how to touch and pat gently… that poking a finger in an animal’s eye hurts… and that pulling tails just was not acceptable. These are such simple things for children to learn but are so important.
We have had some firsthand experience with animal abuse. The first time I ever saw our little Lhasa Apso, she was frantically trying to squeeze under a low ottoman while three small children kicked at her. None of the adults in the room seemed to even notice what was going on… they simply did not care.
I did care. This little dog obviously was such a gentle spirit, she would never bite to defend herself, no matter what was being done to her. The children constantly hit at her with a broom and continued to kick her and pull her tail whenever they could get close enough. The parents did nothing to stop them but said they regretted wasting money on buying the puppy in the first place.
I was really hating what was happening, and somehow this little dog must have sensed that I was the one person in the room who genuinely cared about HER… she crawled over to me, pressed her little body against my leg, and looked up at me with scared, sad eyes.
That did it for me. I found myself offering to buy the dog. I was pretty sure these people would care more about making a profit than they would about keeping the puppy… and I was right. A few minutes later I was on my way home with a very traumatized, and I am convinced… very grateful… little dog.
And before someone tells me that I can’t rescue all the animals in the world, I know that is true… but I COULD save this small treasure. And I’m so glad that I did.
Comments
Comment by Mo:
And sometimes, there’s something wrong with their wiring. My dearest friend’s son has never and still at the age of 9, cannot understand circumstances or the sympathy for another that you describe above. It’s terrifying to us to think of him as a teenager. Therapy, medication, diet changes, change of living location, two stable parents, absolutely nothing helps. I’m so glad you saved the dog. I simply don’t understand people who can hurt or let be hurt a creature like that.
Comment by Sue:
Your story brought tears to my eyes. God bless you for recognizing that little pup needed you and for doing something about it.
Comment by Mimi:
My personal motto for working with animal rescue is: “Saving the world, one life at a time.” Sadly, we can’t save them all, but each ONE is worth saving as an individual life. You did a wondeful thing, and I know your little pup is happy now! All 22 of my beasties are personal rescues or adopted from rescue, and I am grateful each day that I am able to love each and every one of them – for many of them, life was not this easy before they came to be with us. They show us every day how thankful they are to be here, just by sitting on our laps or snuggling next to us on the couch (or demanding dinner loudly if I am a little late! :D )
Peace to you and yours.
Comment by Sheryl:
You did the right thing, and with as many of us doing the right thing whenever we possibly can (it’s not always that easy, I know) then the world will right itself, too.
Thanks & peace to you.
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