Today is the saddest day of my life. I buried my best friend, General Spike. At 17, I don't have many memories without him. He was my confidant and cheerleader. He loved me unconditionally, and I loved him the same way.
He wasn't a dog or cat; he was a bearded dragon. A reptile who had the warmest heart of anyone I've ever known despite being cold-blooded. So for today, I ask you to consider why assign value based on appearance?
The question goes beyond considering the value of a reptile compared to a dog or cat. Ask difficult questions such as why a puppy is more valuable than a dog? Or why do some animals deserve ethical treatment and others can be bred to be slaughtered?
General Spike will live on in my heart. And I hope that thinking of how I met him and how he changed my life inspires you to consider how you treat all animals.
Lost in a dark and cramped pet store, I was drawn to the soft light from heat lamps warming countless scaly creatures. Each bearded dragon looked identical as they aimlessly crawled across the hot sand in their terrariums. Except for one, the smallest of all the dragons, missing a few toes, he was perched on a rock looking directly at me. As a fellow outsider, I immediately identified with him. We stared at each other for a long while; when he waved his arm slowly at me, I knew that he was the one.
Confidence radiated from his cold, scaly body until it filled into me. With his love, I was able to put my self-doubt down and tackle my greatest fears. Just as he shed to grow, I learned to shed my fears so I could step outside my comfort zone of being an introvert. Without him, I would not be writing this blog or have the courage to share settle for less speciesism because we are all worth dignity and love.
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