[Points: The value of kindness—people generally take it in limited sense as applicable to human beings only—God is the common guardian of all creatures to love all creatures is to win the love of God—man neglects this duty—examples—animals cannot speak, but they feel like men—Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.]
We all know that kindness is a great virtue and an important duty of man. But most men take it in a limited sense and think that it is enough if they are kind to their fellowmen only. The duty of kindness to other creatures-buds and beasts-does not enter their minds.
This is regrettable indeed. All living creatures-man and bird and beast-are the creations of God. So He is their common Father. It must, therefore, be His desire that the quality of kindness should be extended to all these creatures alike. No doubt man has become the lord of creation by virtue of his intellect. But that is the stronger reason why he should be kind to his weaker fellow-creatures. It is a pity that we often forget this duty and treat cruelly with many animals, even with those that do us good.
Let us take the case of the cow. She gives us milk, the principal food of our children, and ploughs our fields. In fact she is like our mother, according to the Hindus. But how do we actually show our gratitude to her? She is cruelly treated when she fails us for any rea son. The same is the treatment meted out to the dog. It is the most faithful friend of man. Its greatest delight is to serve its master in every possible way. Yet we often neglect, it when it becomes too old to give us as much service as before. And the way in which unattached dogs are often beaten mercilessly cannot but pain a sensible man.
All this is not only ingratitude but cruelty and an offence in the eye of God. These dumb creatures cannot speak, but they feel and suffer as man does. So it is the duty of every man to be kind to animals.
In most countries there are societies for the prevention of cruelties to animals recognised by their governments. But their labours have not yet been able to produce the desired results for want of public cooperation. Attempts, should, therefore, be made to rouse the conscience of man to his duty to the dumb fellow-creatures.
