What kind of a species are we?

[pacemaker]

Where I walk my dog in the park, there is a wired enclosure with a set of locked gates. It is used by the railway maintenance workers, to drive their vehicles down the embankment to the track. Inside the compound, what used to be a building, is now just a cement floor with old railway sleepers piled in a rough heap.
Several months ago, while walking my dog I noticed with some amusement that a black chicken had now taken up residents in there, a runaway from someones pen. After a few weeks I noticed that it was still there, and that some people where leaving food scraps for it. It was a clever bird, never venturing to far from the safety of the closed gates, and would hide if you approached the area it was in. We had a bad storm some weeks ago, with major flooding in the area which included the park, so when the waters finally went down enough for us to resume our walks, I found to my supprise that the chicken had made it through. There was a small lake in that area for some weeks, which lured a lot of bird activety to it, and there amongst them was the little chicken, I found that I looked foreward to seeing her every day on our walks.
This morning I found her little body, her kneck broken, I know it was not a dog or cat, as there was no sign of that type of attack.
I am quite supprised at the way I feel about it, It made me feel good knowing that this brave little bird had etched out a free life for itself, to be brought down in such an uncaring act. I am sad for her of course, but sadder to think that we share this planet with those that could do this.

[krdahmer]

Little chicken....


I know what you mean.

[badger]

(shaking head) - we're supposed to be evolving as humans aren't we? sometimes I think we're devolving. imagine how carelessly it was done.

[ancientgirl]

I can't understand why some people find pleasure in killing something so non-intimidating. The poor chicken was just trying to live its life, not bothering anyone.

Sadly, I believe that some of these people just weren't taught that animals deserve to be treated kindly and with care. They can't defend themselves like we can and don't have the maliciousness in their hearts like some humans do.

[mummummum]

Another living (and dying) example of the sad truth underlying the T-Shirt which had a picture of Michael Vick and a picture of a Pittie with the headliner " Who's the Animal ??". Rest in Peace little chicken ~ you harmed no one and didn't deserve to die.

[Love4himies]

I have never in all my years understood what joy humans get by destroying property or living beings. Humans can be the cruelest animal on the planet.

[Lukka'sma]

I was reading away and smiling from ear to ear with your delight of this little bird, but then I reached the line about her little neck and I froze.......I just don't know what to say.....
every time I hear about animal cruelty I think, no I must be reading this wrong.....people couldn't possibly be mean to an animal.....I don't know if it's just my complete lack of understanding of human nature....or my desire to believe that these things don't really happen....whatever it is I still am so socked and saddened when I hear of an animal that was treated poorly and unfairly. Like all of you I too don't understand how any person could cause discomfort, pain or willingly torture any animal.