Adventistische Schriften über: "What does she say about pets in one's own household?"

Ellen G. White emphasizes that people have a moral responsibility for merciful treatment of animals, as they are also God's creatures. Cruelty or neglect toward animals is considered a sin, and a god-fearing person is distinguished by caring for the lives of his animals.

Regarding pets in the household, however, she urged restraint in purchasing animals such as ornamental birds, because the expenses for them are often seen as an unnecessary use of money that could be better employed for more important purposes.

Responsibility toward Creation

»Few recognize how sinful it is to mistreat animals or cause them to suffer through neglect. He who created man also made the lower animals, and “his mercy reigns over all his works.” The animals were created to serve man, but he has no right to inflict pain upon them through harsh treatment or cruel demands. ... Whoever mistreats animals because they are under his control is both a coward and a tyrant.«

1 - Ellen Gould White, Patriarchs and Prophets (PP 442.5)

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Avoiding Unnecessary Expenditures on Pets

»I think that your hard-earned resources should not be spent on unnecessary things. Tally up how many dollars you have spent on buying birds and cages. Place this under the heading “Unnecessary Use of Funds.” Emma received two birds as a gift; one was enough. These two birds required two cages. Then you went further and bought another bird... I see no reason why Emma should not bear part of the responsibility in the work.«

2 - Ellen Gould White, Lt 30a, 1876 (3LtMs, Lt 30a, 1876, par. 8)

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Ellen White's Personal Compassion for Animals

»No matter where we lived, if there were pets there, Grandmother made friends with them. As soon as her foot touched the stable floor, the pony whinnied in greeting and stretched its neck for the caresses it knew would come. Grandmother could not bear it when animals were mistreated, because, as she said, “they cannot tell us of their suffering.”«

3 - Ella May White Robinson, Stories of My Grandmother (SMG 20.2)

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Difference Between Animal Training and Child Rearing

»In households and schools, the upbringing of children should not be like the training of unreasonable animals; for children have an intelligent will that should be directed toward controlling all their powers. Unreasonable animals must be trained, because they possess neither reason nor understanding. ... The animal is trained to be submissive to its master. The master is reason, judgment, and will for the animal.«

4 - Ellen Gould White, Bible Echo and Signs of the Times (BEcho May 1, 1893, par. 4)

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