Letter to the editor, March 5, 2015

Dear Editor,

The eyes are the windows to the soul and after looking into the eyes of a lost, abandoned, suffering and frightened animal it would take nothing but the blackest soul and the coldest heart to willingly turn your back on their pain.

Mahatma Gandhi once said “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Based on this measurement of humanity this province comes up seriously short.

Animal rescues are overcrowded and underfunded. Puppy mill owners are converting misery to money and getting richer while rescues are getting poorer and irresponsible animal owners and backyard breeders are financing their yearly vacations while adding to the nightmare. I have just heard that the SPCA Vaudreuil might be closing their doors because of financial problems and that is a very sad situation indeed.

I have looked into the eyes of beaten and abused animals and witnessed the pain and fear reflected in them. I have seen those same eyes soften when hate and indifference are replaced by love, devotion, security and happiness. This conversion would never have happened if it wasn’t for the many animal lovers and the many animal networks coming to their rescue.

Anyone who has worked with dogs, cats and other animals know they have human characteristics. They love to play, eat and sleep. They also show great love, devotion and dedication and also the less than desirable human attributes of anger, jealousy and possessiveness.

Like us they experience pain, suffering, loss, loneliness and a sense of helplessness. T

he greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

Please help stop the suffering

Respectfully

Frank Hicks

Hudson