1. I wonder how that other guy feels about what is happening to him?
2. How would I feel if I was that guy, in this situation?
Because of course asking these questions is the beginning of something called empathy, and to feel true empathy for another being, particularly one in trouble, should prompt one into feeling compassion, and then to wanting to do something to help. True empathy (passion, pathos) and apathy (lack of passion, pathos) cannot exist together: one will surely choke out and kill the other.
Which explains exactly why we humans have, back to the very dawn of time, been able to look the other way and not help others that are suffering, whether it's other humans or animals. And it explains why so many people know what happens on factory farms, in animal shelters, in hoarders' houses, in the fighting pits, and yet so many decide to ignore it, pretend that it doesn't exist. Apathy. And generations of dogs and cats are born, live miserable, flea-bitten, hungry lives, and die in pain, while we drive to work in our air-conditioned cars, get angry if we have to wait in the grocery store check-out line for longer than five minutes, eat our three squares a day, watch our television programs, and then do it all again the next day.
I know that I've posted on apathy before, and how it prevents so many potential animal rescues and allows so many needless animal deaths. I guess that I'm worrying at this like a dog after a bone. I believe that we have, as a species, treated animals cruelly and capriciously, and I believe that we have much to answer for. I've always viewed the "dominion over the animals" thing as more of a "stewardship of the animals" thing. And let's face it, we've been some piss-poor stewards. (Many of my readers being the obvious exceptions.)
I listened to a presentation made by a veterinarian a couple of weeks ago, and he said that present-day society was very concerned about the welfare of animals, much moreso than in the past, but that he thought that he saw some of that starting to slowly erode away. He wasn't certain of whether it was economic woes or some other factor causing a hardening of the collective heart. I hope that he is wrong. I can read many blogs out there in the pet blogosphere, talk to rescue people, and feel like maybe he IS wrong. That people aren't going to cycle back around to "animals only as commodities and only when convenient" mindset. But then sometimes, when I talk casually to just random people, I see how many people are astounded at how often I volunteer to help at Steel City Greyhounds. Or that I'm fostering for the Animal Rescue League. Or that I have multiple rescue pets. Or that anyone would even think about wanting one of Michael Vick's dogs. Or that anyone would actually pay for medical care for their pet. And it is in those moments that I fear that maybe this veterinarian was right... and it is a chilling thought.
Friends, let's not let that happen. I know that there are some much bigger players than I out there that are working hard for animal rights, and for ethical treatment of animals, and I applaud them. But I'm just small potatoes... I don't have a national platform, I don't have lobbying power, I'm not the head of a multi-national corporation. But what I do, and what anyone can do, is just to talk to people. Talk to friends, to the "lucky" soul who sits next to you on the bus, the person who is standing in line with you at the grocery store, your family members, your co-workers. I try not to be obnoxious about it, but I do try to influence people towards making the lives of animals better... whether that's convincing them to adopt, convincing them to spay or neuter a pet, piquing their curiosity about what it is like to foster, or even just being brutally honest when they ask you about euthanasia rates at shelters, or what happens to those racing greyhounds that are too old to run anymore, if no one adopts them. Or telling them, when they ask, just how some of Michael Vick's dogs died (I've run into many people who just assumed they were "just" being shot in the head and were appalled to the point that they thought I was lying when I told them the truth.)
I think it's a little harder to be apathetic about something when you're faced with the cold, hard truth. So let's make it harder for people to look the other way. Maybe it will light a bonfire in their souls. Maybe a new animal crusader will be born. (Or maybe co-workers will start avoiding you in the hall, but I guess you can't win them all.) But you will not have to say that you didn't try to make a difference in your world.
This hopefully not-too-heavyhanded post is brought to you by Annie, who has apparently decided to take over paying the monthly bills.
Well said! I'm often conflicted about the point of apathy. I know a lot of crazy dog and cat people who are working hard to change the way our species treats those around us. On the other hand, I still see the majority of dog owners at my job who treat their pets as a used appliance of sorts. I was shocked to hear the views of some old friends just a few weeks ago about buying from pet stores (that's fine) and the importance of "alpha-ing" your dog. It was tough to be kind and honest at the same time, and reminded me to never stop educating the people around me. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI generally believe in the best in people, and most of the time, they don't disappoint me. Often, I find a lot of times that it's not apathy as much as a lack of knowledge about what they can do that keeps people from acting. Many people don't realize that we can all make a contribution, and it doesn't matter if what we have to give is time, money, talent or something else. When you see that the need is so large, it's often overwhelming. I've found that many people who seemed apathetic initially were able to come back later and contribute something of themselves. You never know when the seed that you plant may grow to fruition.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think most people who read your blog will totally share your views but it doesn't hurt to remind us to keep at it. In my case it's letting people know what wonderful pets Greyhounds make whenever and where ever I can.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but I think as long as there are humans and animals on this earth the animals will be exploited.
My two bits: Education is not about filling a bucket. It's about lighting a fire. My little cat has lit my fire. Now that I'm lucky enough to be lit up like that, I want everybody to feel like I do. Feel love, in other words. Thank Cod, thank Bugs, thank this totally unexpected blogosphere connection, that I lived long enough to feel it and to share it.
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