Dear Editor:
I feel compelled to comment on Andrea DeMeer’s column in the Aug. 23 Summerland Review, “Cats and dogs reigning…and it’s wrong.”
DeMeer writes about the backlash she experienced because of a column she wrote regarding Joe the cat, which was shot 17 times in the head with a pellet gun.
While I certainly would not have reacted as strongly as some of her readers did, her words, “Hey crazy people, it’s a cat,” would have offended me and I would suggest that it is precisely her kind of attitude that has led to there even being such things as International Cat Day and Dog Appreciation Day!
She also poses the question, “What has become of us as families, communities and a society when we place greater importance on the lives of animals than we do on human beings?”
I don’t believe that is what is actually happening. I would suggest that the same people that are fighting for animal rights are also advocating for human rights and contributing to finding solutions for the problems we face, such as the homelessness she mentions.
I would also suggest that those of us who love and care for our pets and treat them as members of the family, are equally as loving to humans.
It is not a matter of either/or, but rather about being able to care for all.
DeMeer also cites a study that found that 33 per cent of those surveyed would choose to save the life of their dog over the life of a human, under some circumstances.
Studies can be deceiving. Who were those surveyed? Under what circumstances would they make this choice?
She cites another project that proved that people feel more distress over a story about an injured puppy than an injured man or woman. What a person feels will depend largely on the story.
Perhaps the story about the man or woman being injured involved them being reckless, while the puppy story was about a helpless, vulnerable creature.
Projects such as this one prove nothing to me in the absence of a lot more detail.
Some people prefer the company of their pet to that of people, because of the simple fact that the animal has never hurt or betrayed them, where people have. This is understandable.
I believe strongly that what is actually happening in society today is that our consciousness is evolving and we now understand that animals are actually sentient beings. We are realizing also, that we are all connected.
The mineral, plant, animal and human kingdoms are all interdependent and it is our job as humanity to ensure we protect and preserve the planet and all life upon it.
It is also interesting to note that spiritual teachings around the globe envision a future world where animals and humans will co-exist peacefully together.
Who knows…such a dream may be the motivating force behind our current awakening towards the animals.
I would say to DeMeer, “cats and dogs are not reigning but rather being raised up and that is right….not wrong.
Carla McLeod
Summerland