Obviously, human nature has not changed, and people who have not been raised in a good, civilized environment and taught higher values can be just as cruel and “inhuman” as people in ancient times.  It is a pity not only for their victims but also for them, as it is difficult to imagine how a person who can enjoy inflicting such pain on animals could appreciate the pleasures of a more civilized life.

Vick’s case is a reminder to us that we cannot assume all people are civilized or share a set of higher values.  Obviously, people who take pleasure in watching animals fight to the death, as well as people who cut off other people’s heads, promote suicide bombings, or are otherwise involved in the cruel destruction and devaluing of life do not share the basic Judeo-Christian values that most of us take for granted.  We are naïve if we do not think such people – and such evil – exist.

On the other hand, dogs also can bring out the best in people – or give people the opportunity to exhibit their higher natures.  My office manager, Carolyn, is a real animal lover, having several pets of her own.  Recently, she participated in “Brittany Rescue” and became the temporary “foster parent” for a Brittany Spaniel that was being taken from a shelter to a new home.

Her part of the project involved picking up the dog at one location, keeping it at her home for several days, and then taking it to another location where it was picked up by another volunteer.  She said she felt like she was part of an “underground railroad” for dogs.  According to Carolyn, there are many volunteers who help find homes for these abandoned animals, and there are similar volunteer groups for various breeds of dogs. 

What a wonderful example of human kindness and of man’s higher nature!  It reminds me of Alexis de Tocqueville’s description of America and the way people used to organize voluntarily to help others before the government took over all the social service jobs. 

In those days in America, people solved problems on a voluntary basis.  They organized hospitals, libraries, schools, homeless shelters, and various mutual aid societies, all without government involvement.  They took a personal interest in helping each other, and the human interaction benefited everyone who was involved. 

Of course, now that the government has taken over these functions, most people spend half of their lives just working to pay their taxes and then spend their free time watching television.  Private, voluntary efforts have little role to play.  As a result, many people who want to improve libraries or medical services or other institutions do not volunteer their time or money to improve the service, but instead lobby to raise the taxes on their neighbors – forcibly taking money from their neighbors’ pockets! 

Now, we are told that dogs in Canada can get many forms of medical treatment faster than the humans who are trapped in the government health care system.  So maybe our pets, who still operate more in the free market than do their “masters”, may serve to remind us of how much better off we all can be when we are unleashed.