Sunday, December 10, 2006
Yesterday was our daughter's 2nd birthday celebration. Everything was in place, bouncer all set up, barbecue lit, I'm off to Mum's Bakery to pick up the birthday cake, only to get a call on the way, my mom's dog Patty has eaten something and is now seizing uncontrollably and foaming at the mouth. By the time I got to my mom's place, Patty was gone.
As you all probably already know, dog owners of Brunei are CONSTANTLY living in the fear that our beloved dogs are poisoned by either our neighbours or the authorities who hunt for stray dogs by leaving poisoned bait. Patty is a normal dog, who did nothing but look after my parents' house. She does not bite in anyway, greet us everytime we come to my parents', and will only bark at strangers. She is gentle beyond any expectations of us about a dog, lying down when kids play with her, and getting on fine with everyone.
Now imagine Patty being the friendliest dog and then imagine what my wife, and my nieces and nephew who were at my mom's had to endure:
1) Patty lying down seizing uncontrollably, knocking her leg against a wooden beam so hard you could hear it from far away.
2) Patty unable to move or stand up and in obvious pain, with us helpless to do anything.
3) Patty starting to foam in her mouth and seeing the fear in her eyes and how she must be suffering.
4) Patty dying an undignified death because someone undescribably evil decided to kill dogs for fun, revenge or a sense of duty.
5) Patty being buried in our back yard by my mom who is 60 years old, who has fed Patty and taken care of her since she was a puppy.
It burns me deeply that elements within the Bruneian society (including civil and educated people) see it acceptable to poison dogs. A society's civility is judged not just by the way its citizens are treated but also its animal (its helpess citizens). Aren't we taught in school that ALL animals are creatures of God, and despite the fact that they maybe be dirty, they should be treated like one of God's creatures, with respect? I was not at home when it happened, but if I had been, I might have had to unwillingy and painfully take my camcorder out to film Patty's death, not out of some morbid fascination with a dog dying an undignified death, but to show all of us how PAINFUL it is to watch an animal die needlessly and to see how Patty suffered an immeasureably painful death. It would show to the global animal loving community how fundamentally wrong it is some of the values that are instilled in of our society. In some way I am glad I wasn't there because it would've pained me greatly to have filmed it and disrespecting the last moments of Patty.
As I write this, there is an undescribable level of anger towards those who have done this and those who will continue to do these evil acts. We may never catch these people and never bring justice in this world, but to these people who see fit to poison dogs, or cats or any pet that is part of a human family, I tell you this:
You may do what you do, and you may do it with pride. You may do it and get away with it and not have to answer to me, or anyone who have lost their pet to poisoning or being run over by your car. You may not have to answer to the dogs or cats you have killed intentionally, and you may not have to answer to the authorities. But some day, I promise you, whatever religion you are, YOU will have to answer to God. And when He turns to you and ask you:
'Why did you kill one of My creatures in the most undignified way?'
I hope you better have a good answer for Him. And I'm pretty sure, whatever your answer to Him is, He will send you where you deserve to spend an eternity.
Memorial to a Poisoned Dog
Painting by Leonard Aguinaldo
Rest in Peace, Patty.
As you all probably already know, dog owners of Brunei are CONSTANTLY living in the fear that our beloved dogs are poisoned by either our neighbours or the authorities who hunt for stray dogs by leaving poisoned bait. Patty is a normal dog, who did nothing but look after my parents' house. She does not bite in anyway, greet us everytime we come to my parents', and will only bark at strangers. She is gentle beyond any expectations of us about a dog, lying down when kids play with her, and getting on fine with everyone.
Now imagine Patty being the friendliest dog and then imagine what my wife, and my nieces and nephew who were at my mom's had to endure:
1) Patty lying down seizing uncontrollably, knocking her leg against a wooden beam so hard you could hear it from far away.
2) Patty unable to move or stand up and in obvious pain, with us helpless to do anything.
3) Patty starting to foam in her mouth and seeing the fear in her eyes and how she must be suffering.
4) Patty dying an undignified death because someone undescribably evil decided to kill dogs for fun, revenge or a sense of duty.
5) Patty being buried in our back yard by my mom who is 60 years old, who has fed Patty and taken care of her since she was a puppy.
It burns me deeply that elements within the Bruneian society (including civil and educated people) see it acceptable to poison dogs. A society's civility is judged not just by the way its citizens are treated but also its animal (its helpess citizens). Aren't we taught in school that ALL animals are creatures of God, and despite the fact that they maybe be dirty, they should be treated like one of God's creatures, with respect? I was not at home when it happened, but if I had been, I might have had to unwillingy and painfully take my camcorder out to film Patty's death, not out of some morbid fascination with a dog dying an undignified death, but to show all of us how PAINFUL it is to watch an animal die needlessly and to see how Patty suffered an immeasureably painful death. It would show to the global animal loving community how fundamentally wrong it is some of the values that are instilled in of our society. In some way I am glad I wasn't there because it would've pained me greatly to have filmed it and disrespecting the last moments of Patty.
As I write this, there is an undescribable level of anger towards those who have done this and those who will continue to do these evil acts. We may never catch these people and never bring justice in this world, but to these people who see fit to poison dogs, or cats or any pet that is part of a human family, I tell you this:
You may do what you do, and you may do it with pride. You may do it and get away with it and not have to answer to me, or anyone who have lost their pet to poisoning or being run over by your car. You may not have to answer to the dogs or cats you have killed intentionally, and you may not have to answer to the authorities. But some day, I promise you, whatever religion you are, YOU will have to answer to God. And when He turns to you and ask you:
'Why did you kill one of My creatures in the most undignified way?'
I hope you better have a good answer for Him. And I'm pretty sure, whatever your answer to Him is, He will send you where you deserve to spend an eternity.
Memorial to a Poisoned DogPainting by Leonard Aguinaldo
Rest in Peace, Patty.
Labels: Ranting Lunatic
My heartfelt feeling goes to you ... some irresponsible people actions are very bewildering at times. What were they thinking ...
i can only imagine how you must feel. i have two dogs and three cats, so i'm constantly worried that someone would try and poison them.
keep your dogs safely in the house compound with the gates closed. At least it's safer. I'm lucky so far that I have good neighbours who appreciate my dogs as they bark at strangers so they too get a warning system, but there are people out there who kill dogs because they have some twisted sense of duty.
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