|
  |
|
|
How Dogs Can Teach Us To Be Better Humans!
For those of you who are cable subscribers, you might be familiar with a show entitled “Animal Planet.” It features all things fin, foul, mammal, and reptile. One of the featured programs on the network is Animal Precinct. This is the mammalian version of the program “Cops.” Cameramen ride with law enforcement officials who are responsible for enforcing animal cruelty laws. And, like cops, they have the power to arrest and detain people who do not meet the requirements for the proper care and feeding of the animals in their charge. Punishment can range anywhere from fines to a number of years behind bars. Some examples of “man’s inhumanity to animals” featured the officers breaking up a Pitbull fighting ring. A man in New York who let his Rot Weiller starve to death. Further acts of repulsive human behavior involved an individual who beat a German Shepherd to death with a tree stump. The program, at times, is hard to watch. I find myself welling up with emotion every time they find another starving and abused animal. I don’t think that I could compose myself in the calm and professional manner that the officers display when they confront an offender. I do not suffer fools lightly when it comes to the abuse of animals. The only pleasure I can derive from the program can be summed up with one word hope! Most of the “creature features” responded to medical attention, or, were adopted out to people who could give them the love and care that they deserve. Take the case of a Cocker Spaniel, who was given the name of “Maggie” by one of the officers who responded to a call of abuse. Maggie was found tied to a pole in a borough of New York City in the middle of winter. Upon closer inspection it was discovered that her left eye had swollen to the size of a golf ball. When they got her to the veterinarian, they found that the eye could not be saved and had to be removed. Adding insult to injury, she also had cancerous tumors in her stomach. You would think that with only one eye, and having major surgery, that Maggie would not be an ideal candidate for adoption. But, this is a story with a much happier ending then you think. A woman from Manhattan adopted the dog, not only for her, but as a companion for another dog that she also owned. She mentioned that Maggie, renamed “Honey,” was very friendly and affectionate despite her ordeal. It made me think of a Rudyard Kipling quote.. "There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog." Rudyard Kipling.. Honey’s plight also served as an epiphany of sorts. Even though this dog had been through the worst, she still looked for approval and affection from her human counterparts. I also realized how these innocent creatures should remind us of a simple biblical lesson. “Forgive those who have trespassed against us”. As human beings we should have an infinite capacity to grant absolution. I realize that some of us have experienced trauma in our lives that has rendered our ability to forgive permanently “broken”. However, most of us will never experience the physical cruelty that some animals go through on a daily basis. Yet, a simple misunderstanding or perceived insult by friends or family can render our relationship with them permanently broken. I think of my own dog and how unpretentious she is in her day to day life. She holds no grudge, does not care how much money I have, or the car I drive. She is always happy to go for walk, and is never embarrassed to be seen with me! At times, our pride can prevent us from admitting a wrong, or bestowing a simple apology. Jealously can make us sick with envoy over someone else’s good fortune. Our insecurities and frailties are endless.Our pride and prejudices could go by the way side. We could more open to forgiveness and be willing to overlook the imperfections of others. If we could only learn the lessons of a truly faithful dog..
|
|
 |
|
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "How Dogs Can Teach Us To Be Better Humans!" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
|
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
