Pet Forum

Compassion for Animals And the Jewish Faith

By Debra Berger

"There is no difference between the pain of man and the pain of other living beings. … The tenderness of the mother bird for her young ones is not produced by reasoning but by feeling, and this faculty exists not only in man, but in most living things."
– Maimonides

In May 2006, the Atlanta Jewish Times printed an article by Lewis Regenstein that outlined the strong teachings and laws of Judaism requiring us to treat animals with kindness and compassion. Lewis detailed the code of laws in the Torah, referred to as tsa'ar ba'alei chayim. If you would like to read more on Judaism and animals, contact Lewis at regenstein@mindspring.com, or go to www.jewishveg.com/schwartz, www.chai-online.org or www.hsus.org/religion.

The purpose of this column is to provide some practical means of reducing the suffering of animals. Most of us would not intentionally harm animals, but we are simply unaware of many of the issues that affect them. When we purchase clothing from the store, eat a meal or buy that cute puppy from the pet store, we may not realize the source from which each came. So, the most important step toward being kind to animals is to educate yourself.

An excellent organization that provides comprehensive information about animal welfare, both general and current, is the Humane Society of the United States. The Web site is updated daily if you want to stay current on issues, and you can search for any topic that you are interested in, from puppy mills to cage-free eggs. Visit www.hsus.org, or call (202) 452-1100.

Now you know . . . so where do you start?

• Consider reducing the amount of animal-based foods in your diet. The quaint family farms where Bessie the cow grazed peacefully are nearly history. Today's "factory farms" are business ventures where the animals have been renamed "units of production." Billions of animals, capable of feeling pain and fear, suffer terribly to become our dinner. They are denied everything that is natural to them and are subjected to routine mutilations and other abuses. Additionally, COFAs (confined animal farming operations) are devastating to our environment and a major contributor to global warming. For more information and recipes, visit www.hsus.org/veg or www.farmusa.org (see meatout Mondays).
• If you keep kosher, find out how your animal-based food was produced. It is a myth that kosher meat is more humane. Despite the humane intention and spirit of Jewish law, kosher meat often comes from the same abusive factory farms as all other meat. In some instances, kosher slaughter has been shown to be crueler than conventional slaughter. If you are part of a large kosher community, you might be able to influence the producers of the animal products that you buy to implement more humane methods. Avoid products like goose-liver pate and veal. These foods are produced by inflicting extreme cruelty on the animals. For more information, visit www.humanekosher.com.
• Get political for animals. Use the power of your pen and your phone to let your elected officials know "I care about animals and I vote." If you want to help in the campaign to end dogfighting in Georgia, visit www.georgialpa.org or www.georgiadogfightingbill.com.
• Adopt your next pet from a shelter. If you are truly ready for the long-term commitment of having a pet, check out one of the many shelters in the Atlanta area. Each year, millions (yes, millions) of dogs and cats are euthanized in this country, simply because there are not enough permanent homes for all of them. When you buy from a pet store or a breeder, you are adding to the overpopulation problem. Generally, mixed breeds are healthier dogs. If you have your heart set on a certain breed, however, Atlanta has a rescue group for almost every breed, and you will be surprised how many purebreds are in the shelter. For general information, visit www.ddal.org (see puppy mills). For local information, visit www.spotsociety.org.
• Purchase cruelty-free items for household cleaning and personal care. Today, buying products that are not tested on animals is really easy. Target has a full line of Method products, and you can even buy Seventh Generation products at Publix now! There are numerous cosmetic companies that do not test their products on animals. Visit www.neavs.org (scroll to CCIF) for more information.
• Research the research that you donate to. Many health organizations are modernizing their research methods and using nonanimal models. Using alternatives to animals in research has both ethical and practical advantages. You can find out if your organization has the Humane Seal at www.pcrm.org. If you want to support a charity that is working to cure many diseases, check out the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at caat.jhsph.edu.

As we pass the Days of Awe, consider the words of Isaac Bashevis Singer: "How can we pray to God for mercy when we ourselves have no mercy?"

Debra Berger has been concerned about animal protection for more than two decades and has a particular interest in the relationship between Judaism and animals. She is an Atlanta native and member of The Temple.

Adoptable Pets of the Month

Do you have room in your heart for an older gentleman? Meet Foster, a 14-year-old lab. He ended up in a shelter after his owner died, and he is in need of a permanent home after being rescued by the Atlanta Dog Squad, a group devoted to rescuing, fostering and finding homes for retrievers, labs, goldens, flat coats and retriever mixes in Georgia. Also available for adoption from the Squad are Trouble and Sassy, 6-year-old lab siblings whose owner also died. The two have a strong bond and must be adopted together. For more information about Foster, Trouble and Sassy, and other Squad dogs, visit www.atlantadogsquad.org, e-mail info@atlantadogsquad.org, or call (404) 642-5295.

To nominate homeless pets to be featured in JulepÕs Pet Forum, e-mail amquill@JULEPonline.us or call (404) 564-4560.