Alas, what caretakers of the animal kingdom we turned out to be!

Hung, Stripped and Gutted!

I begin this day, by stating my heart and stomach lay in a dramatic state of nausea due to what I am about to address.

First may I state for the record that I have been a vegetarian for thirty years now, due only to this fact standing tall, that I am an animal lover, pure and simple, and feel they were put upon the earth to be our friends, rather than for our consumption, as well as to wear their varied coats of beauty.

I can only pray this day that my words teared to parchment can somehow delete my pain of heart. Being a now resident of New Mexico, as well as understanding the mentality and free spirited nature of the folk here which I do respect, I well understand that not all share my views on this, I as well understand some folk live out in the sparsely populated regions of the state as I do, so that they may enlist their blood-bought freedom of lifestyle as well.

Upon moving into this location set on one acre I currently call home, my three noble German Shepherds and companions, were delighted to not only have other neighboring dogs next-door to fence run with and play with, they were given an extra treat by having a beautiful huge brown eyed steer to eyeball and aquatinted themselves with, I named her Mona!

I have spent many hours watching these dogs, especially Wolf, play with Mona, and Mona adoring the quizzical friendship as well. Upon my first encounter with my new neighbor, he explained he enjoyed slaughtering his own beef! Well, I being a city boy, now knew what the huge tall hangman's stucture of utter horror was, bordering my fence! My heart sank!

Well, this morning alerted by my dogs howling, after investigating, there hung poor Mona! My God! Hung, stripped and gutted! Now I full well understand one's desire to slaughter their own beef, yet I feel quite strongly that he should have found a more shielded location for his 'hanging of horror'!

I know full well I stand in the minority on this issue of carnivore verse vegetarian, and more than most, given my child-like reasoning for such a stance, that yes, I merely love animals, but I must say this whole perverted experience has sickened me indeed!

I shall close with this, I feel our friends and companions the animals, were put here on earth as our friends, to learn from, love and protect.

I think more importantly however that these beautiful beasts one and all, were put here to gauge our humanity and sense of decency in heart! Yes, I feel the creator of life was curious indeed to see how we would care for such loveliness.

Alas, what caretakers of life we have turned out to be!

So now I guess, soon there will be a new young arrival to inhabit Mona's once pen, and my dogs shall once again in their simple, loving and trusting manner, make friends all over again, just to once again, as on this dark day, sit in steeped bewilderment and utter astonishment once more, as they ponder the heart of mankind, as I shall as well.

Alas, my heart so sad indeed this day, for my friend Mona is no more!

Rodney Evan Bohen
www.rodneybohen.com