The Pangea Blog
Some people may think that I’m “over the top” when it comes to dealing with animal ethics. But stories like the one in the following video remind me of how big a concern the welfare of animals needs to be for the local church. After all, we know that when the fullness of the Kingdom of God comes, the world will be set right, even for the animal kingdom!
In the United States, one of the most humane nations in the world when it comes to animals, we still have a system of farming that degrades God’s good creation and creatures. We also have a pet industry that treats animals like a commodity, raising them up in unthinkable circumstances. This is certainly true of “puppy mills” which source many of the dogs that are sold in local pet stores in this country.
It seems to me that animals, even if you believe that some make good meals, ought to be able to live in such a way that they are able to function in the basic ways God created them. In other words, chickens ought to be free to strut and peck the ground, cows ought to be able to graze the pasture, and pigs ought to get to enjoy the cool of a mud puddle with plenty of room to run and play.
The same is true of dogs. Dogs ought to be able to be able to enjoy human/dog affection, play, etc. To deny dogs of this is to deny the very purposes that God created for this animal. To deny these behaviors (assuming their is no risk to human life) is to deny God’s good intention. This clearly comes through in this video about a Dog named Billy. Take 3 mins to watch his story.
If you would like to learn more about the issue of “puppy mills,” check out the resources at the Humane Society’s page.
You can also watch this additional video:
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