QUOTE -- "I was particularly struck by the remark of one of the Amish in an interview when he stated something to the effect that the people that purchase their dogs treat them like humans & let them sleep in their beds but that they treat their animals as animals."
Dogs are animals. They are not "humans." So - treating a dog like an animal, in itself, isn't such a bad thing.
Remember that people can treat animals very well or very poorly.
I suspect that any situation like the one you visited isn't treating the dogs that they are using for breeding very well. I agree with you that dogs need freedom to run and play and interact with people. Being kept in a barn only to breed is abusive as far as I am concerned.
My father grew up with working dogs on their farm. They were certainly treated like dogs (animals) -- but nonetheless, they were loved and well cared for by his family. Those dogs were my father's best friends and playmates when he was growing up (when they weren't working).... and they loved to work. They helped manage the sheep and other livestock and were guard dogs as well.
The Amish do feel this way about dogs and other animals as well - it is part of their culture. But, that being said -- there is never any excuse for abusing any animal. And - I'm sure that not all of them are guilty of this.
***** For the life of me --- I will never understand why someone can't just walk in a close these places down -- like "yesterday!"
Carol Jean |