Animals Abandoned—A Sad Phenomenon

A story of atrocity appears in the 14 February 2013 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which causes me to question what our society has become (as I often do).

“Humane Society Accepts All Stray Animals” details numerous cases in which dogs and cats are abandoned, dumped like trash, sometimes in conditions which call their ability to survive into question. In the most heart-breaking case, it is noted that a litter of kittens was found in a tied plastic trash bag, only one having survived. An individual that would do such a thing is a menace to society, and research has shown that the person who has no regard for the lives of domesticated animals can be expected to display a depraved indifference to human beings as well.

Because we are a humane and orderly society of laws, we do not extract an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth when an individual has abused and tortured animals, yet it would be tempting to subject this brand of criminal to cruel and unusual punishment.

We are known by how we treat the least among us. The respect and care that we demonstrate for defenseless children and animals says a great deal about us.