This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Some argue that animals are just objects, and we can do whatever we want with them: breed them, contain them, not feed them or provide shelter. But animals are living, breathing creatures that need our compassion, love, empathy and physical care.
Elsa, a young horse, was brought into this world and then grossly neglected by her owner in Enoch. Her mother was also left to starve. If the owner had asked for help, I know good people would have stepped forward as the Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary did to try and save little Elsa ("Elsa, the Utah horse found frozen to ground, dies," Tribune, Jan. 18).
In spite of everything, she left us mere humans to contemplate our purpose here on Earth. I believe our purpose is to educate animal owners and then punish those who hurt them or don't bother to care for them.
We need strong laws to punish people who do what that owner did to little Elsa and her mom, Annie. As a society we need to be responsible for those who can't care for themselves and punish those who abuse them. These people may start with animals and then move on to children, women and others who cannot defend themselves.
Pam Skinner
Heber City