In part, he knew, this happiness was fostered by German law, which forbade cruelty to animals and punished violators with prison, and here Dodd found deepest irony. At a time when hundreds of men have been put to death without trial or any sort of evidence of guilt, and when the population literally trembles with fear, animals have rights guaranteed them which men and women cannot think of expecting.
Dodd found a profound irony in the contrast between animal rights and human rights in Nazi Germany. While German law provided strict protections against animal cruelty, punishing offenders with imprisonment, countless individuals faced execution without trial or just cause. This disparity highlighted a disturbing reality where the legal system seemed more inclined to protect animals than the lives of terrified people.
This situation underscored the terrifying climate of fear that enveloped the German population during that era. The juxtaposition of animal rights thriving under a regime that disregarded human life prompted Dodd to reflect on the moral implications of such a society. As he witnessed the grave injustices surrounding him, the protections afforded to animals stood in stark relief against the brutal treatment of human beings, making it a poignant commentary on the values at play in Hitler's Berlin.
