Miss Daisy
Canine Reporter

I was watching my favorite TV show, Animal Planet, when I happened to surf during a commercial and watched Pope Benedict arriving in the U.S. for his address of the major moral issues of the day.

Unfortunately, during his historic visit to the United States this year, Pope Benedict XVI did not address the question of human responsibilities to animals and the environment. I was dismayed, disappointed, and dejected. What an opportunity missed.

As the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with 66 million members in the United States, the pope speaks with force on the major moral issues of the day. He gave masses in Washington, DC, Yankee Stadium and met privately with the president in the White House to show his compassion for all mankind. The Catholic clergy followed his dictates and many millions of adherents paid close attention to his declarations.

However, it may come as a surprise to many but Benedict has commented on factory farms, and on several occasions, the importance of protecting animals and the natural world. Similar statements from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Catechism corroborate his statements.

The pontiff addressed his concern for animals and the environment in his annual statement for the Vatican World Day of Peace, delivered on the first day of this year. “Respecting the environment,” he said, “means not selfishly considering [animal and material] nature to be at the complete disposal of our own interests.”

Did you know the pope has a cat? Chico is his name, and a biography about the pope, entitled, “Joseph and Chico,” was written from his perspective. In a passage, Chico describes the animal-friendly Pope:

“Do you know how I know he is friends of us cats? Because in his garden he has a sculpture that represents one of us cats.”

Now, I like cats (UFF DA) but in different way. In my hometown of Embarrass, MN they were necessary for catching rodents and rats. But they couldn’t pull a snow sled or carry a tune.

Why doesn’t the Pope get a dog or at least give us equal time with our own sculpture in his garden? We could fetch his slippers, carry his newspaper, and protect him against Lutherans.

We could keep him company in the Popemobile for scenic rides and provide excitement for him at the dog races. (Get Chico to do that.)

Perhaps for his next visit he will focus more on animal cruelty, abandoned pets, and dog fighting. (Also, I would be happy to give him a tour of Embarrass MN.)

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