This sled-dog mess has me troubled, not just for the obvious reasons but for our own hypocrisy and refusal to take responsibility for our actions.

Obviously, the manner in which some 100 dogs were killed is repugnant, but our overall record on the treatment of animals isn't particularly stellar.

We would condemn a man who beats a cow to make it go through a cattle gate, but we think nothing of slaughtering that same animal in the most abhorrent manner.

We demand that Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep be protected from highway traffic with an expensive fence, but each year the guns of autumn ring out as we hunt down wildlife in the name of "sport."

We lock up a woman for not providing proper conditions in a dog kennel, yet would have a faithful family pet "put down" if it becomes a nuisance.

Wild horses are rounded up and shot, but a rancher is prosecuted for allowing his horses to starve in winter.

I'm as offended as anyone that the Whistler dog killer had the nerve to claim compensation for the stress of shooting those Huskies.

Does no one take responsibility anymore? "Following orders" went out 65 years ago as an excuse for doing bad things.

Right-thinking people have trouble figuring how anyone could agree to do such a horrible thing, yet right-thinking people make bad calls all the time.

And when they do, the preferred strategy is to blame somebody else.

We took a load of garbage to the community dumpster last weekend and were impressed with the sturdy new iron-pipe railings over and through which we must now squeeze our garbage cans to empty them.

The reason for such elaborate barriers, of course, is litigation - people who fall into dumpsters would rather blame local government than themselves.

You may wonder why there's a pile of rocks surrounded by concrete at the plaza in front of Interior Savings Centre. It's because somebody backed into the fountain that used to be there and didn't want to take responsibility for her own lack of attention.

Trip and fall on a city sidewalk? Not your responsibility. Demand compensation.

If you gamble away your money in a casino, you can ask to be put on a list and be refused access. If you sneak in anyway, and lose more money, sue the casino operator.

After all, it couldn't possibly be your own responsibility.

If you're young, and kill somebody, you are apparently incapable of understanding it's wrong, and are protected by law from the same consequences you'd face as an adult.

The courts are crowded every day of the week with unfortunates who break the law through no fault of their own. It's the booze, the drugs, a sickness, bad parenting or just bad luck, but under no circumstances is it their own responsibility.

If your pit bulls, or whatever you'd prefer to call them this week, get loose from their yard and attack a man walking his dog, well it's not their fault. They must have been provoked, or the victim must be exaggerating.

It sure isn't the responsibility of the owners for keeping three killing machines in their yard.

Are you a screwup at work? No worries - you are not responsible. You're stressed, under-trained, under-appreciated, a scapegoat. The real culprit is the boss, the company or life at home.

Certainly, in Whistler, nobody seems to be responsible. Not the guy who fired the gun, not even the SPCA who didn't get around to answering a complaint about the situation. Short-staffed - not their fault.

Life is so much easier when everybody else is wrong and everybody else is to blame.

mrothenburger@kamloopsnews.ca

www.armchairmayor.wordpress.com