Okay I have a confession to make. It’s not actually that shocking.
I enjoy television quite tremendously. And I’ve found a new addiction recently.
It’s called Hazardous History on the History Channel and is hosted by Henry Winkler, who is an absolute delight.
The show basically goes over all the crazy jobs or toys or stunts that have occurred in the history of the planet.
It’s absolutely fascinating.
It talked about toys children used to play with – some of which I actually remember – but there was one from the 1950’s that was a science kit that actually included uranium. You know the radioactive element that is treated incredibly carefully in laboratories today?
Yeah, in the ’50s kids were playing bare-handed with a chunk of it.
Unbelievable.
Then there were the brave workers who created skyscrapers in the big cities. They actually walked around on the high-rises with hot rivets and hammers to create the buildings we see today.
I have a fear of heights, so that one really got to me.
Then they talked about animals.
You wondered how I was going to relate this one, didn’t you? Never fear! I am always on the lookout for our furry friends and the History Channel is no exception. Unfortunately, the animal one bothered me.
First there was the contest in the early 1900s to see how many gold fish college kids could consume.
I don’t like to see anything bad happen to any animals, including goldfish.
Then there was the doctor in the 1920s and ’30s that used goat testicles for impotence. The less said about that, the better.
Then we made it to the lady and her horse who were essentially a carnival act in the 1920s and ’30s. She performed in Atlantic City, and she would ride her horse up an incline to a high dive, where she got on the horse and coerced the animal to jump into a pool of water 40 feet below.
Crowds would marvel at her abilities.
At one point, she kept her eyes open as she hit the water, and she detached both her retinas. She was blind for the rest of her life, but believe it or not, continued jumping.
They actually had black and white footage of the pair as the horse stepped off the high dive.
I’ve never really dealt with horses or been around them or know much about them, but I do know that they can form an incredible bond with the people who ride them and take care of them.
That horse stepped off that 40-foot drop simply because the woman asked him to.
I have a feeling if you’d asked the horse and he had the ability to answer you, he’d say he really didn’t want to. He didn’t look comfortable at all, and I thought it was a heck of a thing to ask of a horse.
The woman obviously gained national recognition with the stunt and likely money, despite losing her eyesight.
Was it worth it? I’m not sure either the horse or the woman would say yes.
I love shows like Hazardous History where I can learn about events of the past, but I have serious issues when humans profit off of animals or otherwise mistreat them and those stories really bothered me.
I know a lot of animals that would do whatever a human asked them to do. That’s truly unconditional love, and when it’s exploited, it’s nauseating.
If a person wants to do something ridiculous or stupid on their own, which Hazardous History highlights quite well, I have no problem with that. In fact, I utterly enjoy watching it.
But our four-legged friends are some of the best examples on this planet of pure, absolute love, and I think it’s our duty to recognize that and embrace it in a healthy, loving way.
If an animal would do anything for you, please make sure you never ask something of him or her that would insult that unconditional bond.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
