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Letter to the editor

Guest Column

Regard for animals: beyond cute

By BARBARA SNOW
Published August 22, 2007

Looking back over the past quarter-century, I have seen many advances in animal welfare and protection.

Laws have been upgraded to felonies for animal fighting and animal cruelty, and city and county animal control agencies have become animal service agencies by adding adoption departments, spay/neuter surgeries and humane-education programs.

Television programs like Animal Cops on the Animal Planet channel promote awareness of the plight of animals and encourage zero tolerance for animal cruelty. Veterinary clinics are working closer with humane organizations to promote responsible pet ownership. Law enforcement agencies are more willing to investigate, charge and prosecute people who neglect and abuse animals. Judges feel obligated to hold perpetrators of animal cruelty accountable, with stronger fines and prison sentences. I have seen children who express love and compassion for animals in their early years grow into adults working in the animal protection field, making a difference in the lives of animals.

It has become more acceptable for society to be concerned about the social well-being of animals in addition to providing for their physical needs. Pets are treated more like companions and friends even though state laws (including Florida) still consider them "property." Grief counselors trained in human loss are expanding services to include clients in deep grief over the loss of their pets.

Then, sadly, some horrific news item comes along to bring us right back to the reality that there is much more work for us to do. Two items in recent news, the national issue of the charges against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting, to which he admitted guilt this week, and the local report of Nicholas Densmore, charged with animal cruelty for allegedly sodomizing his grandparents' Yorkshire terrier, remind us that many sociopathic evils that target innocent animals still exist in our society. Animals still are abused, tortured and exploited for money, entertainment, power, control, ego and in the name of "sport."

Humane-slaughter laws were passed more than 50 years ago, yet many apathetic and cruel shortcuts are still taken in the use of animals for food. In spite of many alternatives to animal testing, unnecessary experimentation still goes on. Illegal hunting continues and, without enough enforcement resources, is often tolerated by society.

And for us at the Humane Society of Pinellas, every day, we see pets turned over to us because they have become an inconvenience to their owners. This lets us know just how important it is for the Humane Society to be the last hope for all these animals and how needed our work is in being their voice and advocate.

While state law still determines acts of cruelty against animals to be a lesser evil than against humans, it is important for us to understand that the violence is the same. While a human being may have infinitely more value in society, there is absolutely no difference in the pain and suffering of each.

Until we recognize the link between animal and human violence, and until we equate crimes of violence against any sentient victim, human or animal, we will not advance in the prevention of violence. Let us continue to push for their right to co-exist peacefully with us.

Until we do so, and until we interpret our biblical dominion over animals as stewardship rather than utility, we may never be truly civilized. With the compassion and action of caring people, we can achieve this for animals in our lifetime.

Barbara Snow is executive director of the Humane Society of Pinellas County.

[Last modified August 22, 2007, 08:18:19]