Killing in defense of an animal

[a_cermak]

AND IF YOU WERE MY DAUGHTER I’D BE PISSED!

come on guys this question is so easy… humans were created in God’s image, ducks were not… stop acting insane… compassion towards animals is awesome, but risking the life of a precious human being over a dog is not…

And, as I said, I love that dog. I’ve loved all the dogs I’ve had. I’ve been there at the end of their lives, when I had to make the choice to end their suffering, I’ve been there holding them at the vet when they’ve been gravely ill. I once spent a whole weekend prowling around alleys looking for a lost dog (not the one I was talking about), not all of those alleys were in the most savory of neighborhoods. When I take a dog into my home, it is to take the dog into the family, to be part of a relationship. These animals trust me and I have a profound obligation to deserve that trust.

Now, yes I could have been hit rushing across Harlem ave. To be honest, I never considered the risk, if I had, I probably would have waited for a safe crossing. However, the traffic had already stopped for the dog, and most of the motorists probably assumed after a dog dragging a leash had run out into traffic that a human wouldn’t be far behind.

I wouldn’t commit suicide to save an animal, but I would take a calculated risk if my chance of success was at least 40%.

 

[Salonika]

M249:

NO! MAN > ANIMALS. WE HAVE DOMINION OVER THEM.

No - we have a responsibility towards animals in the same way as we have a responsbility to the earth. This involves making sure that they live as good and natural lives as possible. Free range hens not battery hens, dogs and cats that can lead a normal life not that of an accessory.

And, yes, we have a responsibility to other people as well - and this influences what we should do in some of the circumstances recently discussed on this thread - eg running out in the road to catch our dog, swerving to avoid a cat.

However, humans aren’t always rational, thank goodness, so we’ll sometimes do unwise things, take actions in the heat of the moment that we realise later weren’t the best. Also at other times we may unwisely not do anything.

I prefer to think of animals as different to us rather than “lower” or “lesser” and don’t forget there are some lessons we can learn from some of then. It would be a better world if some people were as faithful, loving and forgiving as some of our pets are to us. Also if some people did not abuse their faithfulness, loving and forgiveness.