Much as we wish

to see each and every dog in his/her very own safe and loving home, I have come to see, through our time on the streets with our strays (dogs and cats) that some are born with the streets so strong in their blood -- that to take them out, to place them in kennels, and even if eventually in a safe human-home, we would be taking away from them the very thing we're fighting for ... freedom.

Free. Freedom.

Been thinking of this word lately. FREE. And it's interesting how this one word holds many meanings, including the below.

Free: a very welcomed word - FOC. Free of charge. Free favours.
Free: having time on hand, as in "I am free".
Free: to set at liberty, to let loose from captivity, not confined/imprisoned, capable of voluntary activity, without restraint.

We want to offer to each animal, or rather to hold onto, the gift of freedom that each of us, human or animal, are born with.

Our free will. Free choice. Freedom from chains both physically and emotionally. Voluntary movement.

We want our animals to be free. To enjoy the land that they are born on. To have free choice in companionship. Most of all, in our current context, we want our animals to be free from the human intervention of animal control.

Culling. Arising partly or largely from the inability to give our animals the freedom of space. Because their freedom intrudes into our preferred lifestyle.

So, in order for us higher beings to be free, in our own choices of living, there are among us who make the authorised decision to take away the freedom of the lower beings. And they cannot fight back. They do not have the ability to.

In fact, this same pattern plays out in every social class of highs and lows. Fractions. Discriminations. Segregations. Actions of force and quick remedies seem to frame scenarios where one party has visibly greater powers over the other. Where retaliation is seldom if not impossible.

But as much as I want to protect all animals from the outcome of culling, as much as I want them to be free from this ongoing threat in the name of animal control, as much as we wish to rehome the many strays on our streets -- I have to stand still and see, and accept the truth that some of our strays are simply and totally born for the streets. They do not need our companionship. They have each other. And wide expanses of fields, jungles, sun, wind, rain. We should not feel slighted. But rather celebrate the fact that we are different.

Theirs is a freedom that understands not the touch of a leash upon their necks. A freedom that does not require clean bowls and freshly changed water each day. A freedom that smirks at nice-smelling doggy shampoo and being towelled dry. A freedom that turns its head on manmade crunchy treats and stringy rawhides. A freedom that squeals against car rides and riding lifts and trips to the vet. A freedom that dies if we put them behind the metal bars of a kennel. Freedom that will endure pain and blood to escape from captivity.

These are the animals who are born wild. Born free. Born not for us to keep.

And if we choose to take them off the streets and into the kennels or homes, to keep them SAFE, safe from a possible death by culling, we would be slowly killing them off as their full-blooded freedom slowly ebbs with the days.

So, as many caregivers have learnt and are learning - for some of the strays out there who choose their liberty anytime over human companionship, we respect them by not stealing the freedom they are born into. It could mean a shorter life on the streets, if they get caught, while we live with the practice of culling. But I believe - they are much happier living the way they choose.

Free.

Just my thoughts.