Canned Hunting - Warning: Offensive to Humane Beings

On the news today, this woman in Montreal who paid $15,000 to volunteer at a supposed sanctuary, later found out the baby lion she had bottle-fed was slated to be killed in what turned out to be a canned hunting compound. She is raising money to return to Africa, buy the lion and take it to a real sanctuary.

"Hunters" pay big bucks to shoot a lion raised in captivity, who is trapped in a compound with no chance of escape. I have come across varying figures these great white hunters happily pay for the privilege of murdering these beautiful and endangered creatures: 3,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds, $40,000........I dont understand it. I could not do such a thing if someone paid me a million dollars.

I discovered online there are now more captive lions in South Africa than in the wild.  The lucky ones are rescued from canned hunting by REAL sanctuaries, which are always desperately under-funded and doing heroic work. 

Researching this, I found out more horrible facts than I wanted to know: how the breeders of captive lions, remove the cubs from the mother early, so she will become fertile again and breed quickly. 

I saw an image, on another film, of a cornered lion being shot by hunters. He knew he could not escape, and courageously lunged forward, meeting the bullets head-on. I will never forget the look in his eyes. 

No words, kids. One more instance of brutal inhumanity and unfathomable horror.

Gallery of Heartbreak, On-Going

The sad thing about this Gallery of Heartbreak series is there is no shortage of heartbreaking news items to include in it. Above is Maxwell Begley, age thirteen, who lives in Ontario. He  is challenged by being autistic. Look at his face: innocent and happy. He has hit the news and his community is rallying around him and his family. He innocently thinks he is famous. I hope he never finds out the reason why.

His grandma recently received an appalling hate letter which I will not quote here, other than to say the sentiments expressed would have found a home in Nazi circles in the 40's, and included the suggestion this precious child be euthanized.

This affronts any person with a shred of humanity beyond measure. It hits close to home for me. I have cared for more than one autistic child. Mental illness is in my family as well : schizophrenia, bi-polar, autism spectrum, oppositional defiance disorder, you name it. What I know BEYOND DOUBT is that each of these souls, on their bumpy journeys, is precious beyond measure. They offer special gifts - they are brilliant, loving, hilarious, march to the beat of their own drum. 

They are gifted. And they are GIFTS to their loved ones, teaching us unconditional love, acceptance of each other, and open-mindedness in ways we might never have learned without their presence in our lives. They teach us that each person is special just by Being. That Being is Enough.

Maxwell's family already struggles. His mom has multiple sclerosis. I am happy their community is supporting them, and that some positives are coming out of an appalling attack. But I so wish it had never happened. And I hope Maxwell never finds out why he suddenly is famous. Let him think it is because he is incredibly precious and special. Because he is.

May Maxwell know deep in his heart, always, that he is loved.