Growth of human empathy towards animals

[Catherine]

The Fort McMurray fire has shown clearly how much our human empathy has grown. There has been a lot of concern about the wellbeing of animals in Fort McMurray.  Remember Katrina and how people were forced to leave their pets behind. I think it was a turning point in our thinking. We were all shocked about the animals being left to take their chances with the storm.  Rescue groups formed to go in and find abandoned animals and save them.
Many animals were saved and we realized that we cared what happened to them.

People in Fort McMurray were not at home when they had to flee the fire. Every effort was made to rescue their pets.
We now understand as a society that it is the right thing to do.

http://news.google.ca/news/url?sr=1&ct2=...t=2&at=dt0

There are still many areas of animal welfare that are failing, but we have come a long way. Now that we have moved in this direction there is no going back. We care about animals and have empathy for them.  This can only lead to better care for all animals in the end.