I’m traveling with my family and suddenly one of us is shot point blank between the eyes. The rest of us run for safety. We huddle together to protect what’s left of our pack. Who am I? A wolf. A wolf recently taken off the endangered list so I can be any hunter’s target. A wolf who lives in a pack and mates for life. A wolf who was free to live his life in Idaho or Montana without danger of being hunted. Once an endangered species, now fair game for hunters. I am a wolf. I sense fear. I feel pain. I don’t understand.
I’m waiting at the end of the line which I don’t mind so much because I can’t smell death from back here. My feet hurt. I am hungry. I am thirsty. Who am I? I am a horse. A beautiful creature who once raced and had the respect and admiration of many. Now I wait to go into the kill box where a shot to the head may or may not kill me before I am slit open and bled out. As I get closer, I hear the kicks and screams of the others. I am a horse. I sense fear. I feel pain. I don’t understand.
I’m running around on the floor, not sure where I am. It’s too late when I see the stiletto heel coming down to crush me. Who am I? I am a hamster, the subject of “crush” videos people watch for enjoyment. I am a hamster. I sense fear. I feel pain. I do not understand.
I’m in a small stall, too small to move around. My tail has been clipped so I fit better in my stall but now I can’t swat away the flies. Who am I? I am a dairy cow whose udders are so swollen from being forced to produce more milk than I am supposed to. They take my babies as soon as I am born. When I try to sit down to rest, they beat me. I am a cow. I sense fear. I feel pain. I do not understand.
First he hits me with a whip, then a bullhook, then he shocks me. He tries to get me to do tricks but it hurts to stand the way he wants me to. Who am I? I am an elephant in the circus. I am majestic, enormous, once beautiful. Now, I am just afraid. I don’t know which pain is worse, the pain from being forced to do what he wants or the pain from the beatings. I am an elephant. I sense fear. I feel pain. I do not understand.
I read story after story about animal cruelty. I sometimes have nightmares. I often cry when I think about what people do to animals. Who am I? I am one person with one voice that isn’t loud enough to save all the animals I want to save. I am a human being who respects, admires and loves all animals. I am a person who is not like the monsters out there. I am a person who cares. I sense fear. I feel pain. I do not understand.
MoonShine's Lunatic Ravings 