Marilyn brought us over a copy of a local paper that has a picture of one of the dead dogs, the men, and the article. Having Amish neighbors, I couldn't believe that they all believe this way, so David and I went and asked them. We went to the people that bought our farm, their daughter and son-in-law-they were disgusted by this. Said the Amish do not accept putting dogs down that way. That is not their way.
Next we went to the home of another Amish couple-he is a volunteer on the fire department like David. He raises dogs along with his farming. Through conversation he had heard about this, but read the article. He also thought this was terrible, and had never shot any of his dogs. He laughed and said one year he had puppies he couldn't sell. He thought of taking them to the Humane Society, but on the way he passed the Old Order Mennonite School and it was letting out, so he pulled in the driveway. They all went home with students from school. Today, he still sees some of the puppies (now full grown) at some of his Amish and Mennonite neighbors homes.
The only time David, Michael, Edward or myself ever shot an animal is for food. During hunting season, deer, maybe a turkey. When we are going to slaughter one of our cows or pigs they are shot, but never such a thing as killing 9 animals muchless puppies.
I want you to know that Amish and Old Order Mennonite do NOT believe this is accepted. We are aware it is criminal to put dogs down this way and even if it wasn't, we couldn't do such a thing. Also, we do NOT believe in the three s-shoot, shovel and shut up.
Be With God,
Jean and Marilyn
23 comments:
This has really upset Jean, her family, and myself. Jean couldn't show this article to Susan because she felt the picture of the dead dog would upset her. This happened a few towns over from where I live. It was in the Rochester, Democrate and Chronicle, but the pictures were in our local paper: Times of Wayne County. When Jean saw the Times, she felt that these young fellows were giving the people the idea that all Old Order Mennonite and Amish do things like this. It is not true. Jean felt she had to say something regarding this this morning. I agreed.
Marilyn
Marilyn and Jean,
I am so glad, so very glad you decided to address this. I unfortunately read of this before with Amish. I am so very distressed at this moment. That is just so very horrible.
Praise the Lord this is not "the way things are done"! I feel nauseous just thinking about it.
Jean had heard about this but hadn't seen the paper so when I got mine, I got one for her and took it to her house. After her and David reading they decided they were going to the local Amish and see their reaction. Which they did and called me this morning. We don't want people thinking Amish or Old Order Mennonite's would do such a thing.
Marilyn
Thank you for posting this Jean. I would not have thought that the Amish accept such practices, but it's nice that you looked into it and confirmed that they do not. I think it's terrible that a paper would print such a quote from a few obviously disturbed men, and to make matters worse, some people who read it would believe this is true of all Amish. Maybe you should submit your post to the paper and see if they'll print it. If you don't, I hope that someone will to clarify the true Amish ways. ~Doreen
I never thought of submitting it to the newspaper, Doreen. I will check that out with Jean. We don't want people to think that all AMish or Old Order Mennonite would do this. As Jean said there are nutty Amish and Old Order Mennonite like there are Englishers, but not all people do things like this. Most don't.
Marilyn
you know the saying "a few bad apples...", that's what these guys are. i am glad that Jean wanted to address this in order to show that this is not common practice with the Amish. i certainly would never believe that it was common practice but i am glad that Jean cleared it up for others. and i agree with Countryside Reflections that you should submit this article to the papers!
your friend,
kymber
Thank you Kymber, I called Jean. She and David are praying on whether they should put this in the newspaper or not. I think we should, but I am waiting to hear from them.
Your Friend,
Marilyn
We have submitted this to the newspaper through e-mail. I hope this gets some reaction from the people and they realize that not all Amish and Old Order Mennonite are this way.
Marilyn
I went over to where the Amish in dog shooting live and got pictures of one of their house. He was not happy that I was there. I left the car running and door open just in case. He yelled at me, I don't know where he was on the property or what he said, but I took two more pictures and left. I couldn't find the other man's property. I know the backroads where I live-I grew up here, but get in some of these small towns and there are roads that are not on maps-even today.
Marilyn
Jean and Marilyn, Thank you for addressing this
Hello Melissa,
You are most welcome and I will tell Jean.
Marilyn
very pleased you checked out this, very thankful it is not a condoned practice.
Good Evening Annie,
I am glad Jean checked this out too and is not a regular practice.
Marilyn
Hello Marilyn and Jean
This is very sad to hear-but its good you have been able to show this is very much the minority and not common practice
You were brave going to take pictures Marilyn-glad you got away safely
Fionalina
Hello Fionalina,
It is sad that this did happen. I am glad Jean checked this out. Jean is upset that I went out there alone. I guess I shouldn't have, but I wanted the pictures.
Marilyn
Please do not worry. Amish and Old Order Mennonite follow the teachings of Jesus Christ so I seriously believe that many "English" people would even think for a second that it would be acceptable in either community. The men made a poor choice. Human beings are fallible.
Good Evening Meredith,
They are a couple of young fellows. One is age 19 and the other 26, which are young folks in my eyes. Jean felt they would leave a bad view, but like you say humans are fallible.
Thank you,
Marilyn
I'm glad that you submitted Jean's response to the paper, Marilyn. It will be good for people to read it.
Hoping to see you back soon, Jean.
Good Evening Sheila,
I will give Jean your compliments. Jean will be on Monday. She tells about their moving.
Marilyn
Hi Jean and Marilyn, Thanks for posting this info. Sad to say this isn't the first time this has been done and won't be the last. This act is not exclusive to any one people. Such a selfish and cruel action! Any one who who decides to do such a thing needs to suffer the consequences of their mean and thoughtless actions. True, we humans are fallible, but God did give us brains to use-not sit on! I'm in total agreement with both of you. A sister in Christ, Carol
Hello Carol,
Thank youf or your thoughts. You are right. I think some people just don't think before they do things.
God Bless,
Marilyn
So sad. It would have been so much better to just turn the unwanted dogs out to fend for themselves. Or better still, drop them off on some lonely road where they'll make their way to a neighbor's house - then it's the neighbor's problem.
Hi Anonymous,
I don't know if those two ways of getting rid of the puppies would have been such a good idea, but you never know. They could have just taken them to Humane Society which is not that far from one of their homes.
Marilyn
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