Letter: Uncivilized toward animals
A young harp seal rests on the ice floes during the annual East Coast seal hunt in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence around Quebec's Iles de la Madeleine. In 2009, Canada's Fisheries Department set a combined allowable catch for the annual East Coast seal hunt of 338,200 harp, hooded and grey seals. (March 25, 2009) Credit: AP
Mohandas Ghandi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
If this is true, not only is our nation's greatness diminished, but that of Canada as well. Despite efforts of many organizations to protect innocent and, most often, defenseless animals from cruelty and slaughter, these continue daily. I recently received a plea from the Humane Society requesting a contribution to stop the butchering of baby seals in Canada. These beautiful pups are viciously stabbed and clubbed to death for their fur. It is sickening.
Sadly, this is just a case in point. We need to stop the cruelty and murder of animals in the name of science or for monetary gain. If we claim we are civilized, it is time we act civilized. I will not be visiting Canada any time soon, nor will I buy products made there. I also will monitor actions of U.S. companies toward animals to be sure my hard-earned dollars go to those that are truly civilized.
Rosmaria Menna-Eichhorn, North Babylon
