Most of us don't think much about personal morals as we go through our daily lives. Morals are what you believe to be right and wrong and are shaped by your family, community, or culture.
Unlike DNA which passes through generations, we learn morals to serve as a Life journey navigational tool.
Life occasionally tests our moral bearings, making it necessary to decide ‘What should I do?’ Setting laws aside, we may bargain with our conscience to determine what 'can I live with’' or 'my sleep well factor.'
Consider the following residents at the Living Grace Canine Ranch Sanctuary:
Grace: Multiple real estate agents have shown a rural property for nearly a year, knowing dogs lack food, water, and shelter. The female dog (Grace) appears distressed, disturbingly thin, and has swollen mammary glands.
However, the agents do not call animal control so as 'not to create waves with other agents or the property owner.' In fact, one sales agent stated, "We don't get involved with those things." On the other hand, an agent's customer notices the dog, immediately stops the tour, and rushes Grace to a vet clinic. (and later fires the agent).
Pappi: Adult children routinely visited the elderly dad and noticed his small dog cowers at the sight of his boots. Knowing Dad has dementia and a history of violent outbursts, they choose not to upset him by helping the dog.
Josie: A utility worker notices a Rottweiler chained underneath a home's porch, and the dog's eyes and ears are infested with maggots. Despite his supervisor's reassurances of company protocol, the worker summons the sheriff and waits with the dog.
Mental Illness and Family Animal Abuse Perpetrators
According to the World Animal Foundation, over 10 million animals are abused/neglected annually in the United States. Unfortunately, animal abuse remains a hushed topic or 'minding my own business' attitude, with little more than 0.01% of cases reported.
Animal cruelty, physical/emotional abuse, torture, mutilation, killing, and blood sports (dog fighting) do not happen in a vacuum, nor does hoarding.
LGCR investigations repeatedly indicate that relatives and friends close to the abusive perpetrator either suspected or had direct knowledge. In every case, they chose to sacrifice the health and safety of a dog.
Brownie: The family knows mom has over twenty cats and an outside dog. Nearly ten years go by, and 'mom' dies; only then does a concerned family seeking to rehome Brownie share with LGCR that Brownie was deprived of leaving the backyard, vet visits, or socialization with animals and people.
Today at age fourteen and a Sanctuary Sweetheart since 2021, Brownie has the emotional maturity of a one-year-old puppy without a full life cycle for any meaningful recovery.
Would you agree that regardless of their decisions, each person played a role in an animal's life quality trajectory? We do.
Domesticated animals rely on humans to defend, protect, and provide for them. That's all there is, one simple sentence without fifty shades of grey 'ifs and buts.'
LGCR urges people to shed the mindset that animal cruelty is a crime only against animals. It’s a crime against society. Holding to a narrow perspective perpetuates a social issue linked to human abuse.
Can you imagine the benefit to suffering animals (and humans) if we shift our compass by one degree bearing true north and taking heed to our moral compass?
We believe it's worth the effort; how about you?
About the Living Grace Canine Ranch Sanctuary
Centrally located in the Texas Hill Country, northwest of Austin, over ten-thousand square feet of 'I am home' tail-wagging amenities beckon senior dogs with medical, physical, and emotional challenges.
Please consider supporting our charitable work of serving adoption-disadvantaged senior dogs. They have given the best years of their lives, asked for so little, and deserve so much more from humans.
Your monthly donation benefits every Sanctuary Sweetheart to feel joy-filled, physically well, and emotionally whole. Thank you!
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28