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Universalist and Ladies' Repository

1839-May | W. C., "Cruelty to Brute Animals," Universalist and Ladies' Repository 7 (1839-May): 455; Digitized by Google, Online at Google Books.

Cruelty to Brute Animals Original

W. C.

Universalist and Ladies' Repository

CRUELTY TO BRUTE ANIMALS.
Original

Has the reader ever reflected how much in our power are the brute animals? Our laws secure the safety of our won species. The slightest injury—nay, a calumny may be punished by law. We many obtain redress even for a word spoken against our reputation.

It is true that flagrant acts of cruelty to horses and some few other animals, have been punished by law; but how frequent are the opportunities where this kind of inhumanity may be exercised without the cognizance of any person but the one concerned in it, and others perhaps who care not for the matter. The power to seek redress, or even to expostulate with his persecutor is wholly denied to the dumb animal. Yet he possesses the power to feel the infliction of bodily pain. I believe that a vast amount of unnecessary pain is inflicted upon these animals; and that this charge may be affixed to some who are not wanting in benevolent feelings toward their own race. In such cases, it is probably done through thoughtlessness. If so, it is high time to pause and consider. That man must not shrink from the charge of hypocrisy who, while professing the christian religion, can deliberately torture a brute animal. We are inexcusable if we do so through carelessness; for it is our duty to have a special care in our treatment of those creatures. If we inadvertently harm a human being, he will not be slow to inform us of our mistake; but if, through our carelessness we injure a brute, no voice cautions us to beware. Even Solomon, who lived in a barbarous age, and among a people notorious for their inhumanity, tells us that 'a merciful man is merciful to his beast.' I do not speak particularly of the treatment bestowed upon those animal which may almost been deemed the companions of man. Many of them are treated with singular tenderness. A favourite horse or dog may be caressed with ridiculous fondness, and even his comfort invaded by attentions which are incompatible with his nature. There is little humanity in this, although some persons who practice it, take great credit to themselves for their tenderness of heart. It is a mere partiality which may be felt by the most unprincipled persons. Many who treat a favourite animal with so much kindness, are cruel to all other dumb creatures.

Great cruelty is frequently exercised even toward domesticated animals. When I see a family go from their door every Sunday morning, dressed in their best apparel, and move off, with a stately step and grave countenances, to the house of God, wand know, that in the depth of winter they are in the habit of turning their faithful cat out into the snow every night, I cannot avoid the conclusion that their religion is good for nothing.

If I speak plainly, it is because it is time to do so. There is a great deal of talk about charily now-a-days. I say it is of far more importance to treat those kindly who cannot tell their tale of wo, than to be careful of giving offence to those who can speak in their own behalf. The man who would take advantage of the helpless condition of brutes, and treat them with unkindness because he can do it with impunity, deserves to be forsaken in his own hour of calamity; and the man who, for mere sport, hunts or maims a harmless and unoffending dumb animal, be it beast, bird, or fish, is not better than a thief or highway robber. It is said that the brute creation are intended or our use? We will not deny that some of them are, but a tremendous accountability rests upon us where they are concerned; and if we needlessly afflict them, we have no right to murmur if they turn and rend us. W.C.