Re: the decision to allow wire bottoms cages for puppy mill dogs.
Your efforts to negate compassionate provisions designed to ease the
suffering of animals condemned to 'puppy mills' in Pennsylvania, is a clear
example of the failure of the Judeo-Christian religious tradition to provide
compassion for animals. The view of animals of the semitic religions: Judaism,
Christianity and Islam as established in the Old Testament grants man the right
to harm, ab(use) and slaughter animals for his own benefit:
"Genesis 9:1-3 is the most significant Biblical text supporting the Christian tradition of eating meat: This famous verse states that "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.' "
The bottom line is that man is granted the God-given right to harm and kill animals and you have faithfully chosen to do just that.
This 5,000 year old endorsement of animal abuse is no longer appropriate in an era when we know so much more about animals. Many of our fellow living beings share with us the ability to feel, pain, fear, joy, love and generosity of spirit. In the particular instance where you have shown your inability to show compassion by taking away the few small comforts offered to dogs in puppy mils who are bred until they are exhausted and killed when too weak to continue, you have marked yourself as insensitive to the suffering of other sentient beings. Your callous indifference to the suffering caused to animals is typical of those raised in any of the semitic religions. It is no wonder there have been forced conversions, inquisitions, crusades, holocausts, intifadas, jihads and apartheids, as the inability to demonstrate compassion to animals is easily transferred to the harming of humans.
Your position, which increases the
discomfort of the already exploited animals puts the profit of those who harm
them above the well-being of the animals is a common thread in dominion based
cultures.
The cruelty of your position is made evident when compared with those whose
religions teach that the lives of ALL beings are sacred and must be respected,
not harmed for human benefit. Such a religious tradition, Jain/Hindu exists in India and is practiced by the 800 million individuals who follow this
tradition. Unlike dominion of the bible, the concept of ahimsa recognizes that:
"For there is nothing inaccessible for death.
All beings are fond of life, hate pain, like pleasure,
shun destruction, like life, long to live. To all life
is dear." Jain Acharanga Sutra.
Puppy mills should be completely abolished. This has not occurred to you, as
the mainstream American religions see no evil subjugating animals to cramped and
comfortable conditions to be continuously bred and then discarded. The decision
to not provide even minimal comfort for dogs used as breeding machines for
profit marks you as a cruel individual who would betray even mans best friend
for financial gain. Given a Judeo-Christian religious foundation your decision
to exploit and harm dogs condemned to puppy mills your actions could have been
predicted. Both your actions and the concept of dominion which lends legitimacy
to animal abuse must be challenged, and they will be.
'I have little regard for a man's religion who dog and cat are not the better
for it.' Abraham Lincoln
Your decision to support harsh conditions for the puppy mill dogs of
Pennsylvania reflects the inhumane values of a religious tradition that
disrespects animal lives. Abraham Lincoln would not have approved.
Respectfully,
Ruth Eisenbud
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