People can be wolves!

Sometimes I wonder if I even like people! I belong to several egroups related to different breeds of horses. With the economy in trouble, there are frequently desperate posts of horses for sale. Of course the posting person wants to get a fair price for their horse. They are in financial trouble and really need the money. Sometimes they are willing to take a low price just to move the horse. There are a few who have waited too long and the horses are in sad shape - lack of worming, foot care, etc.

It never seems to fail that the people who respond to these posts are not trying to help. They are choosing instead to criticize and vilify the original poster. While I also abhor neglect to an animal, I can empathize with a person who makes a mistake. I can also understand a person in financial trouble wanting a fair price for their animal.

I cannot count the number of posts I have read saying "If you cannot afford to feed and care for your horse, you should give it away". That is a very idealistic point of view and, if this were a perfect world, perhaps it would be possible. But I can imagine that someone who is desperate for money - someone who perhaps cannot even afford food for their own table - would be very bitter about having to give something of value away rather than selling it. And knowing the recipient is likely able to take their time and sell the animal at a nice profit would be salt in the wound.

There are so many people who feel superior and pass judgment on others. While most times I cannot help these folks either, I do not make arrogant judgments about their character. There have been a few times when I have tried to help someone down on their luck and been burned for it. But I would rather have that happen than be the arrogant person looking down their nose at the unfortunates beneath them!

These people take the attitude that the seller has deliberately put themselves in this position. That the seller is deliberately neglecting these horses. The people passing judgment are so very superior! They would never allow such a thing to happen to themselves. They would give all their horses away free first. Yeah, right!!

Where did the Christian attitude go? What happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"? I think I prefer the company of animals to people more every day!!

Tori