Animal
Cruelty V. People Cruelty
Millions of Americans are ecstatic that
Congress passed and the President signed a bill making animal abuse a
federal crime. In the interests of full disclosure let me say that I
have no sympathy for a person that treats animals in a cruel and
abusive manner. However, I feel this is an issue that should be
dealt with on a state level rather than a federal one.
Do we really want the FBI chasing
animal cruelty allegations? Or the DEA making sure that you aren't
subjecting your pets to unapproved drugs? For instance, many use
these drugs that you put on dogs and cats to deter fleas and other
bugs. It absorbs through the skin into the bloodstream and kills any
future infestations that feed on their blood. My question is that if
that is so great then why aren't we using them on humans to combat
Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? Will there be
scheduled drugs that will require a trip to the vet to get a
prescription? Will the FBI launch investigations into whether or not
you left your dog out during cold weather or if you keep it penned up
in too small an enclosure or with too many other animals?
Maybe we could create a whole new
enforcement bureaucracy with badges and guns who could seize your
property if it was in furtherance of the animal abuse. This could
expressly apply to the breeders who treat these animals as if they
were chattel or to the feedlots that keep their livestock on barren
ground and feed them processed food with antibiotics. It could
likely lead to requiring permits to breed animals with annual
applications for license renewal to thwart those who do not adhere to
the guidelines. Now, all of these practices are good practices but
is it something that we want the FBI and DEA involved in?
What if those people, some of whom are
children, who are held in cages in concentrations that make public
health impossible begin to demand that they receive treatment at
least as good as the family dog? Could they also demand public
health inspections in the way that the USDA inspects farming
facilities? And are those who are responsible for keeping those
people in holding pens licensed and regularly inspected by federal
inspectors? Could they expect to have climate controlled facilities
so that they are not allowed to be too hot or too cold?
Could this lead to applying civil
rights to animals? No doubt this would cause great consternation to
our farmers who grow meat producing animals expressly for the purpose
of being killed. They also leave their dogs out in the fields with
sheep and goats and herding dogs work in all kinds of weather. Would
there be a limit on how many hours they could work each day or for
how long they would have to work before taking a break? Would we
have to come up with more humane methods of slaughtering animals so
we can have that porterhouse steak? And what about wild animals?
These questions will have to be decided by the court system and just
try to imagine that.
These considerations may seem foolish
to you and it may seem that I am making light of animal cruelty but I
assure you that is not the case. I am just reminding you that this
is the same federal government that many believe can't get national
security, education and health care right.
It could result in animals being
treated much better and that is an admirable goal. A direct link has
been established between those who abuse animals and people who
commit awful abuses of humans. We should always strive to be better
people and regard God's creation with respect.
With any piece of legislation there are
always unintended consequences such as, but not limited to, those
previously mentioned. But what if people see these protections for
animals and begin to demand them for themselves?
In short, could they expect to be
treated at least as good as the family dog?
Some of this is meant to be
tongue-in-cheek and some is meant to encourage people to think about
what they ask for. For Congress and the President there is no
downside to this unless the farm lobby kicks. I haven't read the
bill but it probably makes some exception for farmers. Having said
that, I have heard people talk about our meat producing processes and
some even advocate not killing animals for food.
Mostly it is meant to encourage more
thought about how we treat our fellow humans. How can we advocate
for more humane treatment of animals when we treat other humans
inhumanely? Could we see a photo of a man bragging about his knife
skills while posing with a dead dog and consider it equal to a man
doing the same with another human?
Being cruel is despicable no matter to
whom or what one does it but isn't it more so when it is done to our
brothers and sisters? Shouldn't we care more about that?
