QUESTION:

I defend animal rights and we know that many associations are fighting to have abandoned and maltreated animals adopted. Some of these animals are picked up by the pound and euthanized because they could not be saved.

Also, puppies and kittens are born either in the kennels of professional breeders or in the homes of individual people; animal associations cannot ensure their security with the breeders or indi-viduals since they are fighting to save the maximum number of animals.

The question that bothers me is this: do animals realize that their mission on this Earth is over when they are euthanized by the pound? What are they trying to express? What are they think-ing? Are they angry with humans who kill while they are still in good health just because they are thought to be too numerous or because there are no places for them in the shelters?

Sarah Brossillon

 

ANSWER:

Dear Sarah.

I don’t believe animals think of themselves as having a “mission” on Earth. The notion of a “mis-sion” is a very delicate question since it implies that there is a difference between those who have one and those who do not. We ordinary humans cannot know what is the real “mission” of each one of us. What we do know is that every animal clings to life and is well aware when that life is in danger. No animal really accepts a gratuitous euthanasia.

I use the term “gratuitous euthanasia” to explain the difference between an euthanasia which is done as a gesture of compassion in the case of a very sick animal, suffering at the end of his life and that done to a healthy animal. We know that every living being will fight with all possible force to avoid dying. Every living being tries to hold on to life.

Animals stuck in pounds suffer from feelings of extreme fear, stress, anxiety, sadness, depres-sion even or apathy, but do not feel anger against human beings. That is a human reaction and we must be careful not to project our emotions and beliefs on them. Animals are not aware that they are supposedly too numerous or that there is no room for them in the shelters. They just suffer through the unfortunate situation. Many of these feelings of anger are typically human reactions and we feel this anger when faced with the ill treatment of animals or their unjustified death. All of us who love and respect animals feel this anger as we are regularly bombarded with images and information regarding their ill treatment and this cruelty is very difficult for us to ac-cept day after day.

Animals, on the other hand, live in the present: they do not criticize, are not judgmental and do not analyse human actions. So, in answer to your question: No, when I communicate with them, they do not talk about or react to the practice of euthanasia in the pounds, but if I pass through one of the pounds I see all the animals’ bodies, souls and eyes asking for help.

I sincerely believe that our job is to elevate our consciousness as much as possible, to practice compassion to the utmost, from day to day and to help transform us humans. Our work is to help eliminate as much as possible animal suffering; every life counts; every animal saved is a victo-ry. Every battle won in the war against animal suffering allows us to progress on the path of evo-lution.

Laila del Monte.