Mik the collie is already enjoying his new life, his face smiles now, though he is still very nervous and submissive.He has seen the vet who thinks he is simply starved.Time will tell, he is eating well, several small meals daily to try and build him up slowly. I have taken another photo of his lovely expressive face. How can people neglect these animals?
He is one of many farm dogs I see in this condition.Most farmers have been brought up to have the attitude that working dogs are tools for them to use in their work and therefore require no understanding, compassion or special care. This extremely old fashioned , incorrect and unkind attitude belongs in days gone by, however it still persists in farming communities everywhere. I am fortunate that the farms on either side of the shelter have a more enlightened outlook towards their sheepodogs but the lives of most working dogs remain harsh and bleak.It has always been beyond my comprehension that these dogs who work so hard for their owners are rewarded by a great lack of consideration for their wellbeing and comfort. Surely they deserve this. It doesnt make them less of a good worker, just a more contented part of the farm menagerie.
I was listening to breakfast television the other day and there was a discussion about the lawlessnes of todays society and the search for the killer(s) of the poor little boy in Liverpool. In the United States it has long been a known and accepted fact that the perpetrators of acts of cruelty towards animals will almost certainly go on to harm their own species. If our judicial system took animal cruelty more seriously there may be fewer youths growing up to be violent, cold uncaring adults.Our legal system has never adequately protected animals, the sentences handed down are too lenient(as with many other crimes!)When will they learn?