ORSI: Going to the dogs?

OPINION:

A police dog in Fort Myers, Fla., recently was accorded full honors commensurate with those given a fallen officer. The ceremony was held in a local Baptist church. The service included speakers, a 21-gun salute, “Taps” and the presentation of an American flag to the animal’s keeper. Other area police departments joined in the service and formed an honor guard as Rosco, a 4-year-old German shepherd was, as the media reported, “laid to rest.” Rosco was killed by an armed suspect during a shootout with police. (A teenage male suspect also was killed.) A local newspaper refused to print any criticism of the event. Yet it permitted letters that referred to the animal as “the late Officer Rosco” with wishes that “he rest in peace.”

The anthropomorphizing of an animal has serious consequences for society on a number of levels. First, it is indicative of the blurring that has taken place in human thinking regarding our ability to make distinctions between human beings and animals. Second, in designating animals as heroes, we diminish the accomplishments of those persons who, in fact, perform heroic actions. Third, honors are intended for heroes to celebrate their actions and encourage others to emulate them. Finally, when we honor animals in this way, we diminish the solace such services are designed to render the family of a fallen hero and send the message, “Your late loved one has the same value as a trained animal.”

Humans have always been regarded to be at the pinnacle of living beings, and our relationship to animals has always been one of utility. This has been commonly held by religious people and atheists alike. Dogs, like Rosco, are trained to do certain things to protect humans because the life of a dog is of limited value compared to the infinite value of the human person. This is because humans have reason. This rationality confers on us freedom as well as rights and responsibilities. A dog can lay claim to none of these.

In light of this, the designation of “hero” can be applied only to a person because the action applauded by society is one that was reflected upon and done through free will. A dog like Rosco is not free. He did not choose his job; he is simply conditioned to react in a certain way. No altruism is exercised. Animals operate on reward and punishment. Rosco undoubtedly received treats during his training for good performance, which was his sole source of motivation. In no way could he weigh the consequences of intervening on behalf of his human handler. In other words, the possibility of injury or death, the possibility of leaving behind friends and loved ones, animal or human, could never have entered Rosco’s mind. Nor could he ever have been held accountable for any of his actions, as could a human being.

We honor human heroes because they are exemplars of our species. Ceremonies celebrating them are also an invitation for others to act in a self-sacrificing way. No police officer should ever be encouraged to emulate Rosco. Careful thought is expected of human officers as to possible alternatives for subduing a criminal suspect without loss of life - the suspect’s or their own.

Finally, these honors are given to comfort those left behind. What comfort is there when humans are led to believe that a spouse, a parent, a relative, a friend or a comrade has the same worth as a dog? After all, as much was implied when, according to newspaper reports, the Fort Myers police chief said he was reluctant to draw distinctions between his police dogs and police officers. Related to this, why would any reasonable person want to join an organization that equates animal and human life?

In former times, the loss of a member of the canine corps perhaps would have been mentioned in reporting the incident. It even may have led to a spinoff human-interest story about how the dogs are chosen for the job and how they are trained. The real story, however, would have been the tragedy of the young man losing his life and how such tragedies could be avoided in the future. But in this incident, the media also propagated the newly defined belief about reality. It gave extensive coverage to Rosco and his funeral, with scarcely a word about the loss of the youth.

At the root of this current confusion is the animal rights movement, which proclaims the equality of man and beast. Its philosophy has gained legitimacy in our educational system, among our cultural intelligentsia and with purveyors of information who help shape our moral attitudes. No doubt Rosco was a fine animal, but that is where the accolades should end. The events honoring him have lessened our human status and, in this case, the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make on our behalf. Unless such affronts to humanity are challenged, we will all be complicit in allowing our society to “go to the dogs.”

Father Michael P. Orsi is chaplain and research fellow in law and religion at Ave Maria School of Law.