How To Rescue Chained Dogs and Practice Nonviolence At the Same Time

[magical thyme]

33. there is "doing things right" and "doing the right thing."

In the case of a clearly abandoned and helpless animal (or child) that is obviously being starved, "doing things right" is not necessary "doing the right thing."

Again, if you actually read the article, the rescuer does not typically do this. She typically works with the owner to educate them on animal care, provides financial assistance when needed, etc. This was an extreme situation where the "owner" clearly did not care about this dog and left it to starve.

I used to board my horse out at a small farm with about 18 or so horses and owners. The home was empty overnight for an extended period, and the tack room was locked up in the evenings. A group of us were discussing what we would do if somebody got badly injured when the tackroom was locked with the house empty.

One boarder expressed consternation at the thought of breaking into the tack room to get to the phone (This was pre-cell phone days) because that would be against the law. She was in favor of "doing things right."

The rest of us agreed the first order of business would be to get an ambulance, and the fastest way to do that would be to break into the tack room. Running up and down the street hoping to find somebody home to borrow a phone, with houses widely separated, would waste valuable time and somebody with a serious injury could die in that time. Breaking the tack room door to get to the phone right there was "doing the right thing." Doors can be replaced. Lives cannot.

Personally, I favor "doing the right thing" and taking my chances. I would gladly pay for a new lock on the door if that's what it took to save a life. YMMV.

I'm just glad the "doing things right" boarder wasn't the one, years later, who foung the new barn owner down and comatose from a terrible, terrible accident, or that young woman would not likely be here today. She barely survived as it was.