Puppy set on fire!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Today's blog is not about the homeless. It's about a puppy. If you've been following the news in Dallas recently you've heard how a group of young men set a little puppy on fire and then laughed hilariously as the terrified puppy ran for safety.

For the last week animal rescue people and veterinarians have worked feverishly to save the life of the puppy they named Justice. Unfortunately the puppy died. The vet said that at the end, as she was with the puppy, he was still trying to wag his tail as he drew his last breath. I don't know about you but this just rips my heart out. And to be truthful my blood boils just a bit as I think of the cruelty of the young men who set the dog on fire.

What kind of people would set a dog on fire and then laugh hysterically as the puppy ran for his life? What kind of people could stoop to this level of depravity? Hard questions, to be sure. I think an appropriate question is how important is one puppy's life in the grand scheme of life? After all, human beings are dying every day.

Am I saying a puppy’s life is more important than a human being’s? Not exactly. What I am saying is that how we treat animals is a sign of the human condition. The Bible says that God created us in his image and likeness. I know beyond any doubt that God is not smiling about young men setting a puppy on fire. By any measure, what they did was savage and heartless.

So now the question is, where do we go from here? Can any good come out of this unspeakable act? Perhaps it can. A $25,000 reward has already been put up by the SPCA through Crime Stoppers to bring the men involved to justice. Basically they are seeking justice for a puppy name Justice. And while an element of vengeance may be a motivating factor, that's really not what this is all about. It's really about accountability. As a society we need to send a message out loud and clear that this kind of behavior is not okay.

Mistreatment of animals is not right, it’s not something to be laughed about, and most important, it’s not to be tolerated. Bringing these young men to justice will not bring the puppy back but perhaps it will save the lives of puppies down the road. On a deeper level perhaps bringing them to justice for killing a puppy may prevent them from doing something worse down the line.

At the SoupMobile we are not new to this issue of caring for animals. My wife Shana is a longtime animal activist and leads a team at the SoupMobile that feeds the dogs that belong to the homeless people we serve. Yes, the homeless have dogs as pets just like you and I do. And for a homeless person who has nothing, a faithful dog can be everything!

We are not seeking vengeance but we are seeking accountability. More important, we are praying that the message will go out loud and clear that cruelty to animals is not a laughing matter.

p.s. Breaking News! 18 year old Dallas man accused of setting Justice the puppy on fire has turned himself in to police and is being held on bail of $100,000 at Dallas County Jail.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours,

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Tornadoes Hit Dallas Area Hard!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

The late comic George Carlin once said "Weather report for tonight -- Dark." He meant it as a joke but what happened with the weather in Dallas recently was no laughing matter.

On Tuesday April 3rd, the Dallas area was hit hard by 12 tornadoes. In a heartbeat cars were tossed in the air, homes were destroyed, and thousands of people were left homeless. The tornadoes did not discriminate. Rich, poor, and middle class alike were all touched by the path of the storms. There were a large number of injuries and many people had to be taken to the hospital. Only by God's grace were their no deaths.

When the storms hit, the SoupMobile's Emergency Response Team (ERT) leaped into action. If you haven't heard about our ERT, let me get you up to speed. Recently generous donors of the SoupMobile donated the funds we needed to purchase a used ambulance. Much like Red Cross vehicles, we have converted the ambulance into a emergency response vehicle.
It's loaded with food, blankets, toiletries, drinks, and even Teddy Bears for children displaced in emergencies. More important, it's loaded with lots of love -- specifically the Love that Jesus asked us all to spread throughout the world.

Virtually on a moment's notice, the SoupMobile Emergency Response Team can spring into action to help the victims of natural disasters in the Dallas area. However, we understand that we are just a piece of the puzzle when it comes to disaster relief. Organizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, World Vision and many more like them bring years of experience to the table. What it all comes down to are the words that Hillary Clinton once said - "It takes a Village." Indeed it takes a Village of relief organizations, donors and volunteers to help those in need. At the SoupMobile we feel privileged that God allows us to be part of this relief mission in addition to our regular missions of 'Feeding & Sheltering' the homeless.

Please join us as we continue to help and pray for the victims of these most recent tornadoes. They are precious children of the Lord most high and we will all continue to reach out to them with help, caring, compassion and love.

To learn more about the SoupMobile and be part of our fabulous SoupTeam, go to www.soupmobile.org.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours,

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan