The Bible says humans should care for animals

God calls for the compassionate and responsible stewardship of animals, not their exploitation or mistreatment. The Bible indicates that a righteous person is kind to their animals, while cruelty is a sign of wickedness.

Key biblical principles regarding helping animals include:

Animals are God's creation and have value God created animals and saw that they were "good" (Genesis 1:25). He takes an interest in their well-being and provides for them (Psalm 104:14, 27-28; Matthew 6:26).

Humans have a duty of stewardship, not domination In Genesis, humanity is given "dominion" over animals, which biblical scholars interpret as a responsibility to care for, protect, and be a trustee of creation, not a license for abuse or destruction.

Kindness to animals is a sign of righteousness Proverbs 12:10 is frequently cited: "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel". The way a person treats vulnerable creatures is a reflection of their character.

Specific laws commanded humane treatment The Old Testament Law includes specific commands that ensure animals are treated with mercy and have their basic needs met:

Animals, like humans, were to be given a day of rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14).

A person should not ignore a lost or burdened animal, even if it belongs to an enemy, but must help it (Exodus 23:4-5; Deuteronomy 22:4).

Animals working to process food should be allowed to eat some of the harvest (Deuteronomy 25:4).

God has compassion for all his creation The Bible suggests God has concern for all creatures, from the great sea creatures to the tiniest sparrow, and that none of their suffering goes unnoticed by Him (Matthew 10:29; Jonah 4:11).

Overall, God's message about animals emphasizes compassion, responsibility, and respect for all life he has made.