If Humans Were as Resilient and Forgiving as Our Pets

  If you watched the news the other evening, you may have seen the coverage about nine Beagles rescued from a research lab in northern California.   The lab had finished whatever testing they had done on the dogs and no longer had use for them.                                                              A local animal rescuer known for rescuing countless animals from laboratories was contacted to see if she could take these dogs, and with little time to spare, gathered a team of volunteers and set out to pick up the dogs (and a few rabbits) and bring them here to southern California.                                                                                                                                            Several others and I had been invited to the home to greet the van that was carrying the very special cargo and to spend some time with the Beagles to show them that they do not have to fear all humans.

During my years as a volunteer trying to find loving homes for homeless dogs, I have seen and met countless abused (emotionally and physically) and mutilated animals whose faces still haunt me.

  They had visible scars from the hands of their abusive owners who eventually tired of the pet and dumped him/her in the pound.  Under such circumstances, most will likely be put down, because some potential pet adopters fear aggressiveness out of the abuse or they see an animal who may not look picture-perfect.  That, however, is quite the contrary, and it might explain why I am often drawn to the “underdogs.”  The majority is resilient and forgiving and when they know they are safe and loved, the love they give back is tenfold.

On the evening the Beagles were to make their first public debut, those of us waiting for the TV news teams to set up to capture the moment spoke about the abuse the dogs likely endured for the first several years of their young lives, and we wondered whether they would
have visible scars.                                                                                                                                     When the crates were finally being opened, one by one they each cautiously stepped on the grass and sniffed smells that were new to them.  Every dog was beautiful and they all looked to be picture-perfect.                                                                                                                                                    No, there did not appear to be physical scars, yet we knew there was damage inflicted on these defenseless animals from being forced to “exist” in cages that prevented them from not seeing beyond the sterile laboratory walls; from being debarked so they couldn’t disturb those doing tests on them in the lab; and from being tattooed inside their ears with numbers, just like in the Holocaust.  

When at last we were able to go into the yard to give the Beagles long-awaited attention, it was obvious that they had never tasted a treat, and when one was offered, some were hesitant to open their mouth, and those who did seemed uncertain how to chew.  But, as I expected would happen, when everyone started cooing at them and gently petting them, the tails started wagging and they began lavishing us with kisses and snuggling in our laps.  At the end of the evening, all were to go into foster homes with amazing people who would be providing them with comfortable beds, teaching them how to be dogs and how to communicate, since
they no longer have their vocal chords. 

It was nice to have the media cover the heartening story of nine precious dogs being given a new lease on life, but it is unconscionable that the media does little to acknowledge the plight of the thousands upon thousands of defenseless animals who continue to be poked and prodded in laboratories, and those who are unfortunate enough to be in homes with "humans” who consider pets as property to be kicked around and discarded like worn-out shoes.  It's unconscionable not to divulge how many innocent pets are put down daily in our shelters.

If you happened to have TiVo’d the segment of the news about the Beagles, you might see me standing for a time behind the fence, wiping tears from my face.  In case you have not noticed from reading my previous blogs, I can be highly emotional over just about anything pertaining to animals.  I may cry when I learn that a favorite pet has been adopted into a loving home, and I will likely cry when I learn that an animal has been mistreated and/or
killed.  Now I must ask, for crying out loud, what will it take for us to become a more humane civilization?