I take animals and pets very seriously – am I too serious?
Exactly 48 hours ago, my family noticed a cow laying down in the high grassy pasture out back. She wasn’t moving much so the kids and husband walked out to check on her. She’d obviously been laying there for some time given the condition of the ground around her and the state she was in (bodily functions were obviously working).
We didn’t think much of it beyond making sure the owners were aware of the situation. Naturally we assumed they would tend to her and all would be fine.
26+ hours later, she was still there, still in the same and progressively worse condition. I asked my husband if I should call the police on the non-emergency line or something to get someone out that would ‘encourage’ the owners to tend to her. He, being a part-time dispatcher, told me the best I could do was contact the Humane Society. I did.
Today the Humane Society sent an investigator out to assess the situation. He made a check here looking in on the animal and then went to the owners house. I’d hope this would result in getting a vet out here to help the poor animal who is pregnant and due to deliver in December.
While I was out running to tend to some banking for a short time, I returned home to my husband telling me the owner walked down through the field and shot the poor animal twice in the head.
Currently the carcass is laying in the same spot, but at least she’s not suffering anymore.
My husband thinks I was wrong in interfering. I believe animals have no voice and in some instances, animal lovers need to speak up to help them out.
It’s my position that if people don’t want to take care of their animals or pets properly then they shouldn’t be raising them anywhere around me.
So, am I being a nosy neighbor like my husband says?
“Nosy” sometimes gets a bum rap. Sometimes it is our moral and ethical responsibility to take steps to reduce suffering in this world. So, if you are nosy, wear the label proudly. Because you took action, a poor helpless living being that was in trouble has been relieved of her suffering. Ask your husband to imagine himself lying for days in in so much pain and weakness that he could not get himself up, and also to imagine knowing that other beings KNEW about his suffering, came and looked at him, and left him there for more unending hours of torture. I don’t like it that she had to be killed, but at least her horror is over. Perhaps if the owner had been responsible in the first place, she could have been helped. In any case, you did what you could to help, and I applaud you.
I have never understood why those who believe that God gave them “dominion” over the animals think that this also means that they have permission to treat any non-human being as a piece of trash. And for the love of ALL that is holy, where are their hearts?! Animals feel pain and anguish. Just look in their eyes when things are not going right. Heck, I can see fear in my dogs eyes when there is a thunder storm. I also see happiness and joy when he is playing. It is our responsibility and our gift as humans — as “higher” beings, if you believe that way — to take care of our fellow creatures in this life. To leave her there for as long as she was there was more than cruel. It makes me feel ill.
Absolutely not! You did the right thing. And I applaud you for speaking up. Too many times we stay out of it because we don’t want to get involved.
God only knows how long she would have laid out there and suffered before she finally died. I may not agree with how he took care of the situation, but like you said, at least she isn’t suffering anymore.
I think you did the right thing. I’ve watched enough of the animal cops show on the animal network to know that they take this very seriously. I wonder if there will be consequences for the owner? I hope that there will be.
I thought you did the right thing Gayla.
I feel so sad for the animal.
And she was pregnant on top of it!
How horrible.
I think you did the right thing.