By Linda J. Howard -
lindajhoward@earthlink.net
Source flh@all-creatures.org
Most other members of my species, presumably cut from
the same mold, seem not to be concerned over the institutionalized
killing of animals for "food." Yet, the mere thought of the fear and
agony experienced by the "farmed" animals who are killed for no reason
other than the greedy desire for the taste of their flesh breaks my
heart... My heart must be defective.
Without batting an eye, members of my species abandon
companion animals at shelters often for reasons which are trivial, or
callous, or based on laziness or apathy. Yes, they know full well that
millions of healthy animals are killed each year in shelters and that
there are not enough homes for all the animals-in-need, but it does not
seem to break their hearts as it does mine. Mental note: Call
cardiologist to schedule heart transplant; surely my heart is defective.
It is difficult to accept that those who cause
excruciating pain to animals in laboratories (in the name of $cience)
are members of the same species. How can they repeatedly shock, burn,
blind and experimentally infect sentient animals? Does it not break
their hearts as it does mine? Or perhaps it is just that my heart is
defective...
Members of my species purchase and wear the furs and
skins of animals for vanity's sake. They flaunt what they believe is
their prestige, but imagining the original owner of the fur or skin
struggling to get free from a Leghold trap, or shrieking in pain while
being skinned alive or while being anally electrocuted breaks my heart.
Have they no heart or does it confirm, as suspected, that mine is
defective?
Those dressed in camouflage who invade the natural homes
of wild animals to kill them for what they call "sport" are members of
my species. They don't even flinch as their bullets or arrows take the
lives of innocent animals. Again, my heart must be defective for it
breaks seeing formerly majestic wild animals strapped to the tops of
trucks. Will this qualify me for a heart transplant?
At the zoo, members of my species often are teaching
their young how to harden their own young hearts. They muse at the sight
of incarcerated animals but the pacing of the poor tiger suffering from
boredom breaks my heart. Is it ever too late to harden a heart which
breaks so easily unlike other members of the same species? Or is a heart
transplant in order?
Go on to Justice
Denied For Savannah the Elephant
Return to 21 April 2002 Issue
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