Re: High Crimes Are Misdemeanors/Information

["T&E" <cumming@idaho.tds.net>]

I don't understand people who take the stance that these killings
are "just an animal."  It sounds like the kind of approach to
saying that the crash of TWA flight 800 was simply the death of "just a
bunch
of people."  After all, these victims had little impact on Moscow, and none
 of the passengers probably even came from Idaho.  So what's the big deal?
If someone tried to take this kind of a stand, they would
likely be treated poorly by the community for their cold heartedness.
These crash victims had families, friends and loved ones, who now have to
deal with 
the grief of their lost partners.  So how is this related to the cat
killers?
Consider these scenarios;
"Ingrid" is an elderly woman who needs to use a walker to get around.  She
is too poor to afford a nursing home or even a private nurse.  Instead, her
neighbor checks in with her at least once a day, to make sure she is
still okay.  Ingrid's husband died five years ago, and her life had been
very
lonely, until "Oscar," her cat, came into her life.  Oscar serves as
a form of entertainment and comfort to Ingrid, as he is a very laid back cat
who is content to sit in Ingrid's lap and purr while she listens to the
radio
and reminisce about life with her husband.  
Or what about "Diana?"  She is an eight year old girl, who's parents 
are going through a very messy divorce.  Their conversations tend to be
screaming
matches, and Diana feels that she is the cause of their constand quarreling
and repeated custody battles.  The only stability she has is through
"Fluffy," the white cat
her parents got when she was only three, and has served as a companion
ever since.  Despite her playful and carefree attitude, Fluffy always comes
to Diana 
instead of the girl's parents, and is always willing to play (maybe not be
petted,
but willing to play.)  
So are these animals still "just a cat?"  What about the hundreds of dogs,
cats
and rabbits who are part of the volunteer movements to visit nursing homes
and terminally ill patients?  What about seeing eye dogs?  Are these still
"just animals?"
To many people, these creatures are more than animals.  They are companions,

friends, confidants and partners.  To dismiss them as "just animals" is like
saying that the passengers on TWA 800 are "just people."  They may not have
any
impact on your life, but they are special to someone.  Maybe if you took the
time
to get to know them instead of ignoring them, maybe they will become special
to
you, too.

T. Cumming