By the feedback I’ve been reading regarding the defence of Trevor the dog, I must say there seems to be a lot of folks out there who actually believe that dogs are deeply intellectual beings capable of abstract thought, philosophy, logic and philanthropic actions equal to humans.
As an artist who personifies animals for a living I say: C’mon! Seriously! It’s all just art and whimsy, because I paint ‘em that way doesn’t mean I call them up for conversation and coffee or a night at the movies. Dogs are not humans. When people start accepting animals as intellectual equals I’d say there’s a warning bell goin’ off, if you know what I mean!
It has been recently claimed that Trevor can be psychologically reformed so he can quit smoking and drinking too much coffeeÉ.? Suddenly the flaky artist is the sanest person in the room.
It is proclaimed that Trevor should be treated as a human, yet he does not behave like a human. If Trevor is entitled to be considered a human, does this mean it’s OK for humans to behave like dogs?
I’m afraid I’d be really upset if people pooped on my lawn, our walking trails, streets and boulevards, sniffed each other’s crotches at first meet, or licked their private parts in public, wouldn’t you? How about drinking from the toilet bowl and rolling naked in road kill or horse poop?
Of course, mealtimes would be a whole lot easier: boiled animal parts and rice once a day and leave the toilet lid up!
If Trevor should be treated as a human then what do we do with humans who charge a visitor and bite them severely in the leg? Could Trevor be incarcerated and fined, medicated and required to visit a councillor twice monthly? Perhaps he should be in an anger management program or a healing circle?
Chris Caldwell
Whitehorse