We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals… For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with the extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth. Henry Beston, writer and naturalist The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi Animals are much more right than men... They don't flatter and they don't intrude. They don't pretend. They are as they are, like stones or flowers or stars in the sky. Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission – to be of service to them whenever they require it. Francis of Assisi Who feeds a hungry animal, feeds his own soul. Charles Chaplin Nature has endowed man with a noble and excellent principle of compassion, which extends itself also to the dumb animals. Francis Bacon
TALENTED IN THEIR KINDNESS World Animal Day, tasked to remind us of the important role we people play in lives of animals, was also celebrated in October in Belarus. Activities, conversations, meetings, presentations, volunteer movement that were taking place that day across the country are the evidence of how Belarusians take care of their furry friends. This holiday is a good occasion to introduce those people who took animals, as they say, out of the gutter. All of them work at the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, they are talented not only as performers, artists and representatives of other theatre services, but also as
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people capable of extending mercy and kindness. Here's what they say on social networks about their rescued pets (on the official Facebook page of the Bolshoi Theatre). These stories are touching, instructive, and will not leave anyone indifferent.
Oksana Volkova, soloist, Honored Artist of Belarus, director: – Discussions about a dog that we need for complete happiness have been going on in the family for a long time. Everyone expressed own wishes about the breed, argued and we did not
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ABILITY TO EMPATHIZE