Why should we be merciful to animals? For us, not only them. For our own psyches and souls. I am good to animals for many reasons, one is that it heals me, makes me whole, teaches me how to be a human. We are a broken people, fearful, angry, judgmental, envious, fighting to keep from living hollow lives, disconnected from nature. We are a beautiful people, loving, generous, kind and hopeful and eager to reconnect with the natural world, and every time we show compassion and care to an animal, we become better, stronger, more spiritual, our hearts grow, our spirits shine. We nourish ourselves and bring out the better spirits in us.

We become more human. We learn how to love. We heal our broken souls. We learn the joy and wonder of connection.