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Animal Ethics.
October 18, 2007
I stepped out of the shower to the sound of my husband's voice from across the house. "What are you doing! Don't put that in there, what is wrong with you!"
Realizing these words were directed at our five year old I quickly dressed and went to see what was happening. There was Ash pouting in her seat,.
I was quickly told this child who we brought in to the world and wanted nothing but the best for had left her seat at the table while Clay was poring her some milk and proceeded to stick her fork in the guinea pig's cage. She didn't hurt him but, this act of disregard for her pet sent him in to a fit.
We have been having issues with children who are very religious talking to Ash and their overzealousness to teach our child about their God had resulted in some crossed wires that we have been desperately untangling. So I kneaded to get to the route of this issue.
After Ash was informed that her actions had earned her early bed after her bath, she ate her dinner wile Clay went to com down.
After the before bed routine of bath, story, massage, and saying good night to Clay and a quick blessing, her and I returned to her room to talk about why she was retiring early.
We sat on her bed and I asked her why she put the fork in the cage. She told me she didn't mean to, she wasn't trying to hurt the guinea pig, and she wanted to play with him. I explained that just like she kneads to play nice with her friends her pets deserve kindness as well, and daddy and I won't tolerate her being mean to the animals.
So I went on to explain that her pets are animals just like she is, and she isn't above them. She told me that she isn't an animal, she lives in a house, and uses dishes, and dresses in clothing, and those things made her a person not an animal.
This annoyed me to say the least, so I got down so I was eye level and made it clear. "You are an animal to. You have a heart beet, you breathe, you're living right now, and whether you like it or not all living things are some thing and you were given life as a person which is a type of animal."
I went on to give examples of how animals do different things to live and even told her that there are human beings that live very differently then we do. She seemed to take this in so I kissed her good night and let her think about what had happened that night.
Later that night I called a friend of mine and told her about what had transpired. She seemed sympathetic to my plight and when I was unable to word how I feel about the external influences placed on my child she put it in to words that I repeat to myself when I have to decide how to react to what my child says about God, or animals. I don't have to play nice when our ethics are challenged, my child may be an animal, but she will not be a sheep.
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