When we first met…
…we had no idea the incredible sanctuary journey our curiosity would take us on. Little did we know…
Did you know…
…that most humans have not spent significant time with our fellow animals? For many of us, we have only met certain species of so-called ‘pets,’ such as dogs, cats and others. Individuals who are typically ‘farmed’ we may have only seen through a fence, or passing by in a car. But what if we got to know them one-on-one, would that change our view of them?
As humans, we rely on heuristics – or mental shortcuts – to navigate our world. It would be virtually impossible to fully process all new information we receive on a daily basis. While this might work well when we’re playing poker and charades, these shortcuts can hold us back when it comes to our moral decision making.
Think about…
…how this may work for a second. How often have you considered that each dog is a unique individual with a life and story of their own? Or do you often consider dogs to have a certain personality, cats to have another personality, and so on? The fact of the matter is society has formed arbitrary species hierarchies ranking certain species over others. And let’s not forget humans, who have conveniently put themselves at the top of this list – otherwise known as human supremacy.
This whole system is supported by the concept of speciesism – the arbitrary discrimination and ideology based on someone’s species.
But what if society is wrong? What if there is no moral reason to base this species hierarchy on… and each individual is a worthy member of the moral community, regardless of our species? How would that influence how our world works?
While there are many ways…
…While there are many ways to engage with the issues facing our fellow animals, sanctuaries, which are the home to individuals themselves, are one of the best ways to get to know them for who they truly are. Our hope at Respect Animal Sanctuary is to invite others to meet the individuals who call the sanctuary home and decide for themselves if they are worthy of the most basic – and the most important – value in society… respect.