Children and Animals

In many cases, the abuse suffered by the animals mirrors the worst that society visits upon children. Dogs put in ovens eerily echoes stories of children killed by their mothers in clothes driers. A group of puppies captured, and imprisoned under the floor boards of a destroyed, vacant house alludes to stories of young girls taken, tortured and buried alive by pedophiles. Firecrackers thrown into the cage of a neglected zoo bear, as well as his suffering pokes and jabs with sticks and canes, sounds just like caged, abused and neglected foster children.

The victims may have four legs and fur, but the cause and the outcome is stunningly, disgustingly similar. And the moral questions and consequences for society are equally similar.

Some people become upset when they hear the similarity between animals and children’s emotions and behavioral. But at the same time, we may get exited when we observe the gorilla in captivity showing the human-like affection for a kitten. “Motherhood”, we say with a warm touching voice, acknowledging the universality of mammalian emotions. Why not accept that animals help children (as well as adults) with healing and to relieve bad traumatic experiences. The same goes for children (many times) helping animals by giving unto them unconditional love.

Have you talked to your child today, and walked your dog?