Take not the life thou canst not give. People are wantonly cruel to animals. All life is entitled to respect, and do unto others as you would be done by does not apply only to men in their mutual intercourse, but also to man’s relation with the lower animals. It is a pity that man, the noblest creature, endowed with sympathy and sensitiveness, should be so callous in his treatment of the dumb creatures of God.
These animals are so very useful to man that their destruction or cruel treatment is little short of sin. God has created the smallest insect as well as the noblest man, and His care for all is equal. God certainly cannot be pleased, when we molest or injure any of His creatures without cause. It is our duty to he kind to all God’s creatures.
He prayeth well, who loveth well
Both man, and bird, and beast.
These animals have sensibility, and they feel pleasure and pain. They have as much right to live and enjoy life as we have. We should, not, therefore, torture them unnecessarily, merely for sport, or kill them for providing ourselves with palatable food.
These animals are dumb, and cannot complain against our cruelty, that is another reason why we should treat them kindly. Some cruel masters overload poor bullocks and donkeys, and work these diseased and weak animals to death. Such people ought to be punished by law. Humanitarian Societies.[the_ad id=”17141″]
and Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are doing much useful work in teaching men to be humane in dealing with animals. It is indeed a matter of great regret that there should be need of such societies in civilized countries. Hundreds and thousands of poor, innocent, and beautiful birds are killed every year to provide plumes and feathers to decorate ladies of fashion. This avoidable and entirely unnecessary cruelty should be stopped.
Of course, killing wild beasts whose existence puts human lives in danger may be justified, but cruelty in sport, or for the gratification of some idle whim, or for were fashion cannot be justified at all. It hardens our heart and is a wicked thing in itself. All cruelty is inhuman, but that shown to the dumb helpless creatures is very reprehensible, indeed. We should love all creatures, great and small, for
“He prayeth best who loveth best.
Things both great and small
For the dear God who loveth us.
hindi h e made and loveth all.”
Thank for giving us