I figured out today that one of the Amish families who moved into our community recently lived an easy walk from our farm. When we saw the “Baked Goods For Sale” sign, I knew it was them.

The minute I pulled up the dirt road and onto their farm, they know who I was and asked me about the sheep and donkeys.

They had built three new and large white buildings – a house, and what I assume is a barn. About a dozen horseless carts were lined up near the house.

I assumed they make them for sale to other Amish families.

They knew the farm. They asked me about my work, Maria, and her yellow studio and what she did there. They asked if I would consider being a “bus” friend and drive them to bus stations if they needed to visit relatives or take a trip.

I said I would be delighted. Two other neighbors have also agreed to help with “bus” runs.

I met six children, they were perhaps the nicest,  most courteous, and interesting kids I can remember meeting.

Lena brought me a cherry pie – their pies are legend – and I insisted on paying $8 for it. The kids also knew about Maria, and that we had visited another Amish family on the other side of town yesterday and bought some soap.

Joe, one of the two boys I photographed hauling a wagon of round baled hay Tuesday, came up to introduce himself. He also asked what I did, and I told him I was a writer.

He said he loved to read, and I asked him what he loved to read.

He said the Hardy Boys were his favorite; he had only read one. I was obsessed with the Hardy Boys when I was young, I read every book a hundred times.

When I came home, I ordered him a full set. I can’t bear it when somebody who loves to read has no books.

Laura One and Laura Two – one was about six, the other ten –  asked if they could come and visit the sheep and the donkeys, and I told them we had a lamb also, and they got excited. I think we’ll be seeing them soon.

The children and I negotiated my interest in taking photographs.

They said they were not permitted to have photographs taken, but they said I was more than welcome to take photos of their horses and carts anytime, on their farm, or when they rode by the house.

I said I would not make their faces recognizable. They said that was fine.

We shook hands on it, and I went to photograph their two gorgeous and beautiful draft horses. I really took to these children; they were quite wonderful.

It felt like we were waiting to meet one another. I’ve noticed some of the Amish parents prefer for their children to talk to outsiders if possible. They seem to fade in the background when we are around.

So I need to address the mail I am getting about me and the Amish and their animals.

I got many messages from people who are upset with the Amish and who believe they are cruel to their animals. They assumed I didn’t realize it or know about it, and they pleaded with me to investigate.

Like so many people over the years, they seem to think I am too clueless or blind to see what is under my nose, even when I have written about it a hundred times.

I don’t want to answer each of them, so I’ll state my position here. It’s important to me, and I gather to others as well.  It’s not the first time this subject has come up.

First, I am neither stupid nor naive. I’ve been on many Amish farms as a reporter and photographer and learned a great deal about them during the New York carriage horse controversy since many carriage horses come from Amish Farms.

Despite what the animal rights movement believes, the Amish communities are diverse and varied, with many different customs and beliefs, and practices. They are different than the people who read my blog or me.

During the carriage horse controversy, I came to distrust the animal rights activists. Like the conspiracy theorists who plague us today, they have no interest in truth at times.

Many Amish farmers shoot their horses when they get old, preferring it to large vet bills or slaughterhouses. The Amish don’t go to dentists either, preferring to lose their teeth to dental care and dental bills.

This idea – it is sometimes true – is supposed to brand them as animal abusers who should be investigated and not trusted.

It’s not so simple. If you have ever seen horses killed in a slaughterhouse, then you know a bullet to the head is profoundly more humane.

Religious beliefs vary – there are Old Amish and New Amish and Amish in the middle. There is no central authority like Pope to enforce discipline.

Most Amish do not believe that animals have souls. They believe as many Christian sects and theologists believe, that  God created animals to serve humans. The Bible is quite clear on this, although the Church dances around it: Human beings were granted dominion over the beasts of the field.

If you are inclined to follow the Bible, you view animals in much the same way as the Amish do, and nobody is sending me messages urging me to avoid Christians or Bible followers or fundamentalists and investigate their treatment of animals.

I want to make myself clear. Although some people in the animal rights movement confuse their role with law enforcement, I don’t confuse mine. I am not here to spy on my neighbors or prosecute them.

I am not a police officer or a member of law enforcement. I will not investigate the animal care practices of my neighbors – and hopefully friends. They are entitled to their beliefs, as long as they don’t break the law or harm people.

No one I know has accused them of that. No one has accused my new neighbors of anything.

They have a very different view of animals than I do. Their animals are not pets, they essential tools for living their lives the way they want. As such, they have a vested interest in taking good care of them.

I see clearly that the Amish way of life is a very hard way of life. It requires extreme frugality, discipline, and endless hard work. The idea that their animals serve them makes their worship possible.

To them, animals are not furbabies, substitute children, or members of the family. They are not kept alive by any means at all costs because it makes them feel good. They cannot afford that.

Without their horses, they could not live their harsh lives.

None of these Amish families that have moved to my town in recent weeks have dogs except for the one I saw.

None are running puppy mills. None are mistreating horses. They should not be persecuted as a punishment for those who do. That is a creepy and broad brush to use against blameless people.

I can tell you that the parents of the children I met today have strong values and have raised their children very well. I don’t see them as animal abusers, nor do I see them as love-struck pet owners.

There is always a truth in the middle.

Apart from breaking the law, raising their animals is not my business, and I will not investigate them for the unsubstantiated accusations of strangers online.

If I saw them torture or abuse a horse, I would call the police or the ASPCA. Because I don’t want to be a cop, please don’t assume that I want to be blind. I know what is happening around me. That’s how I survive.

I am aware of how the Amish euthanize their animals.

I am aware that many Humane Society chapters will not adopt their animals out to the Amish because they don’t believe animals have souls.

It is not my business to assure that every living person who lives with animals views them in the same way. We are a diverse country, we are supposed to respect the beliefs of others.

I’m not a cop, animal, or otherwise.

I saw the two horses on our neighbor’s farm today were as healthy as any animals I have seen. They were calm, robust, alert, and very well-groomed.

In recent times, elements of the animal rights movement have become a kind of unofficial militia, investigating, sometimes harassing, and attacking people who view animals differently than they do.

Frequently, they have been found to lie.

They have cruelly harassed and persecuted carriage horse drivers, pony ride operators, circus operators, private citizens in their homes.

I am not like the Amish; they are not like me.

That does not give me any reason to shun them, criticize them, or certainly, to investigate them. While on my neighbor’s farm today, I met a rescue dog the family had saved. I think he had three legs.