ANIMALS ARE PEOPLE TOO


By

Wendy D. Gates



Pets have become a very important part of many people's lives. They play many different roles throughout the world. Some are working pets and help us on farms or are service animals and help the disabled. Some are cops or some sniff out drugs and even cancer. It is said that an ordinary household pet or companion animal can reduce stress for its owner. This helps the owner live a long and healthy life. What would we do without them? There are many organizations out there that protect these very animals. The humane society, CHEETA, and even those animal cops you see on television to name a few. Animals don't have a voice and need someone to fight for them.

Why? Animals are people too. Now that may sound like a dumb statement. However, animals have feelings just like us. Many people don't think so and say they have no souls. But think about it. If an animal wakes a family from sleep when the house is on fire or travels for miles to get home to their family when they are lost, aren't they thinking? If they are thinking, don't they have a soul? Yes!There have been many chimpanzees who have been taught to sign. The only difference between a chimp and a dog or horse is that the dog or horse doesn't have hands. If they are taught, they do learn. They get excited, they get depressed, and they even get bored. Most importantly, they love. Some people abuse these very animals. They neglect them or beat them or even make them fight. Many people leave them behind when they move. For those reasons, organizations had to be created to protect them.

Abusing an animal is against the law. But some places don't enforce these laws. If a dog is shot, it may be taken in by a rescue group, but the shooter goes unpunished. Sometimes it is not even rescued , but left to die because it's too much trouble to save it. A dog that has been left to fend for its self can be dangerous. It can run with other strays it finds along the way and attack young children playing in a yard. It can destroy property while looking for food. It can kill small animals on a farm. There are much stricter laws about the treatment of children than there are for mistreated pets. A adult dog has the intelligence of a three year old child. Would a child be left to die? No way! Shouldn't there be organizations and laws in every state that care for these animals? Wouldn't it make the world a better and safer place? So do some research. Find out if there are organizations like these in your area. If there aren't help your community by getting one started. Make a difference. It's up to all of us!