Excellent Post....I appreciate everything you wrote. Merry Christmas!
Religion hasn't always been so distanced from the plight of the lesser creatures. I suppose it stems from moving inexorably away from daily close contact in an agrarian society. One of the most stunningly, crazily beautiful things I've ever read upon the matter was an old sermon from 1781, The General Deliverance by John Wesley. Every bit of it thouroughly grounded in the Word, too.
Even the Catholics, who are the majority of those on FR who are so insistent upon oblivion for all but man, weren't always so hard of heart. St. Francis of Assissi is well known even outside that church for his love, care and mercy. Another, less well known saint is quite surprising. She was sainted in thirteenth century France. Saint Guinefort. A Greyhound, believe it or not.