animal abusers must pay (animial crulety) 6.11.02

I would like to say I don't understand people who are cruel to animals, but unfortunately that is not the case. I do not share their cruel intentions or abusive tendencies, but having been an American high school senior, I know what it is to be lowly and miserable and look for something or someone even more lowly to make more miserable than me. My apologies to the one freshman in the class of '90 I was mean to once.
But I have no sympathy for people who give in to the craven, disturbed tendency to act out with violence toward the weak and suffer no guilt. It's just not Christian. To have dominion over the earth does not mean to rule with an iron fist, but with kindness and justice.
Which brings us to Sherman.
Last Thursday, a Labrador-retriever named Sherman was found with an arrow shot through his rectal gland and out his leg near 23rd Street and South Expressway.
Dandi Haven of 2212 S. Sixth St. was ticketed for animal abuse Friday because animal control officers were able to follow a trail of blood from where Sherman was found to Haven's house.
Sherman died Monday after several days of what I know was fine care at the Strohbehn Veterinary Clinic. Art and Jody Strohbehn have taken care of many of my family's dogs, cats and even one rat over the years. They are decent and caring people, the exact opposite of the kind of human being that would shoot a Labrador-retriever in the butt.
After his relative guilt or innocence is determined by a court of law, Haven could face a two-year prison sentence and a $2,000 fine. Of course, he could have a very good excuse for shooting a dog in the butt with an arrow fired from a crossbow. I don't know. I wasn't there.
One theory has it that Sherman, the Labrador-retriever mix, attacked Haven's rottweiller and Haven was left with no choice to but to grab his crossbow from wherever it was safely stored, load an arrow or "bolt" into it and fire it in the general direction of Sherman's anus, which in all fairness is about all one could hit on a dog when its back is turned to you.
Hoses used to work on dogs when I was a kid, but these are dangerous times and one never knows if a Labrador-retriever is just a mutt or a member of Al Qaeda come to destroy our way of life.
Two years in prison and $2,000. Does that sound like a steep penalty for animal abuse to you? It doesn't to me.
When Jeffrey Dalmer was getting his start in life as a sociopath, he practiced on animals. Sociopaths revel in the control they have over another living creature. They lack empathy, the ability to understand someone else's pain. Serial killers and other sociopaths are fascinated by their lack of empathy. It's like when your foot falls asleep and you smack it on the floor and go "wow, I can't feel a thing."
If you or I caused pain to an animal or another human being, we would understand its pain and feel bad about it. If you or I were sociopaths, we would not hesitate to inflict pain on an animal because our lack of feeling would fascinate us.
Eventually, the fascination with an animal's pain is not enough and sociopaths start to practice their ways on people. Some become serial killers or rapists, while others become cannibals seeing themselves as higher up on the evolutionary ladder.
Whether you are a vegetarian or a carnivore, a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or a member of People for the Eating of Tasty Animals, we should all be equally concerned with the abuse of animals because anyone who abuses animals could just as easily turn their attentions to peolpe. They are a criminal element capable of escalating crimes.
As a society we need to punish animal abusers to the fullest extent the law will allow to send a clear message that it is wrong. We need to discourage this behavior in children who tend to play a little too close to the edge sometimes anyway.
Personally, I have a soft spot for dogs and find anyone who would abuse one to be particularly despicable.
Since the dawn of time, dogs have been our constant companions. They have shared our food, our camp fires, helped us hunt and herd animals, guarded our homes and remained close to our hearts. They are members of the family. They teach us what unconditional love is. A dog will lay down its life selflessly for its family and besides a little kibble, asks for nothing in return.
Dogs are closer to us than any other creature on this planet. I remember every chihuahua, poodle, husky, German shepherd, terrier, Labrador and mutt that was ever a part of my family. I cannot imagine a God that does not put a high value on the existence of creatures that bring so much joy.
I suggest we all watch the outcome of this case with great attention and concern.
- Greg Jerrett is a Nonpareil staff writer. His column runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He may be contacted at 328-1811, Ext. 279, or by e-mail at gjerrett@nonpareilonline.com.