All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill. ~ Shakyamuni Buddha, Dhammapada As Americans – not just Americans but all human beings – we really should have a “no-kill” policy of pets and abandoned animals in place. It's not just about the animals – it's also about our mental well-being. A week ago, the mother of my best friend called: she was crying so heart-brokenly because she had just put down her beloved cat. Until now, both she and her husband cannot get over the fact that their cat is no longer with them. Her husband still can't eat or sleep properly because he misses the cat. The act of taking a life, though we try to suppress and block it from our mind, is still there in our conscience. The subtle feeling of guilt takes up residence in a corner of our brain and slowly tortures us mentally. Living with regrets, wondering if we could have done something differently, tearing up at the sight of another animal that resembles our pet – these are mental anguishes that we would have to suffer for the rest of our lives. Taking a life is cruelty to the animal – we all have a right to live – but it is also cruelty to our self as human beings. The act of killing will haunt us for the rest of our lives. As a Catholic Catechism aptly puts it, “It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die.” For our sake, respect life. Live and let live. BM
