Pet Gems Animal Rights

The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest.

~Henry David Thoreau

For all animals who are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated

For all the beautiful creatures in captivity who beat their wings against bars

For any that are hunted, lost, deserted, frightened or hungry

For all who must be put to death

For all these, we offer help, compassion, a gentle hand and kindly words.

~Albert Schweitzer

When it comes to having a central nervous system and the ability to feel pain, hunger and thirst, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. ~Ingrid Newkirk

Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. ~Albert Schweitzer

The question is not

"Can they reason?"

Nor "Can they talk?"

But "Can they suffer?"

~Jeremy Bentham

Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us pause to consider the miserable life of the pig, an animal easily as intelligent as a dog, that becomes the Christmas ham.

~Michael Pollan

The rescued needs the rescuer, but the rescuer equally needs the rescued. Our highest purpose is to ease the suffering of others. ~ Jana Kohl

Consider this: pets can be sought rather than bought, rescued rather than bred.

~ J. Masson

Be kind to animals.

Don't eat them.

Animals are my friends and I don't eat my friends.

Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die.

Adopt a homeless pet.

A Robin red breast in a cage puts all of heaven in a rage. ~William Blake

Most of us choose to do the right thing for animals, once we understand the issues involved.

Animals speak but often are never heard.

Recommended Reading

Books by Marc Bekoff

Michael Pollan

Matthew Scully

Gary Francione

Cruelty-Free Shopping

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one. ~ Mother Teresa

In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. ~ Mother Teresa

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian. ~Sir Paul McCartney

Nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism, yet we make the same impression on Buddhists and vegetarians, for we feed on babies, though not our own. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game. ~Paul Rodriguez

When people say they are not sure if dogs have emotions, if they feel joy or grief, I say I’m glad I’m not their dog. When people tell me that they love animals and then harm, kill or eat them, I tell them I’m glad they don’t love me. ~ Marc Bekoff

The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or what far place my touch will be felt. ~ Frederick Buechner

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

and a few resources ...