This beautiful creature was left by the side of the highway either dead or left to die by at least two people, its owner and whoever left it there. 
Allowing a dog to roam untethered is against the law in the Virgin Islands, as is failing to stop when you hit any animal here. But maybe that’s not what happened.
There were entrails in the road approaching the dead body and the dog is missing a foot and appears to have had her side ripped out.
Upon reflection, this horrendous sight may be the results of a dog fight – also illegal.
But who cares, right? It’s just a dog. But what if it is not just a dog. What if it’s your dog, or what if it is a dead relative reincarnated, or what if God sees no difference between that dog and a child.
The bottom line is, I see no difference between that precious living being and a 3-year-old child. Would you leave your child out to wander the highways and streets unaccompanied? Or would you see her thrown into a ring with a vicious fighting dog to see how she made out, or worse to train the fighting dog to kill?
Do you think that dog has any less right to be safe than a child does?
I have a strong faith that as we reap, so shall we sow. Take a close look at that picture. Someone was charged with the care of that helpless dog. We were all charged with her care. Someone killed her and left her there for the rest of us to have to weep over and deal with.
This horrific image was created by human beings. Whoever you are, please look at how that makes you feel. Please consider how it makes the rest of us feel.
Take stock of those feelings and realize that we all need empathy and compassion and safety. We all need to feel we are part of a community that cares about its most vulnerable. How then, can we allow this to happen?
We need to connect these acts of terrible violence with the pain that those who are numb to such scenarios are in. We need to gather around our babies and give them the love and security we would all like to have.
I believe love and compassion are payback for having been given the gift of a human existence this time around. You may not be so lucky next time. You may end up a dog left to fend for yourself in a cruel and uncaring town. Think about it.
