See What You're Missing

I've recently stumbled upon a very disturbing scene that I just can't get out of my head. No, I didn't surprise my parents in a romantic moment or see my boss on the toilet, although I'm sure both would be extremely traumatic.

On occasion, I take an alternate route home & was horrified to learn that there's a monster in my neighborhood. When the weather is nice & folks are hanging out on the porch or the deck or the stoop, she's always there.

At first glance, she's an unassuming middle-aged woman enjoying her property. Often chatting with friends or neighbors, it's not an usual scene in any way. Until you look more closely and see the caged bird at her side.

Nothing says "I love you" like putting a bird in a cage & then taking it outside to see what's it's missing, right?

I believe that one should only have a pet if the animal's natural traits can be celebrated instead of quashed. You don't have to be an animal-lover or environmentalist to know that all life deserves respect.

If you feel it needs to be de-musked or de-clawed, than it doesn't belong in your home. If it's not allowed to enter your home under most circumstances, don't get one (whatever "it" may be). Most animals don't need us & we don't need them so don't get a pet if you can't properly care for one.

I have another neighbor that keeps a rabbit on the patio all year long, no matter the weather. There's no shelter from the elements & very little interaction with the people. Certainly, this is not a good pet for this family, nor are the parents teaching responsibility, compassion or any other useful skill to the children.

Dogs need a yard, big dogs need sizable yards & multiple dogs need a pretty generous yard. But if any yard is going to be a dog's home, you shouldn't have one. Dogs need your companionship to thrive, which requires letting them into the house, the family & your life.

Cats shouldn't be walking around the neighborhood, as they can catch fatal diseases like leukemia & feline AIDS the way we catch colds.

And birds need to fly. It's what they do, it's who they are. There are plenty of injured birds incapable of flight. If you take one in & care for it, that's great. But why would you take a healthy bird out of flight?

What could be more synonymous with "bird" than "fly"? Nothing comes to mind. I don't know what kind of selfish person would be so horrible as to cage a healthy bird. But it takes a special kind of narcissism & cruelty to do so. Why compound it by teasing the animal?