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I think forgiveness can only really happen when someone is regretful of actions... I mean I don't believe in harbouring resentment, but the person who did this is still a danger as they were when they shot Ziggy. So I think of this person as sick - like a part of their brain is undeveloped or they are "emotionally challenged". I don't even feel hatred toward the person - I just know what they did to Ziggy, and could still do to another beloved soul.
Yes, of course they're 'sick' in some way, the most fundamental way being that they've really cut themselves off from Source/Love. What I mean by forgiveness, though, is not what most people have come to think of as classical forgiveness. I see forgiveness more as having an understanding, especially in the really BIG picture, of why someone has done something awful. This view doesn't necessarily mean one has to forgive the ACT, but just understand where it came from, and one's understanding of this is directly tied into one's beliefs about all sorts of things. The more expansive those beliefs, the easier it is to understand, or at least take into account all sorts of aspects. In this kind of context, whether that person is regretful or not doesn't really play a part in how to view their actions. Like me gaining a broader insight into why my father was such an a**, you know? Because in that particular case, it's not like he was EVER regretful of any or all the horrible things he did to anyone...and yet I still received that bigger insight that one, fine day. However, I also know my "forgiveness" is not yet complete, as I can still manage to feel the emotion of hatred when I think of some of the things he did. And speaking of which, you're one step ahead of me in that regard, too, as my first reaction to people harming animals is STILL hatred and loathing and all sorts of things like that!
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I don't disagree with this - just hard to imagine my Ziggy or my Zita - so innocent and loving, setting themselves up for such pain. I would not want any creature to do this for me, and so it is hard to fathom.
Yes, I know. Really I do. It's not an easy concept to apply, especially to personal pains and most especially when we are so attached with love to our babies. And like you, I shudder to think that anyone I love would take on such pain for me, or even for their own lessons....and yet, once again, though, I'm reminded of this story I'd mentioned here in another thread that relates to this concept. It's another example of animal cruelty, so you may not want to read it right now, but I'll give you the link for possible future consideration -
here. The point of the story was that it was a most unexpected answer from the abused dog (who is still alive) about lessons he came to teach. Mink&Willows Mom also wrote something in that same thread that also relates to this whole idea, too (so you could just read that instead, if that's easier right now - right at the bottom of the thread).
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In fact even the more "spiritual" people I've run across in daily life have said things that show that "it's just a cat" philosophy....But people said I needed to "let it go" and that I "talked about her an awful lot". If a child went missing, a spouse, a relative - *no-one* would say this.
Yes, I've had that experience, too. Even within healers groups, there are many who don't even consider animals as being worthy of healing services! When I mention it, they actually look surprised and it's obvious it's never even crossed their minds before, that someone might actually pay for such a thing! It's astonishing how little people THINK or OBSERVE or SENSE about the world around them. And while I definitely understand your sentiment about how a human child's loss impacts people differently, it's also been shocking to me to discover that even in child loss, many insensitive things have been flung at grieving parents as well. There just seems to be no end to the pile of base humans who are so afraid of being deeply touched by pain that they won't allow for anyone ELSE'S pain to surface, and so shrug it off, as if someone else's pain is 'contagious".
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It's just that a lot of people's attachment to animals is not so deep. In fact my attachments to my pets are deeper than to most people....I really realize that people who don't grieve the loss of a pet are often those just not attached much to the pet. I also think if I was a pet, I know which person I'd rather spend my life with.
I couldn't agree MORE and I'll even take it a step further by saying that for me, there isn't any "most". I've never been as attached to ANY human as much as I've been to my animal babies. If humans always treated me as my kidlets did, it would be a different story, but they haven't (such is the nature of all us humans), and they all require MUCH more forgiving, whereas I can't think of even a single example of anything my kids ever did to me that
required any forgiveness. So I'm neither afraid nor ashamed to admit my intense love and glowing admiration for animals vs. people, overall.
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Sometimes I even think that idea of "group soul" for animals is another way to undermine each animal's individuality. Of course, I'm not sure about ants and things, so I may be wrong.

But I agree with you - those who are cut off from the sacredness of pets are, in my opinion, not seeing the "whole". I would rather grieve and cry my tears than be cut off from the love and joy these animals offer us, as so many people are....
Yah, I've thought that, too. On the other hand, even many, many ACers have seemed to discover that there's a 'group soul' for all SORTS of entities,
however, it's comprised of a bunch of 'individuals' ACTING as a group, which is different than individual energies'/entities' existences somehow being 'wiped out' or 'overwritten' by some large 'unit'. So perhaps some of those who espouse the "group soul" have misunderstood what it's really all about, once again! And yes, even the pain of loss reminds us of the love that gave rise to that pain. Something most of us wouldn't trade having had for all the tea in China. But it still hurts.
On another note, I found this for you in case you might need or want it. It's a page from ALDF with some helpful info. for "When Your Companion Animal Has Been Harmed". Included is info. (which I haven't had time to read through) on how to find an attorney to help you, what to do if your companion has been killed, negligence by a vet who injured or caused your companion to die, etc. The page is
here. I'm not sure if there's anything really helpful if the criminal hasn't been found yet, but I hope so. You might also share this with the family whose dog was shot as well, and maybe you can all mount some effective action together. Again, I hope so much SOMETHING in there will help in your search for justice for Ziggy (and the doggie, and your pain) , and equally, to find the killer and stop him/her in their tracks!
Ugh....I just feel SO badly for you and everyone else involved....this must be SO awfully hard for you, Jan.....SO hard.... I hope you can find as many other people (there) who are willing to help see justice served, so you'll be able to be around those who can understand the terrible heartache.