It's unimaginable to picture any sane human being cruelly abusing another living being, especially man's best friend, a species known to have complete loyalty and devotion to their human caregivers. According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Michael Fessler of Apple Valley, Minnesota, “allegedly hurled his wife's dog across the room after becoming frustrated with the animal for defecating inside the house.” My God. Perhaps he still had some sense of remorse or guilt because he called his wife at work to inform her to call a veterinarian. Whatever the reason, at least he didn't leave the dog suffering in pain for hours with a broken pelvis. Currently, Fessler is due in court in July to face charges for his cruelty. As a country, we need better animal protection laws to serve as a hindrance and prevention against animal cruelty. Violence in any form should be banned, be it against human or animal. Seeds of violence in the hearts, even if directed towards animals, reflect a disrespect for life. If not curbed immediately, they could sprout into abusive behaviors toward humans. The collective, pent-up, violent energy will accumulate until it explodes as natural disasters or even wars. Perhaps that is why the ancient masters and prophets, such as the Buddha, Prophet Mohamed, Guru Nanak, among others, promoted “Ahimsa,” the concept of nonviolence, in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere for our planet. Violence begets violence, compassion begets compassion, and they all begin with seemingly insignificant thoughts or actions. Nowadays, there are quite a few forward-thinking countries with better animal protection laws, for example Italy, which is known to have one of the world's toughest animal welfare policies. In that warm, pasta-loving country, motorists are bound by law to bring animals injured on the streets to the nearest animal clinic. In fact, Italian landlords cannot refuse potential renters who have animal companions. What a compassionate law that keeps families together, because animal companions are, indeed, part of the family. Even the Netherlands is planning to put 500 police officers on the streets to protect animals. The Dutch even have a political party that fights for animal rights, aptly named “The Party for the Animals.” It's high time that the US, as a nation, should do the same: give animal companions the same rights as human beings. BM
