How Religion Affects Dog Owners
Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion
Religious leaders from many faiths unite in teaching kindness and compassion toward pets and all animals.
Why Compassion for Animals is Changing
Many church congregants are questioning doctrines teaching that animals do not have souls and do not go to heaven. Increasing rumblings have been heard among these people who feel a spiritual connection with their dogs, cats, and other pets. They complain that compassion for animals is treated as unimportant by the religious community. They complain that spiritual support is lacking during times of pet illness and pet loss.
Books like Will I See Fido in Heaven? by Mary Buddemeyer-Porter and Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates by Gary Kurz, are finding their way into more and more homes. Indeed some church goers’ beliefs are beginning to contradict traditional teachings.
Animal Welfare at Work
Best Friends is a work of love with a big vision. Striving to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets, Best Friends is not only sanctuary to around 1500 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats, birds, and any other animal who needs a helping hand, they work with other humane groups worldwide through rescues, programs, and education.
In summer 2007, Best Friends, in beautiful Angel Canyon in southern Utah, was the setting of what may well be a pivotal step in the way the world views the treatment of dogs, cats, wildlife, farmed animals, and all animals.
Called together by Best Friends, members and religious leaders representing over 20 faiths attended a three day retreat to discuss how religious groups could become more actively involved in animal welfare.
Rabbi Nafshi pointed out that all living beings are endowed by the Creator with “nefesh”, the breath of life. “They are sentient beings, and that’s what matters most.”
The result was the Animals and Religion Network Community and the igniting of a small but intense and significant spiritual fire for the compassion for animals.
A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion
Emerging from that historic event was a Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion, which was unveiled for the world in Washington D.C. on November 7, 2007. This simple three page document of less than a thousand words holds the possibility of profound change for animals. What legislation cannot accomplish, perhaps religion can.
Paul Berry, Best Friends’ executive director, said, “People of faith are often the gatekeepers of critical social reforms in our country, and this event signals a major shift in their thinking on animal protection."
Addressing religious communities worldwide as ambassadors of compassion who should extend compassion not only to the human family, but to animals and to all of creation, the proclamation’s purpose invites and encourages “people of all faiths to speak with one voice on behalf of those who cannot speak, in an effort that will define our legacy as stewards of God’s creation.”
The Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion goes on to list five calls to action and a conclusion.
Reminiscent of the centuries-long fight to free the slaves, a new era may be dawning when people will look back on our research lab animals, our euthanasia of surplus pets, and our slaughter houses with the same shame and disbelief with which we now view slavery. Bringing about a world where the feelings of all living beings are considered may be a long and challenging task but passionate animal welfare activists and pet chaplains are not going away any time soon.
