Our Beloved Predators

Blog, Deep Ecology, Ethics & Whole Community | March 9, 2010

Talkeetna, my malamute, was walking me on leash the other day when she suddenly made a leap into the deep snow on the side of the track and dug furiously. She has pounced and dug before, never to meet with any success, but she loved the effort so I indulged her and watched. However this time was different. A tiny vole, feeling safe under the snow, was caught unaware and after a few crunches went down the gullet of a well-fed dog who did not need it. I felt really bad. A life ended so suddenly for no real necessity; perhaps a mother of several little babies, or a mate. A hungry owl or hawk or fox – that would have been an understandable use of its life. But just to give a well-taken care of dog some pleasure? The wild animals are under enough pressure here from humans, who act as predators by taking over the land and water and food sources and homes. I as much as anyone love seeing my dogs run and play and follow their natural instincts, but it is not fair to the wild ones to let loose upon them other predators as well – our beloved dogs and cats. It is interesting how we make dividing lines in our mind. “Us” and “other.” The dogs and cats have become “us”, family members; and the wildlife for many is still the “other.” Thus we feel justified in letting our dogs run and chase wildlife and our cats hunt the birds and mice that are vital for wild animals, who have to fight for their food and their survival every day. It would be good if we could expand the boundaries of “us” to include the lives of the wild ones. Then we would be moved to find a way to live together that takes all lives into consideration.

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