Am I cruel?

[zen_thug]

On the way home from work today I saw a chipmunk on my side of the road. It had been hit by a car and it was still alive. Before I could get back to it, several other cars passed over it. I can't imagine the level of terror each death machine invoked passing over it as it struggled to get out of the road.

When I walked up to it, the chipmunk was

Comments

[drjamez]

You did the right thing.

I recall doing something similar, but took the other road.

Every now and then, years later, my clumsy attempts at humanity come back to haunt me. I was a teen and out on my bike in Poland Spring, but somehow felt that finishing the job was the best option.

Today, I can't stand hearing reports on television of when a horse with a broken leg gets put down, because veterinary medicine has evolved to the point where yes, the horse can be saved. He or she will never be a champion again, but, damn it, they can be saved.

I agree with you - I hope no one here ever has to be faced with that decision. Ever.

- James -

[marquis66]

Cruelty would have been to not do anything. To pass over the animal, constantly, without consideration would have been cruel; to ignore it. In effect, because you made a decision, it wasn't cruelty. You had two bad decisions, and I don't think that either of them could be considered wrong.

[canadageorges]

To be human is to make judgments.
All of them.

[marinda_4]

I also think you did the correct thing, and when faced with the same choice myself, I've made the same decision.

I have always looked at it that if it's hurt that badly that it can't move itself, and from what you've described, it was already there, it doesn't have long to live. You gave it the opportunity to live the last moments of its life without fear. We can only hope for that for all of us.

:)