On Feb. 29 in Sublette County, Wyoming, Cody Roberts intentionally struck down a juvenile wolf with a snowmobile, taped the animal’s mouth shut, then brought the injured wolf to a local bar to show off and pose for photos. Afterward, the wolf — still alive — lay on the bar floor, suffering from internal injuries, while Roberts drank in celebration of his conquest. Eventually, Roberts killed the wolf outside behind the bar.
Shockingly, nearly all of these actions were legal; Roberts was fined $250 for possessing a live wolf.
It is alarming that anyone could attempt to justify such behavior, but that is precisely what Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, Cody Roberts’ aunt, has done. In an interview with DailyMail.com, Ivie-Roberts stated, “How exactly do you torture a wolf? Wolves are evil animals. They destroy our livelihoods.”
Even if an animal’s moral character could be evaluated and defined as evil, would this inhumane treatment be justified?
No.
We grant dignity even to those who commit the most heinous crimes, not because they have earned it, but because inflicting unnecessary suffering on another individual corrupts the moral integrity of those involved and of our society as a whole.
We must acknowledge and respect the inherent value within every living being — humans and animals alike — which stems from a life force that only God could create and bestow. Failure to recognize this truth will inevitably destroy the moral fabric that binds us together, individually and collectively.
Shaina Wright
Everett
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