Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-06
Animal Rescue League
Praised as Humane Agent
To the Editor of The star:

l. am ilOL connected III any way Will
the Animal Rescue League as one of its
directors. or in any other capacity. but
the bitter criticisms it has received
lately on the part of various CORE
spondents through the columns of The
Star have moved me to add my own
views on the subject. without in the
least censurng those who may differ
from me.
1 love animals. and feel always for
them sympathy beyond expression.
for in spite of all that we, who are
their friends, try to do for them. the
fact remains that this world is, gen-
orally speaking. an inferno for the crea-
lures who depend upon man for thel:
welfare. 1t always will be an inferno
for them while such a hopeless number
OF the human, or rather inhuman, race
continue to remain as callOus and cruel
toward the lower animals as they ar.
today and have been for time untOlc.
II they are not actively cruel they are
cruelty Indifferent to the Sufferings and
needs of these dumb creatures which,
after ALL is a mean form OF cruelty
in itself, for indifference aids and
abets actual ill-treatment OF animals o..
the part of others. Let them not forget
that. these So-called Christians!
Therefore, I wish to ask of those who
have severely criticized the Animal Res
cue League for putting to death the
creatures who are placed in care OF the
league, Is it showing genuine kindness
TO any animal to let it live out its
! life" in the mercileSs streets. without
| food without water, except what 1t can
| lap up from wet SideWalkS--in danger
every step Of the way from the engine
of death. the automobile kicked at ant,
mi u
pleadngy at human being who secs
In the small wistful creature nothing
but a nuisance nothing but dog, Of
a cat? And yet the Almighty is sup
posed to have made man in His own
! image How disguised and ashamed He
| must be when He sees how much
meaner than the lower animals tee
callouS human being can be!
Is 1t not kinder then, and merclful,
! to send these wanderers of the streets,
| together with those who otherwise
would be turned out by selfish mean
| spirited masters TO place such as tha
| Animal Rescue League, where, II tney
must die, we know that 1t viii be
| quick, painless death, and not dragging
Il sick tortured body around anon"
hard. indifferent human crowds III the
| streets. starving, flea bitten. and driven
| love animals, who suffer many pali3
| and unhappy moment, seeing what they
suffer, unhappy because l cannot
| always succor and help them--l say
here that l think the league deserves
| the heartfelt praise Of citizens and Il
| helping hand from all, instead or Scof-
| ing it bitterly for its methods OF rescue.
The lovers of pets meant well when
they censured the putting to death OF
Pal, some time ago. But 1t was the
request of the dear old dogs own
master, the master who loved Pal, that
the dog be mercifully put out OF the
way, should anything happen. and the
dog be left alone Those who blame
must not overlook that point. lae
dog would doubtless have stolen away
| from any new friends and grleved him
| self to death, suffering the while /
| love dogs, yet / call 1t an act OF mercI
| to put him out of those Sutferlngs, and
| not an act of hasty cruelty.
| How many little mother cats, home
! less. trying to feed and shelter the kit
| tens with whom they have been thrust
| out by some harsh, cold-Souled man on
| woman, have reason to bless the league
| for being a haven where 1000 ana
| shelter are given them, and bless It,
doubtless. they would, were the under
standing given them that it saved them
from the misery and inferno OF the
streets. where worse than mere DEAN
surrounds them on every SIDE!
1t is queer how many seem to imply
that in order to show sympathy 1o-
children you must be mean to animals.
There is a twist in nature which taxes
that viewpoint I wouldn't trust TO the
genuneneSs of such sympathy winch
cannot include a kindness toward the
animal, as well.
For lost pets the Rescue League
offers a haven until they are called for.
Better than the streets, Ell! Only ear
nest men and women are willing 10
carry on such little appreciated. little
understood work of charity, and say
they should be given a helping hand
through contributions and encourage
ment and not condemned. II the
animals cared for were not, IN many
cases. put to death, without cruelty,
what would become of them? Not all
are claimed, or sought as pets. Would
critics prefer to see the streets the onlv
place left them? It is time that, instead
of carpng and blaming those who love
animals and would help them do some
active work in lettering condltlons lof
them and starting measures WHICH
would insure SAFETY ana lie lol uuilio
creatures. Until there is better way:
all honor to the men and women OF
the Animal Rescue League who are
irving to keep going a haven for
animals which churches, organizations
and human beings in general are too
indifferent too complacently buSy-too
superhuman, let us say-to give thought
or time to! A genuine human alone
can give that time and sympathy. Are
there enough of them to do 1t?
ADA LOUISE TOWNSEND.