Animals’ welfare is up to us

Friday, January 20, 2012

The saddest commercial on television is the one developed by Through Their Eyes, The National Animal Abuse Registry. It isn’t just difficult to watch, it is almost impossible.

We were reminded of this when we read the Pets of the Week column in our Bedford Journal where Charlie, a dog, and Allison, a cat, were featured. They’re looking for homes and being helped by the Animal Rescue League.

Those of us who have taken in strays or who have gotten pets from the Humane Society or the Rescue League know how difficult it is to look at these photos, to read these animals’ stories, and not want to adopt them, even if we already have pets. It is a sad commentary on us as a nation that we find it so easy to abandon animals, but not entirely surprising in that there are people among us who abandon children or the elderly.

But take heed of this quote: “I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter ... the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. ‘God,’ I said, ‘this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?’ God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. ‘I have done something,’ He replied. ‘I created you.’” (“The Animals’ Savior,” Copyright Jim Willis 1999).

That’s powerful because it tells the one truth that is inescapable: It’s up to us. Really, everything is up to us, but some things just seem to defy reason and one of them is our ability to abandon helpless creatures and hope – although maybe when people abandon a pet they just don’t care – that it will be saved by a shelter. We’re lucky that we have organizations like the Rescue League and the Humane Society or, rather, the animals are lucky. Where else would they go when someone drives to some deserted spot and boots them out of their car?

Here’s the point: We aren’t all in a position to adopt a pet, but every one of us can help a little, if only by sending a donation. Go to www.rescueleague.org to find out how.

If you think it’s not important, watch “Through Their Eyes” the next time it comes on your television. You’ll change your heart, and that will change your mind.