There really is no difference between a horse, a cow, a chicken, a pig, a dog, and a boy—all are sentient beings, sentient animals. Whether human or non-human animals, all suffer the same, feel pain the same, feel joy the same, seek pleasure and avoid hurt, and nurture their young. All want to live, in peace.
As humans, our daily decisions and choices impact animals and their own lives. Their lives are personal to them, as are ours. We need to be conscious of our direct and indirect impact on animals and any pain we cause them through our food choices, clothing choices, lifestyle choices, product choices, and events we attend. It is our individual responsibility to be the best stewards we can be to animals and our Earth, and cause the least harm, the least pain, the least suffering to any other being, and instead bring about the most good in our lives. Like Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassions to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
~ Albert Einstein
“I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi
“We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize this. Until we extend our circle of compassion to ALL living things, humanity will never find peace.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
Photography Credits: Photos by Jennie Richards / Cover Photo by Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
