A week ago, a stray dog wandered into the parking lot outside the office building. Normally, there's nothing unusual about a stray except that this was no ordinary mongrel. It looked like it had a breed; a Rottweiler by the look of it. It was a very big dog and would have been even bigger and more intimidating if it wasn't visibly starving. It was weakly limping about with its legs shaking. It's ribs and hip-bones were sticking out and its guts looked stuck to its spine.
Many regulars, myself included, felt pity for the creature and donations of food soon went its way. One of the security guards looked after the dog and even expressed his openness to the idea of adopting it. It was clear that with food and care, it would be a good dog to have. It looked like it would have had a good physical appearance, if fattened up, and it had good temperament as well. It was very, very friendly in a way you wouldn't expect from a normally mean-looking breed. Still, maybe it was just friendly out of desperation. It isn't wise to quickly trust a strange dog. The prudent thing would be to test it and see if it growls around certain types of people, if it zealously guards its food or if sudden noises and running set it off but I digress.
The reason for sharing this is that it brings to mind a common criticism often leveled at dog owners or people who are kind to dogs in general. "Why can't you extend the same kindness to fellow human beings?" There are street dogs and there are street people. Is it wrong to be more caring to stray dogs than people?
It's easier to feel sorry for an animal than a fellow human being. Not all animals, mind you but those animals which are cute and are often made into pets. Dogs are probably the go-to for this. There's a certain "innocence" attached to dogs. There's this idea that dogs are just these good, noble and loyal creatures who would wait forever for you outside a Japanese train station. They are, after all, man's best friend. Hence, it's always a bad thing when a dog dies in a movie. There's nothing quite so deliciously villainous as the designated bad guy signalling his evilness by kicking a little dog.
But yes, this particular guilt-trip is familiar. The life of a human being is more important than that of a animal. Yes, but is it more important than a dog? I say yes but only because that's something I agree to as a member of civilization. There are many people in society that are living arguments to the contrary. There are people who are no better than dogs. The President seems to believe so. There are people who literally act like dogs. Even this whole damn country is going to the dogs.
We owe human beings more than dogs because the lives of people are more important. I'm disturbed that I can't seem to articulate why this is so. The fact that I secretly question this is probably a reflection of my dwindling compassion, inner corruption and ever-warping sense of morality. I have to remind myself that if, hypothetically, me and a dog were both drowning and a person chose to save the dog over me, I'd be a little bummed.
How about a third option. Can't one be nice to both dogs and humans? Why should anyone care, really? The universe doesn't seem to care. God doesn't seem to care. The sun shines alike on both the flowers and the weeds, the good and the wicked. If good is being done, does it matter to who or what it's being done to or will the argument shift on how being good to an animal is not a sign of good morals? If actions towards animals are free of any moral color, does that mean it wouldn't be wrong to torture a dog?
This is getting out of hand.
How did feeding a stray dog turn into a debate on morality. Overthinking things is hell. The world is a frightening place, cold and gray. Sometimes all you can do is just do what you believe is right. Back then, giving the dog some food seemed like the right thing to do. So sue me,
A few days later, the stray dog disappeared. The security guard told me that it had simply wandered on, maybe to the next lot. It was a stray after all. It's either on it's next great adventure or stewing in some idiot's pot. Typical. Did our supposed acts of kindness even amount to anything? Does anything ever amount to anything?
Speaking of dog meat...
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