To think about…
Killing dogs and cats
Most “animal shelters” were founded to save lives not to take them—but that’s not how it turned out. The idea was simple: take in lost or wandering pets and adopt them out to good homes. Animal shelters were founded out of compassion for dogs and cats—they never dreamed they would become killing factories. Sure, they can still argue for compassion since they are “killing animals and then they can’t breed more animals who will have to be killed.” Something lacking in that logic! I bet the animal-compassionate founders of animal shelters never saw their organization would wind up being the most efficient pet-killing factories in the city with adoption as a sideline activity. (some notable exceptions here including former pastor Ed Boks’ work in Phoenix and now NYC) Folk with compassion for animals who associate with the local animal shelter often are disillusioned with the primary activity of killing the very pets they have compassion for.
So how does an organization founded to save animals wind up being the primary killer of animals? Go figure. How does an organization founded for one purpose wind up in its daily work doing mostly the very opposite of its original mission? Good question for a church to ponder…
So what do you think?
Keith
Drury 7/21/05