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?

YABVVVU animals are helpless, defenceless and cant have a voice for themselves. They rely totally on us for help and i'm glad you're not getting any support with your awful OP

Oh my god i'm still fuming here at the OP's ignorance... will have to leave this thread

OP, do you apply your stupid idea to arts and heritage charities too? They receive a HUGE proportion of public, lottery and local authority funding and aren't exactly life-saving?

I'm with tuggy, I can't believe the ignorance you've displayed, OP.

No idea what your name means TankFly but I like you already

Just read this line, by donkeyderby: "unfortunately, people are free to make their own minds up about what charity they support"

You incredible twat!

I think the OP would NBU at all if they had put AIBU to think that it is wrong to donate to animal charities at the expense of human charities or to not donate at all if you can afford it.

jamnittygritty, charmed, I am sure.
Bet the vast majority on here aren't vegan though.

Point being, if you could save a cat or a child, which would you save? That is what it comes down to. Anyone who chooses the cat, why??? How!

I think people often forget that we are a part of the ecosystem/ environment. Unfortunately(?), we are not more important than the rest of the planet. If humans become extinct, the Earth will thrive, if the wildlife and the forests go, we don't have a chance. It is not about animal or humans being more important, it is about realising that both are part of the nature.

And yes, although biologically I am obliged to rescue my child first from a burning house, that does not mean that I wouldn't do everything I could to rescue my dog as well.

Like someone said above, in other parts of the world humans' welfare are directly dependent on the animals they live with and by donating money for a donkey to be given its medicine, you might be ultimately helping the whole family/ village relying on its strength to plow or to carry water froma far away well.

"humans' welfare is" of course...

'Point being, if you could save a cat or a child, which would you save? That is what it comes down to. Anyone who chooses the cat, why??? How!'

If you thought like that you'd never be able to buy anything for yourself or your family,beyond the very basics.

Bar of chocolate or tetanus vaccination for a child in a developing nation?

Birthday gift for your dc or a goat for a needy family?

Holiday or well for a village?

A meal out or a donation to the local children's hospice?

It doesn't have to be an either or situation.

YABVU!!! I don?t believe you are judging people on which charities they voluntarily give money to! If you are judging worthiness based on vulnerability, then some animal charities should receive a lot of money as animals have no voice for themselves.

If you decide that priorities are based on ?closeness? to those in need (e.g. being the same species) then you are also on very shaky ground. Should we only donate to people overseas once there is nobody in need of charity in this country? Should we only donate to those of the same ethnic group/gender/sexuality as ourselves? Obviously not. If you start basing voluntary spending priorities on how ?close? we are to the people in need then where would you decide where the madness ends?!

Every individual makes a personal decision as to what they choose to donate to (if they choose to donate at all). It is not up to anyone to decide where other people should spend their own money. There are many charities that could make good use of money, but it is not for us to decide that somebody should be forced to donate to something they do not want to. Donations for mental health charities are not as forthcoming as those for cancer charities or children?s charities. That does not mean that the population is uncaring, it just means that people have their own priorities and donate to what is close to their own hearts. It is not up to anybody to judge what people voluntarily give up their money for, it is great that people donate in the first place! As somebody pointed out, the real atrocities faced by humans shouldn?t be left in the hands of charities anyway, the government should be sorting those out.

LetThereBeRock - I'm very careful with my money and although I probably buy more than the absolute basics I do try and be aware of want and need and that we are lucky to have the basics in this country.
Gruffalo - It doesn't necessarily follow that because people think that humans should take priority that they also think that people of the same sex/age/ethnicity should take priority. I actually prefer to donate to overseas charities as although there is poverty in this country we have systems in place so that no-one has to starve to death.

And it goes without saying that you would do all you could to rescue a well-loved pet from a fire but you would get your child first - what parent wouldn't?

I donate to lots of charities. My 'favourite' charity atm is one that was set up in my nephews honour, before he died which aims to help children with terminal illnesses and life long disabilities as well as the local community.

But I also took part in a charity walk for a local dogs home recently and will shortly sorting out some old blankets etc for the local greyhound rescue.

Why can't I support both humanitarian and animal charities?

My nephew was very important to me and I would give my last penny to his charity if I knew it could save just one family from suffering what he and his family did, but that makes animal welfare no less important to me.

OP YABVU. Most 'normal' people can support both human and animal charities.

I do wish that people would think more carefully about the charity's they support. I rarely donate to charity on a whim; I like to know how & for what purpose my donation will be used & also that the charity is well run & my money will not be wasted.

I do find it depressing that people are more likely to donate to something cute and fluffy.

Whilst on the subject can I ask if anyone else thinks badly of charities that use chuggers? They make me incredibly unlikely to support the charity they are recruiting for at any point.

I don't think a lot of charities are run as they should be! I Feel a lot of money given doesn't go to people\ animals who need it. My view is that animals are just as much in need as humans and I think why not help a few Causes rather than just one? You can give to people and animals. I think having a pet can become like having a child. Unless your an animal lover you would never understand that !
I love animals! I love my dog so much. I would never want to see her in pain . She is my companion and she gets me more than many humans, she's very intelligent. She is defenceless , she can't speak therefore that is why animals suffering cruelty need our human help! We are their voice !

YANBU

I think it is just weird that British people (of which I am one) are more interested in aminals than children.

Animals are on this earth to serve people and to give to donkey sanctuaries et al is, I think, madness. There is no use for domestic animals, the money that is left to them is disgraceful.

There are children, humans, who are desperate for help. Who takes precedence - an orphan or an elephant? It's just laughable.

Animals should only matter in the chain of life and domestic animals are not in that.

YABVU - Its none of your business what charities other people donate their money to. Personally there are some animal charities that I think are far more worthy causes than some human ones. Remember, not all human charities are for starving children or the other more fashionable ones either. there are charities that donate toys to disadvantaged children, I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with that but I value an animals life over something a human can happily live without.

*loony - any charity that uses chuggers automatically loses my support, it really irritates me!

I am amazed at the level of abuse thrown at the OP on here.

It seems to me an absolute given that people should come first - of course they should!

I read somewhere that people in Britain donate more to the RSPCA than the NSPCC - surely no one could defend that?

YABU, it's not for you to judge where people donate their money.

There are plenty of nasty people in the world but ive never met a nasty animal, and if they have a flaw it's because they've been abused by hideous humans.

We have control over animals, humans tend to make their own choices.

"humans tend to make their own choices"

Absolutely - humans can choose where they are born, who they are born to, and what the natural world inflicts on them.

Luckily people have free choice. I find it strange that people make up their own mind about something and think they are 'right' and everyone should do the same!

YANBU

Giving to charities associated with children and vulnerable adults would be a priority to me too.

I don't know where some of you get this weird idea from that more people donate to animal charities than anything else.

Check your facts. In the charitable sector, it's known as "Cancer and kids" - because that's what people give to more than anything else!