Some People Should Not Be Allowed to Have Pets

I was at the beach yesterday when I saw a young couple with their two dogs (both looked like the Husky breed, around a year or two old), and was very annoyed, and angered, at the way they were treating these dogs. Though the couple did not seem to be intentionally mistreating the animals, they obviously had no idea how to properly take care of and train a dog. They were trying to get the dogs into the water, and instead of coaxing them in with toys and kind words, they were dragging them in by their leashes, as the dogs whined and tried very hard to get away. Once dragged into the water, the couple kept telling the dog to "calm down," while they held the dog up by it's leash and collar.

This is wrong on so many different levels.

First off, why force a dog to do something it so obviously doesn't want to do? It was quite clear that the dogs did not want to go into the water. They were not dirty or overheated. So why???

Second, the dog is obviously going to panic when dragged into the water against its will. And then, in the midst of it's terror and confusion, it's stupid owner is pulling on it's leash while it is trying to learn to swim! Then told to calm down! I was very tempted to tie a rope around the owner's neck, throw him into the deep water and begin yanking on the rope, all the while telling him to just "calm down."

Third, the poor dogs will never want to go near water again! After such a bad experience with water, why would they ever want to get in the water? Dogs are very intelligent, and these dogs are now going to associate water, particularly bodies of water, with negative feelings. In forcing the animals into the water, the owners were ensuring that the animals will forever be terrified of water.

Idiots!

Which brings up the question: What do you do when you see an animal in this situation? If the owner was intentionally mistreating the dog, or doing anything which physically hurt the animal, I would definitely go over and say something, and try to stop them. Though I felt terrible for the dogs because they were whining and obviously very afraid, they were not in any physical danger (yet). I was tempted to say something, but I am fairly sure that they would have just told me to shut up and mind my own business.

What would you do? Would you confront the person? Would you stay away and call the police, or local animal protection group? Or would you simply walk away and try to forget about it?

What if it was a human they were treating this way? A child? What would you do then?

Do we lower our standards of treatment because it is an animal, and not a child?

I admit that I did nothing, only discuss with my friend, who was also there, how the couple was ultimately damaging the dogs mentally and emotionally, and how some people should not be allowed to have pets.

Much screening is done when a person adopts a child, and I believe the same should occur with pets. It is true that most SPCAs try their best to not allow people to adopt animals if they believe the people may mistreat their pet, but this is not very extensive. Also, many breeders will now allow you to buy a dog until first having you meet the dog a three or four times, and seeing how well you are with the animal and how it reacts to you. I am very glad that some breeders do this, but perhaps there should be lawful regulations put in place to govern the adoption of dogs and other pets? Is this possible, and is it fair???

What do you think?

LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!

Ok so here's the deal. I don't understand why there is still religion. Humans have come so far when it comes to evolution, technology, science, education, sociology, etc. ... I mean we have been on the moon for Christ's sakes (no pun intended). Yet, people still believe in God. (I'll refer to Christianity as that is the religion I am most familiar with, though my thoughts encompass all religions). When will humans be intelligent enough to realize that religion is a thing of the past?

I'll admit, we have no proof that there is definitely no God. And as soon as there is scientific proof, real solid evidentiary proof, I will be the first to admit that there is a God. We do, however, have scientific evidence prooving many ideas of Christianity and the bible to be false, or at least very unbelievable. Take for example evolution. All of the scientific evidence leading to the idea of evolution, particularly in humans, and what do Christians do? They just deny it, ignore the facts, because it contradicts their beliefs. Is this intelligent thinking? Let's just ignore anything which does not support our ideas and beliefs! How convenient!

I personally see religion as a complete lack of education and knowledge. And I can understand it in those with very little, or no, formal education. However, there are highly educated individuals who claim to believe in God. How can a person learned in mathematics, science, etc., still believe there is a God?

One possibility I see is that they don't really believe in God. They want to believe in God, either because it gives them satisfaction and comfort of some sort, or because they have been taught that they will go to hell if they do not believe in God. Which brings me to another point. When I was a child, and learning about God and the bible in school, I learned that God loved everybody equally, no matter what, and never judged. So, if there is indeed a God, will he not forgive me for lacking faith?

On to possibility number two: They were just brought up that way. Their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., were religious people who believed in God, went to church, etc., so it has always been a part of their life. No real thinking involved here.

Possibility number three: A person either never has faith, or loses faith, and begins to live a life without God. Then something "miraculous," like a near-death experience, happens to them or someone close to them, and they are so overwhelmed with happiness and awe that they believe it must have been God. And faith is restored. (Some poor doctor is probably not getting the credit he deserves here).

As for the "uneducated" individuals. Many natural phenomena which can be easily explained by science may seem like magic, or a miracle, to the uneducated. This is where religion comes in to play. For example, before humans had all of the scientific knowledge we now have, people believed dreams to be connected to a person's "spirit," which is where "spirituality" came from. With scientific studies and discoveries, humans learned that this was dreaming which takes place in the person's mind while they are sleeping. Note that this is just one very little example.

And here's a big one: CONTROL. Religion has been used by those in power, or those wanting power, to control others. It is very easy to convince uneducated (and even educated) individuals that there is a God and if they do not follow all of the "rules" of Christianity, they will be sentenced to an after-life of damnation. And who do you think made these "rules?"

Religion has also been used by sociologists as a way of controlling society. Sociologists believed, and still believe, that in order to have a controlled society, there needs to be a common belief system amongst the people. This will give people common morals and ideas, and help keep them working together and "under control."

I also believe there are people who have faith in God simply because it gives them something to live for. The elderly find comfort in the belief that they will have an after-life, particularly and hopefully in heaven. Adults find comfort in this idea, and also in the belief that loved ones who have died are now in a "better place." As for children, they tend to believe whatever they are taught. (And this is an entirely different blog topic).

In the above-stated case, I do not see religion doing any real harm. I must say that I do see excessive church-going and other religious rituals as a waste of time and life, but if it makes people happy, then so be it.

So when does religion cause problems? Every freaking day! Religion has been the primary cause of every war. EVERY war on earth. EVER. What good is faith if it causes millions, billions, of people to die???

How many people do you see shooting eachother because they have differing scientific beliefs???

Well there's my vent for tonight, please feel free to leave comments. I am very interested in hearing different sides of this.

I will admit that there is a lot about religion that I do not know, and there is a lot about science that I do not know. I do not consider myself to be an expert on either topic. These are just the ideas of one person who feels the need to vent.

Thanks for listening (reading?). Please let me know what you think.

~angela~