to think giving money to animal charities is wrong?

[armani]

ok so i just want people to know that i do like animals - im not a pet hater!

however today, whilst out shoping, i was approached by someone working for an animal charity. he was asking me if i could set up a monthly direct debit to help them. i politely declined, as i already give directly to 3 different charities and made my way home.

this has been playing on my mind all day. if everyone who gave money to animal charities instead gave it to charities helping sick/vulnerable people/children, then surely alot more aid would be available. i mean i do like animals but think human quality of life should come first.

AIBU?

If I had 2 children I would share the food between them.

If I had one child, one dog and one cat, then my child would still get the food.

I find it hard to understand people who value their pets as much as their children.

Quite right quim. My dog has as much right not to suffer unnecessary pain and suffering as me and my husband and my children. But if food was running out, we might eat him

I think the OP is being simplistic. It is not a simple either/or choice. As others have already pointed out, many animal charities working in developing countries are helping working equids - these animals are the primary source of income for poor families. Help a donkey, you help a family put food on their table. Because of mechanisation in Western Europe we have forgotten that for much of the rest of the world, animals are not pets but are working, often in horrendous conditions. I was privileged to attend a presentation at a conference last year by an academic working in this field - I sat there in tears for most of it, but that was equally at the suffering of the working animals as much as the children working alongside them in baking heat in dreadful conditions. Development work as undertaken by a number of charities will help eventually to lift both groups out of these appalling conditions. I could also talk about AIDS dogs in S Africa - again, a complex human situation with spin off animal welfare issues. Most people in developing countries are not deliberately cruel and want the best for their families and children. I am happy to support a number of charities including those that address both human and animal needs in the developing world. I do voluntary work for animal charities in this country but very, very often the cases we see are a direct result of things like family breakdown, illness or divorce - human tragedies. On a positive note, I can think of countless examples where people have found their pets (particularly dogs) have brought them great joy and comfort e.g. after a bereavement or during depression and other mental illnesses. I'm also aware of the many cases where animals provide assistance to disabled people who are blind, deaf or even autistic - the unconditional love of a pet can often be hugely beneficial and therapeutic.

Well if I had the bare minimum amount of food to keep one child alive I would not share it with the dog. Would you? If I had 2 or more children then I would have to accept that they wouldn't all make it and I've no idea what I would do. There are a lot of people in the world who don't have enough food for all their children would actually have to make that decision in real life and I am hugely thankful I'm not one of them. And they are the kind of people I want my spare cash to be helping.

Y are being SOOOOOOO unreasonable!!!!

Animal charities wouldn't even exist in your world because there will always be humans in need of charity help, which according to you should come first.

Some human causes are really lost ones.

Animal charities mainly exist to counter the cruelty and environmental destruction inflicted by humans.

Most animal charities such as the rspb, wwf, etc are doing real long term work which is sustainable- many human charities are a waste of money.

Pick your own causes, but don't judge others on your on concerns.

Great post Scuttlebutter.

I hesitate to even answer this thread because it is so stupid. But hey.

Just because someone feels sympathy to one cause and gives money to it does not mean that they would give to other charities if they couldn't give to the charity of their choice.

YANBU. I agree wholeheartedly. Disgusts me that if people have money to donate, they think an animal is more worthy than a human. How on earth can this be right? When there are no more humans dying from starvation and disease, sure, save the animals. Until then, your sense of priorities disappoints me.

And I say that as a vegan. If those of you who think the OP is BU, I assume you care so much about animals that you are vegan too.

Great post AbFabT

I have sympathies with your opinion...people in Britain often seem much more interested in and tolerant of dogs than children and from a brief spell working in an elderly care home, I'd say some animals get treated better than humans.

However, unfortunately, people are free to make their own minds up about what charity they support and animals need help too

Brilliantly put, reaper. That is exactly what it comes down to.

'Until then, your sense of priorities disappoints me.'

Well I'm disappointed that you think you can tell people what to do with their money,while looking down from your moral high horse.

Thanks, tiredlady.

YABU

Rock, I haven't told anyone how to spend their money! Am just disappointed and disgusted.

I love animals,though humans are more important to me.
However I still believe that I can donate to a variety of charities,and I don't feel one shred of guilt when I put money in the PDSA tin,or donate to The Cat Protection League.

Well if everyone donated what they could afford I'm sure there would be enough revenue to help humans and animals.
Everone prioritises what charities is most important mine goes like this:

1. Lifesaving human charities
2. Animal charities
3. Arts/sports/community things

All good causes but you can't donate to them all. IMO it is wrong not to put human suffering first but I wouldn't tell other people what to think/do with their money. Some people will think my view is wrong and they are entitled to that opinion.

YABU; I think that wildlife especially is very important to life on this planet as a whole and pets make everyone very happy. Humans often inflict the most damage to animals.

Give me a minute and I'll get the violin out.

I might be a little that some people buy battery eggs over free range eggs,but when I'm buying my free range eggs perhaps there's a vegan watching who is disappointed that I'm buying eggs at all.

Each to their own priorities. You do what you think is right,that's a general you btw,and leave others to do the same.

YABU!! What a ridiculous post.

You could apply that question to every purchase you make. Should I buy that expensive coat when people are starving? I could go for a cheaper car and donate the difference to the NSPCC, etc, etc, etc.

What a stupid, stupid post OP!

I would rather donate to a rainforest charity lets say than a humna one. I think us humans do inflict a lot of damage on ourselves and the environment but it's the destruction of the environment that will ultimately affect us all. i guess biodiversity is my concern rather than ponies etc.

I think YABU, because anyone giving to any charity is a good thing. Some people will give to children's charities, some to cancer charities and some to animal charities.

You could argue that for many human charities the governments should actually be contributing, and charity money raised gets them off the hook for funding better research/ aid funds etc. But no WAY will any government/ institution feel compelled to subsidise animal charities, so unless people do give there will be NO funding

Having said that, I am fairly picky as to the animal charities I support, due to the way the funds are spent (as I see it)

Oh, fuck off with your moral highground, AbFab. Yes I AM a vegan and yes I DO donate to animal charities, as well as Age Concern and several other human aid organisations.

This is such a ridiculous thread.