By Todd E. Brady
Guest columnist
Good Morning America recently celebrated North Shore Animal America’s Save a Life Tour which is “the world’s largest mobile cooperative lifesaving pet adoption event.” Through the Animal League’s good work among shelters and rescue groups in 60 cities and towns throughout 37 states, they are helping “adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens find responsible, loving homes.” Their good work is seen in the fact that they have saved 1,100,000 lives since 1944. The picture on their website of the airplane and hundreds of animal carriers where dogs and cats are being rescued is an impressive feat.
The pictures of adorable dogs and cuddly kittens on the website will make the hardest of hearts melt with compassion. When I perused the website, I heard the continuous refrain of “Aaaaawwwws” and Ooooohhhhs” in my head.
Even as I write this, Sadie is stretched out and dozing on the couch across the room. Sadie is our brown, five-year-old Golden Doodle who has been a staple part of our family since she was several weeks old. Our family’s life would not be what it is if it were not for Sadie. When we go out of town, we arrange for someone to feed, water, and walk her. When we cook out in the back yard, she is running around at our feet. When someone knocks on our door, she faithfully lets us know. Who needs a doorbell? When our boys remember their growing up days, they will look back and think of their lives with Sadie.
Sadie brings us so much happiness. Our lives have been enriched because she is in our house. We are thankful for her life, but we are quick to acknowledge that she is a pet. She is a dog. There is a significant difference between her and us. She is an animal. We are human beings.
It is ironic that I heard about North Shore Animal America’s Save a Life Tour on Good Morning America after driving to work and listening to a podcast about the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos stored for in vitro fertilization (IVF) are children.
The Alabama Court ruled in favor of parents who accused a Mobile, Alabama fertility clinic, the Center for Reproductive Medicine of failing to properly safeguard frozen embryos, resulting in their destruction.
The Animal League promotes itself as “Leading the No-Kill Community.” If they pride themselves with this moniker, how do they think about the Pro-Life Community?
Both the Animal League and the Alabama Supreme Court are talking about life and saving lives, but they the lives they are talking about are very different lives. We don’t hear much in the animal world about when life in animals begins, but the Alabama Supreme Court has stated that human life begins at conception.
With both groups talking about life these days, Christians must remember that human life is sacred. Human life is created in the image of God. This is why we rightly refer to the sanctity of human life.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
Saving the lives of animals who are our pets is admirable. With that being said, we must not let the desire to save animal lives outshine the desire to save human lives. Let us remember that there are approximately 150 million orphans in the world who are considered orphans and in need of “responsible, loving homes.” Let us also remember that one of the most dangerous places life exists is in a mother’s womb as more than 63 million babies have been aborted in America in since the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973.
“Save a Life?” Certainly, but God says that one kind of life has been created in His image. Let us live accordingly, and let us work to save those lives.
Todd E. Brady serves as Staff Chaplain and Advanced Funeral Planner at Arrington Funeral Directors. He and his wife, Amy have five sons. You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net. The Jackson Post’s opinion/editorial page is meant to help launch public discussion of local issues or allow local people to discuss national or statewide issues. Publication of a column is not an endorsement of that column by The Post, its owners or any of its advertisers or employees. To join the discussion, send a guest column or letter to the editor to brandon@jacksonpost.news. Submissions for a specific week’s print edition need to be sent by Monday night. Sending does not guarantee publication that week as that is based on space availability.
