Let me start by saying there are two kinds of people in this world, cat lovers and dog lovers. Kinda like ford and chevy fans (I guess I would qualify as a dog/ford kinda guy). BTW, I think I’m hitting around 80% for spotting cat people when I’m in the grocery store - and that’s without looking in their carts! Now as I said in my post yesterday (the one that started this discussion), I’ve never removed a cat from this world. I don’t like ‘em and think they are not good for much of anything (except rodent control and company for lonely old ladies and frumpy/quirky women). As a matter of fact, I’ve never even fired my red rider BB gun at a cat (something I’ve done many, many times at the hindquarters of dogs who’ve rumaged through the garbage over the years). But I’m such a softie, I can’t even go to the circus anymore!
KBStang, you make several good points. IMHO, we do live in a society that is off kilter, especially with all the random school/church shootings. It seems that every couple weeks, something else happens, and more innocent lives are lost forever. Do I attribute this to an appetite for violence or tolerance for violence in today’s kids/adults/whomever? Yes. In part, I do. I believe our acceptance for violence as a society might be at one of its high points (especially violence toward people as depicted in film, television and video games etc.)
BUT on the other hand, I DO believe we live in a society that puts animal rights on an enormously high plateau, even above people (just spend 30 minutes listening to the puke that hosts that terrible ‘politically incorrect’ show).
Here comes my point: Think back to when our fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers were young—there were guns in most homes, God in all school, but no shootings in the classrooms. Bullys preyed and the rest of us put up with it or fought back with our fists.... Now I’d bet any amount of money that 25, 50, 95 years ago, Americans did NOT have problems with an overpopulated whiteail deer herd (to where auto insurance rates skyrocket, lyme disease is a threat and your vegtable garden is at risk), or wild dogs attacking children and people who couldn’t properly defend themselves, or, per our discussion, free roaming cats that can carry disease, kill for fun or ruin property - whether with their claws or their bladder. There were no problems becasue there were not laws back then that put the value of animals above humans. Or put a man in fear of the consequences if he had to kill an oppossum in the backyard or aggressive dog in the driveway.
The thing is, your Grandfather and mine did not hesitate - not for a second - killing a pesky, dangerous or questionable animal - no matter the breed or species. And their neighbors next door and around the country did the same thing. Yet, I know in my heart our earlier generations held the value of human life and American freedoms higher than today’s society can even fathom.
The bottom line is animals are animals. Although I love ‘em, they are here for food, for work, for whatever. They are not people, and should not regarded as such.
I dunno, I think people have the whole thing backwards.
And thanks again everybody for your advice. I’ve got a HUGE bottle of OdoBan sitting next to me I can’t wait to try out tonight when I get home.
70 Mach 1 (351C 4V 4-speed) I've been restoring since '96. 95% complete. Also have a '68 HT (289 2-speed) that I restored between '97-98 and is FOR SALE! The VMF has proven to be an invaluable resource for information, humor and excellent advice.
