Dogs Are "People Who Have Misbehaved In A Past Life"

[matcom]

<snip>

BANGKOK -- Six grubby dogs slept on the steps of a Buddhist temple here, as monks inside chanted. As the last prayer was intoned, the voice of the abbot crackled over a megaphone: "OK everybody, get out there and grab some dogs!"

A dozen monks dressed in saffron robes snapped on surgical gloves, picked up nets and fanned out. They pulled dogs from under benches and cars, and plucked them from the shade thrown by statues of the Buddha. The dogs were stuffed into a cage and sprayed for ticks and fleas. Later, a veterinarian neutered some of the mutts, before setting them free to again roam Bangkok's gutters, back alleys -- and anywhere else they choose.

Dog catchers from Buenos Aires to Bangalore employ gas, poison and other means to winnow the legions of strays that inhabit most big cities in the developing world. But not in Bangkok. Buddhism calls for compassion and forbids killing any animal unnecessarily. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation -- and many Thais see dogs as people who may have misbehaved in a past life. That's why some don't feel bad about turning unwanted pups into the street to fend for themselves.

To cope with all the pooches, devout Buddhists in Bangkok are building "dog condos," sterilizing strays and even trying to teach old dogs new tricks by pressing them into police work.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB108008730190263566-IVjgINllaN3oJ2oaHmIcamBm4,00.html

[WillParkinson]

1. Buddhists rock...

It's nice to know that someone believes in not killing if it can be avoided.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. I think the Thais have it backwards....

I think transmigrating to a dog is a step up on the spiritual evolution ladder! :)

Good for the monks!

[zbdent]

4. I'm sorry, but licking my own butt just doesn't seem like

a step up.

[ret5hd]

3. won't neutering the dogs...

mean fewer dogs for today's misbehavers? I would hate to think that someone like bush*, cheney, et al, would have to be relegated to a life as a slug or jackal or vulture just because of a lack of available dogs.

wait. i take it back. neuter all dogs NOW!

[UTUSN]

5. So the Return Is Another Misbehaving Scenario?

Said ruefully the morning after my dog BOTH barfed AND peed on the floor. (He seldom does that.) The umbrella plants below used to inexplicably provoke him into DIVING right into the middle of them and trampling them.

[UTUSN]

7. I'm Going to KICK This fwiw n/t

[LynneSin]

6. People who lead wonderful lifes get rewarded as cats owned by DUers

I mean, we have the most spoiled rotten group of felines out there.