Editorial October 9, 1976 Issue

Respecting Animals

Naomi Price

In one issue of a newspaper were two items about animals. The first told of a sick baby whale washed up on the New England beaches. In the attempt to save its life it was placed in a large tank and cared for round the clock, four attendants being on duty to feed, massage, and otherwise look after it.

The other item referred to the annual slaughter of seals in another country. It was estimated that a quarter of a million baby seals would be clubbed to death by the end of the season despite the brokenhearted remonstrances of their mothers.

These two news items typify the extremes of attitude human beings have toward animals. Some people without compunction or compassion hunt and kill certain species for sport or for profit, while some are dedicated to saving the lives of other kinds. Many keep domesticated animals as pets and depend heavily on them for companionship—sometimes treating them with more lavish consideration than their friends and relatives. At the same time they may be quite unconcerned about the wholesale murder of untamed species. Bewildered thinkers may well wonder how they can correctly think of animals, and what their response and responsibility should be toward them.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Many times the truth that God is our creator and that we...