The Animals & Religion Network Community invites its members and all who read these words to participate in a moment of silent prayer in memory of Eight Belles, who lost her life this weekend at the Kentucky Derby.
by Kris Haley, Best Friends Manager of Multifaith OutreachEight Belles is the most recent in a growing line of racing animals to fall victim to the hidden cruelties of the horse racing industry. The only filly in the race, Eight Belles finished second and moments later collapsed after both of her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized immediately on the dirt track upon which she ran her last race.
In our new , "Grief Circle for Animals" Webinar series, unveiled this week, members of the Animals & Religion Network Community and their friends and family, discussed the type of grief we feel on a global scale when things like this happen to animals and how that type of extended grief is just as valid as the grief we feel for the loss or illness of our companion animals or our human friends and family.
Because it is
Be Kind To Animals Week, the Animals & Religion Network Community invites all to join in a moment of silent prayer to memorialize Eight Belles and all the fallen horses who preceded her and to pray for the necessary change in the horse racing industry that will prevent such horrible injury and loss of life. We are deeply saddened but also deeply grateful to Eight Belles for the lessons laced within her loss that serve to raise our awareness to demand the change that will prevent these tragedies from occurring.
Our moment of silence is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th, at
8:00 pm eastern time, 7:00 pm central time, 6:00 pm mountain time and 5:00 pm pacific time.
We ask you to hold a moment of silence in honor of Eight Belles and to acknowledge her, and those who remain behind to race every day of their lives, in any way comfortable to you.
To read more about Eight Belles and her Kentucky Derby tragedy, visit:
http://network.bestfriends.org/connecticut/news/25127.html The next "Grief Circle for Animals" Webinar is scheduled for Thursday, June 5th at 4pm pacific, 5pm mountain, 6pm central and 7pm eastern time. Information will be available right here, in the NEWS section of this community. The faith leaders who co-authored, "A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion," also issued, "Five Calls To Action," inviting others to consider creating change in their lives to benefit animals. Once of those "Calls To Action" addresses animal exploitation. To read the Proclamation and the Five Calls To Action, visit: www.bestfriends.org/signproc or click in the corresponding tab on the Animals & Religion Network Community