By MAGGIE ISHINO
Whenever I see a man/woman wearing a fur coat, I cringe. I know to them it must be wonderful and money well spent. But does that person realize how many ermines and/or other animals have to be sacrificed for the coat?
I saw a TV nature movie where a mother ermine was screaming with pain when she sat there helplessly watching fur trappers kill one of her children. I knew the trappers would kill all of them. My eyes flooded with tears and I jumped up and changed the channel.
I detest the way traps are set up to kill animals and the pain they must suffer. I see hunters on TV shoot deer with a rifle right between the eyes. One can learn much from watching TV nature shows, but the abuse of animals is heartbreaking.
I will never forget a TV show where a little boy laughingly threw a bowl of sand right into his dog’s eyes. Why in the world would any TV channel ever allow something like that to be shown?
I was walking across the street from a man who was pulling or actually yanking the leash of his dog, making him slide on the pavement because he refused to stand up and walk. All the man had to do was wait for the dog to walk or carry him. I almost crossed the street but I had my fears of what the man might do to me if I intervened.
People who abuse animals are inhumane. They should be treated as criminals because that is what they are. These are the type of people who, when “the shoe is on the other foot,” beg for mercy.
My prayer is that there will be no more abuse of any kind, especially animal abuse because in reality, they cannot defend themselves.
Amen and Meow.
Maggie Ishino is a Rafu typist. She can be reached at mishino@rafu.com Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.