It's usually a lovely moment, but for the past few months it's been the most stressful part of my day. With bated breath I peek around the corner to see how much of my beautifully cared for garden has been dug up, stomped on, squashed and eaten.

And there sitting in the middle of all the dirt is our now six-month-old golden retriever pup looking so happy to see me.

She jumps in the air, spinning around in circles with pure joy that I am home and she can now show off all fun she has had.

Her nose is covered in as much mud as her paws and there are usually bits of destroyed plants in her coat.

But as angry as I am about my garden, those big brown eyes look up at me as if I am the greatest person in the world.

I growl at her, ranting and raving as if she can understand me. But she doesn't seem to care that my voice is raised. She just keeps wagging her tail.

This dog has bought so much joy to our family since her arrival.

Animals have an ability to reach out and love us in such an unconditional way. Even when they know we are cross, they still want to be close and smother us with slobbery love.

In the past weeks, horrific images have been released of retired race horses going to slaughter in a Queensland abattoir.

It is beyond sickening and difficult to even watch.

These majestic animals, once so proud, are treated as if they not worthy of one bit of care. They have made people money, some lots of money and yet despite their efforts, this is how they end their days.

Like so many others, I have sat with teary eyes wondering how any human being could show such cruelty to an animal.

When talking to my younger son about the way some grown-ups treat animals, I was so saddened when he made the observation that some adults don't even care about their kids, so why would they care about an animal.

It's easy to feel that as a race, we have lost a certain amount of our humanity. To have so little regard for the pain and suffering of a living creature is to many of us beyond comprehension. And yet time and time again, we are forced to accept that certain parts of society have simply no regard for anyone.

Caring for those who cannot care for themselves is surely one of the greatest acts of humanity. And once an animal has worked for you so your pockets are lined, their wellbeing must be paramount.

I doubt my fluffy ginormous brown-eyed puppy will ever work a day in her life. But she will be treasured always.