I’ve seen The Ten Commandments at least 50 times. It’s campy, schmaltzy and hyperbolic. Just a wee bit overacted. Yet, I never tire of it.
Whether or not you believe that God carved humanity’s laws to live by on a pair of stone tablets 3,300 years ago, the core messages have endured and formed the basis for many a government’s laws.
How might some of these commandments overlay our relationship to pets? Here are some musings on five select commandments:
Thou shalt not kill — Our human intentions toward animal companions may generally be good, but some of us have been less-than-stellar-stewards of pet advocacy. Local governments have cracked down on mass mills, but loopholes still allow for over-breeding and trafficking in some areas resulting in abuse, neglect and death of unwanted puppies and kittens. In order to dub themselves “no-kill,” some shelters have lax standards for animal misbehavior resulting in mis-classifications that make euthanasia easier in times of overcrowding. Dog fighting rings remain strong in some backwoods (and backwards) areas.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor — People unfamiliar with the language native to dogs and cats may be quick to deem their behaviors “vicious,” when they are often deferential or fearful. Standards for determining whether an individual animal is “dangerous” vary widely between municipalities; what warrants a citation and corrective measure in one place could be a death sentence in another. Too often, little consideration is given to alternate interpretations of an animal’s behavior.
Thou shalt not steal — Pet theft is a sad and tragic reality. It has affected families across the socio-economic spectrum. French Bulldogs have been snatched from diamond-studded matrons in Beverly Hills. A homeless man I met in Portland turned his back on his faithful hound dog for 15 seconds to retrieve an item from his backpack. When he turned back around, the dog who never left his side was gone. Taking another person’s family member — whether for profit, retribution or as a balm for loneliness — is one of the lowest acts imaginable.
Honor thy mother and thy father — Like it or not, our parents bestowed at least some of their values and attitudes on us. Many of us live our best lives because of (or, perhaps, in spite of) these. Those of us who’ve chosen pet parenthood usually devote ourselves to being the best pet parents we can be. Sometimes, we’re not. We may need to rewrite the book because there’s no universal template for unique family units. Much grace and forgiveness is needed. It’s possible to honor the parents we are while striving to be better.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy — Everyone needs a respite from tech, wrangling and the stressors of daily of living; a time to recharge and re-connect with gratitude. Pets are a prime source of gratitude for pet parents. They are exemplars of pure love and reaffirm the best parts of ourselves. For these gifts, and so much more, they deserve chunks of time with our undivided selves. Committing to special pet time daily sanctifies the ritual and brings us — and our pets — closer to a holistic life.
Happy Passover and Easter!