From: dreamer@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (David Caruso II ~~~)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals
Subject: Re: What would *you* have done?
Date: 14 Aug 92 20:18:11 CDT
Organization: <><><><><><><><><><><>

Josh (feinstei@vax.sonoma.edu) writes:
> My question is: what *should* I have done that would have had a more positive
> effect for the dog, the boys, and even the man himself? Was there something
> I could have said or done that would have helped this man realize how fucked
> up he was acting?

	Hmm ... just remember that the dog is property, and that the owner of 
said property is within his lawful rights to do whatever he wants to the dog.  
Any attempt on your part to rescue the dog may result in the man having the 
lawful right to shoot you.  At least this is the point of view of some hunters.
Definitely not mine.

	It would seem to me the dog wasn't acting stupid or evil, because such 
behavior is instinctive, not decisive, for the dog.  After all, the poor dog 
probably couldn't hold his bowels in the car.  And it would be quite dangerous 
for him to stick his ass out the window, or quite difficult for this dog to
speak to the driver and ask him for a pit stop along the road.
	But the man, who definitely was angry at the dog, was really just
taking out the frustration deep down inside of him out on the dog.  This man
has much pain and tension welled-up in him, and disillusioned views on how to
teach an animal, and a basic misunderstanding of animal behavior, and a lack of
good parenting by example (unless he considers his actions wholly good), and a
lack of control of himself enough to stop himself from beating this dog.  The
man doesn't deserve to right to take care of the pet, because his misfortune 
becomes the dog's misfortune.

	If that would have been me, I would have concocted a plan to steal the
dog, since I do not view animals as property, and because it is obvious that
the man does not know how to treat the animal under his direct responsibility
and care.  Yes, I know, such actions would not have been ethical.  But I don't
care.  In this very specific situation (don't *assume* on any other) I would do
so.  I would not advise you to do this, however, or anyone else, because you
may get caught in the act and your life would become more negative.  I realize
that my actions may cause some level of heartbreak for the family, but it's
better for the dog, who's right to happiness must be taken into account first
in this situation.  Humans have definite rights, too, but this man does not
have the right, in my eyes, to make this animal dependent on him because he
does not show the proper respect to the animal.  After the dog is safe in my
custody, I would proceed to find a good home for the animal and leave it at
that.  All this may be cause certain problems for me, but these problems are 
worth it.
	Doing the "proper" thing, and contacting various animal-safety 
authorities, wouldn't have solved this problem fast enough for the dog's well 
being, because it would have entangled the problem in the bureaucracy.  And
that's not good enough.
	Don't start imagining what you would do to me if you were in the man's 
situation.  To do so, you must assume that you also had treated the dog in the 
same manner, and that I am not clever enough to avoid getting caught.  I am.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David Caruso II                       "Great minds are the most misunderstood."
dreamer@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu						-- DAC2