For the Love of Judith...And Others Like Her
By Cherine Bissinger
They
should have called her Angel, but instead she was given a name more
reflective of her master'sdespicable character, abusive behaviour
and unconscionable betrayal. I don't possess any information about
Judith's life before she mistakenly arrived at this house of horrors,
but I know indisputably that her story holds true for innumerable
dogs at this very moment. I never met Judith, but her tragic beginning
implores me to give her a voice, while her heart wrenching image
propels me to continue advocating on behalf of innocent animals
awaiting justice.
Try,
if you can, to imagine where you were ten years ago. Remember your
surroundings, daily activities, ongoing interactions and aspirations.
Consider how many days and hours you have passed in this decade
filled with countless experiences and unforgettable memories. Now
envision yourself restrained by a cold, steel chain bound to your
neck condemning you to an uninhabitable wooden dog house for ten
torturous years. This was the life of Judith . . . and for many
others like her.
I
internalize the mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement of a vulnerable
animal going to a new home, ready to start a lifelong commitment
of providing fierce loyalty, unconditional love and everlasting
companionship to a worthy family. Without any background knowledge,
I can presume that these were the emotions experienced by Judith
as she arrived at her new home. Maybe this was not the case. Perhaps
she was violently taken and shown cruelty from the moment they set
their sinful eyes on her. Like all dogs, her only desire was to
feel loved in return for her consistent devotion. What she received
was the most vicious torment one could ever endure. For one hundred
twenty months, Judith suffered in silence. Her cries were noticed,
but perpetually ignored. Instead of preparing for the joy of a new
pet, her owners contemplated the many ways in which they could inflict
punishment.
With
the name "JUDAS" crudely spray-painted on her makeshift
dog house, Judith began her life of agony. All the while she would
wonder what she had done to cause such hatred. This ill-fated dog
spent ten years waiting for freedom, but until that day would arrive,
the rest of the world existed around her as she politely stared
at the same surroundings to the point of madness. The same chains,
dog house, dirt and fear would envelope her unspeakable life. To
further her sentence, Judith was never given any toys with which
to play and occupy the excruciating monotony of every passing minute.
While people went about their busy lives, Judith waited. As the
seasons changed from hellish heat to unbearable cold, Judith suffered
the oppressive sun without anyone to care about her intense thirst
and exhaustion. When the acute deep freeze sustained the long winter
months, nobody brought her inside or offered her a blanket. Overtime,
her coat became thick and matted; her legs deformed and crippled
from exposure; her health deteriorated from malnutrition, and eventually
her vibrant brown fur turned a deeper shade of grey. But still she
waited. Judith waited for someone to cut her chains which left her
sitting in her own bodily waste and that of her masters. In addition
to denying Judith any proper food, water and cleanliness, her owners
committed a revolting act of indecency in order to strip away any
shred of remaining dignity. Bordered by her excrement and with nowhere
to run, she awaited further maltreatment. Judith's "human"
owners never came outside to lovingly feed or play fetch, but rather
to stand over and defile her. Neighbours witnessed this atrocity,
but could do little to help since bylaw enforcers permitted Judith's
"family" to disgrace her with indignant acts of violence.
How
this magnificent beauty managed to stay alive is a testament to
her undying spirit. Through the grace of God, the day finally materialized
when Judith's wait was over. Human heroes had come to rescue her.
She even barked with her innate duty to protect her family from
intruders - a family who forced her to sleep on frozen ground, covered
in snow. Rescue workers took photographs of her horrid living conditions,
physical malformations and other devastating effects of neglect.
Judith was given a hair cut to remove the infested matting and received
healthy nourishment to fill her empty stomach. Judith experienced
a lifetime of love in the seconds it took rescuers to bond with
her. After her rehabilitation, Judith found her way into a home
she deserved from the onset. This family loved her tremendously
and spent their time expressing their fond adoration.
With
all the questions I would like to pose about the reasons for which
Judith had to wait ten years to be rescued, I can currently answer
one with certainty. I truly believe Judith was an angel sent to
incarnate a visual representation of societal indifference. Although
she was given a name indicative of brutality, she was not the beast.
Through all her unequivocal suffering, Judith never lost her trusting
disposition and ability to adapt to a new environment. Her previous
life makes me wonder how we can refer to ourselves as a society
when such ruthlessness inflicted upon animals is permissible by
way of apathy. When did we become so complacent in our ability to
stand up for the rights and freedoms of animals? How can individual
communities knowingly allow animals to be chained outside for a
decade, under the worst conceivable conditions without consideration
for their welfare?
Sadly,
Judith's life in her new home wasn't eternal. After a year of peace,
the rainbow gate opened its arms to welcome her home after her mission
on earth had been completed. She had been sent down to show the
world that animals are beloved creatures to be respected and admired.
Judith's life touched so many hearts in a manner that will hopefully
lead society to question its own beliefs, while encouraging the
public to seek legislative change to animal welfare bylaws. By ignoring
her pleas and those of other animals, we become just as guilty as
Judith's heinous keepers who demonstrated such disregard for her
life. Let us use our conscience to form moral decisions in favour
of unchaining animals by having the strength in our conviction that
as a society, we cannot in good faith consent to this form of callousness.
Click on the following link to view images of Judith and learn more
about her rescue:
http://www.animaladvocates.com/happy-endings-judith.htm
—Cherine
is a teacher in Canada who has been published in her local newspapers
on animal issues. To contact Cherine, please email: alexadooley@yahoo.co.uk
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