“A dog is not a thing. A thing is replaceable. A dog is not. A thing is disposable. A dog is not. A thing doesn’t have a heart. A dog’s heart is bigger than any “thing” you can ever own.”
― Elizabeth Parker, Paw Prints in the Sand
Regrettably, South African law considers animals as property, i.e. things, not sentient beings. While this is fundamentally and morally objectionable, it is a fact and something that is unlikely to change any time soon. Humans have a lot to answer for.
Dogs, for a reason that can only be described as divine, have the ability to forgive, let go of the past, and live each day joyously. It’s something the rest of us strive for.”
― Jennifer Skiff, The Divinity of Dogs: True Stories of Miracles Inspired by Man’s Best Friend