Monday was a sad day for horse racing fans and animal lovers alike. Barbaro, the dominating winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby that suffered a devastating leg injury during the Preakness Stakes, was put down by veterinarians following a long, optimistic but ultimately unfruitful attempt to prolong his life. It was a difficult decision, but the right one.

To some, Barbaro was just a horse that became the centerpiece of an overblown story propagated by the media for better ratings and profit. To others, it was a tale of beating the odds, survival and compassion for another creature. Regardless of your perspective, Barbaro demonstrated that humans can be profoundly affected by the welfare of an animal, even one they have never met.

A stark contrast to that kind of compassion is cruelty to animals. Recently, comments related to a previous editorial regarding leash laws were made on the LVN Web site suggesting that motorists should strike roaming animals. The banter could be in jest, as the comments were posted anonymously, but they are at the least mildly disturbing.

Recent, related local incidents include a muskrat that was killed by being put in a freezer by a former animal control officer in Fernley and a puppy that suffered an infection and torn claw after its owner fitted it with a homemade restraint to prevent the dog from damaging landscape in Silver Springs.

We don't advocate an animal rights agenda or vegetarianism. We're not opposed to animal euthanization or defending limb or property from aggressive creatures. What we condemn is animal cruelty, irresponsible pet owners and breeders, and hunters who wantonly let game rot after the kill. These kinds of behavior are indicative of a serious moral void in the perpetrators, even though the behavior may be viewed as macho or less harmful than damage to humans or property.

Scripture also weighs in on the topic. "A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel." (Proverbs 12:10, New American Standard Bible)

While parents are expected to instill the values of respect for race and gender in our society, the respect for animals is often overlooked. To you, it may just be a horse, a dog or a cat, but to someone else, the animal could be a valuable piece of property or, more importantly, a friend.