There are some people that believe in French philosopher Descartes' theory that dogs do not think, but engage in activities without thinking, but can be programmed into doing certain things. However, a majority of people now believe that dogs are capable of emotions. Of course, in history, most people did not think of dogs to the extent of protecting them with laws, all but Richard Martin. He's named 'Humanity Martin' for being credited with the beginning of animal welfare movement in Britain. He wrote bills to parliament, but was ridiculed; one politician even asked ''Do you even know what cruelty is?'' Martin told him yes, and that he'd show him. He beat him twice and when the politician pleaded for him to stop; Martin told him an animal could not cry for help. In 1822 the first animal welfare act was passed and Martin formed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Similarily, in Japan, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi had drawn up laws for the protection of dogs and was a reformer at heart. He was born in the year of the dog and decided to cherish and protect dogs after speaking with a Buddhist priest. He created humanitarian laws such as ''Laws of Compassion'' When strays became a problem for the local people, he created public kennels for them.
Laws that protect animals have also benefited humans. An example was when New Yorker Henry Bergh wrote the 'Declaration of the Rights of Animals' and gathered signatures after giving many speeches; it was endorsed by many people. The New York legislatures complied and passed several laws to prevent animal cruelty, even gave Bergh a charter to establish the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). He took up a case to help a young child who was abused at the age of 5 named Mary Ellen because of a woman's plea, and successfully extended the laws to protect animals to cover the abuse of children, since they were equally helpless. He created the American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and both his organizations have been linked together.
In the case of Napoleon Bonaparte, dogs were responsible for damaging his first marriage but also saving his life. His wife's dog, Fortune, bit his naked skin during their lovemaking, which resulted in Napoleon's distaste for dogs. His wife cheated on him with a man who formed a fond relationship with Fortune and Napoleon was outraged; he divorced her and married Marie Antoinette, the daughter of the Austrian emperor. When he failed to take over Russian, he was confined in the island of Elba where he owned a midsized yellow dog (Lab/Spaniel mix) who acted as food taster for poison. When he heard the French hated having Louis XIII back on the throne, he left on a small local boat. Apparently he had fallen off and a newfoundland had saved him. When his attempt to seize power again in France failed, he was confined to St. Helena where he died of arsenic poisoning; he had no dog.
Since dogs provided companionship, it's not surprising that 80% of dog owners talk to their dogs as if they were another person. One of those people was John Steinbeck, the author of 'Of Mice and Men', 'East of Eden' and much more other works of literature. He went on a 12,000 mile trip that took him through 37 states and Canada with a black standard poodle named Charley whom he spoke to about his emotions, observations, and philosophical conversations. Social companion dogs, often the dogs of historical figures and ordinary people alike, kept people from psychological symptoms such as loneliness, stress, fear, etc. An example of this would be Mary, the Queen of Scots. She was raised among packs of dogs consisting of spaniels, pugs, and Maltese in the court of the French king and queen, King Henry IV and wife. She married her husband, dauphin Francis, he died a year later, and during a time of conspiracy and rebellion, she sought refugee in England, but was imprisoned there for 18 years with a smuggled Maltese. When she was beheaded, the Maltese was discovered under her dress and it ran to the space between the severed head of her master and the body, and refused to budge. Seeing this, the executioner pitied the blood-covered dog, washed it up, and presented it to a French princess. Also, the Canadian Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, whose mother, sister, friend, close friend/mentor, and soul-mate from collage all died before his first year as prime minister, had Irish terriers that filled the many gaps of his life. The dogs, Pat, Pat II, and Pat III, would all provide him with emotional support.
In China, there was a story of the Buddha that first tamed a lion, who fell in love with a dog who was fearful of his great body. Buddha gave him a small body, but if he couldn't remain a good servant to him, then the obligation of servitude fell upon the lion's heirs. Thus the Lion Dogs would serve and act as symbols of Buddha. During the Manchu Dynasty, Emperor Tzu Hsi (also known as Cixi and/or the Dowager Empress of China) she had relied upon the symbolism Pekingeses in the royal kennel as well as her own personal kennel, to make decisions. When told to consider overthrowing the Emperor (her nephew), she turned to her dogs. A new liter of three had been born. 2 red and 1 yellow Pekingese; this was good luck as red symbolized joy/happiness, and yellow symbolized the color of the earth/China, and the white spot on all their foreheads symbolized blessed endeavors. Sadly this was not completely accurate, since the foreigns took Peking, broke into the Forbidden City, and looted. To prevent the sacred breed of Pekingeses from falling into foreign hands, she had many of them killed, all but 5 which foreigners distributed as gifts. She had fled, but returned to sign the 'Peace of Peking' and returned to reform China. Lion Dogs became virtually extinct after Communists overthrow.
Quote:
''Well, sir,'' said Martin, ''a poor dog or a horse is not able to say that he has bad enough, or too much, and therefore wants protection.'' (Coren 147)
Reaction:
I love that quote. Richard Martin was the man who was credited with the beginning of the animal welfare movement, and by him saying that quote after beating a politician with his cane, he was able to convey the pain animals feel when abused. This quote truly showed that Martin was an animal advocate by not only telling, but showing the politician the real meaning of cruelty and put the man into an animal's position.
No comments:
Post a Comment