Gold Nugget 314 - A Man's Dog

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      It is right that irrational creatures should be treated kindly.  And if the Law required that this delicate consideration should be shown towards dead animals, how much more does it require us kindly treatment of them while living!

      Or behaviour towards irrational creatures … reacts upon ourselves.  In certain cases, this is readily perceived.  Most people would shrink from the wanton mutilation of a dead animal, even in sport, and would admit the reactive effect of such an action in deadening humane instincts in him who did it.  But it is the same with all cruelty and unfeelingness.

Any action which, in human relationships, would be condemned as unsympathetic will be found, if performed to animals, to have a blunting effect on the sensibilities of the agent.

      A man’s dog is more to him than a brute.  He is a friend.  We carry into our behaviour towards the irrational creatures many of the feelings which actuate us in our personal relations, and the more we do it, the better for ourselves.. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Deuteronomy p. 244-245, Deuteronomy 14:21, (J. Orr)

 

Gold Nugget 314

A Man’s Dog

 

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