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?

What fills me with despair about NSPCC is the amount of money spent keeping blatantly abusive and negligent families together! The poor abused and neglected children need a good home and their abusers need to be sterilised and locked up.

At least with animal charities the animal can be removed from a heinous situation, hopefully rehomed and the owner is far more likely to be prosecuted and banned from keeping animals.

Having said that I still keep my dd towards NSPCC because it would be pointless to stop it, i also donate to Clic Sargent, Macmillan. I make one off payments to Dogstrust and turn up at my local shelter with the tinned dog food that they request. I also ask my friends to pick up a tin of dog food when they go to the supermarket and drop off our donations together.

It's not an either or situation, it's possible to support lots of charities.

I give to those that can't help themselves. ANIMALS and CHILDREN.

Both end up needing charitable help due to adult humans. I would not give more to children if I didn't donate to animals I feel that I give an appropriate amount.

I will not donate towards many charities that other people feel are worthy causes because I don't support animal testing. I am not judging those who do. I am saying I WOULDN'T NO MATTER WHAT.

So you post MAKES NO SENSE. It is not either or. ANd for what it is worth I also don't consider animals less important that humans.

Oh and jj17 who decided animals were here to SERVE us? I mean seriously what the fuck is that about?? If you are getting biblical then women are meant to serve men too.. I hope you serve DH.. Pathetic.

Actually, people are more important that animals.

Sorry about that - but it's true.

Seeker, so you go without all the time in order to help people in need? Thought not.

People can and should give to animal charities. Sorry about that - but it's true.

"Seeker, so you go without all the time in order to help people in need? Thought not.'?

Eh?

Seeker, it may seem that way to you and that's your opinion but a lot of people only have their pets and see them as their family. Therefore they may be happy to spend their money on supporting animal charities.

It's about having a choice and I am happy to give money to animal rescue centres to look after animals people can't be bothered to home anymore.

I also donate to a cancer charity. One isn't mutually exclusive from the other.

Ugh, seeker, you're supporting the view that people shouldn't give to animal charities because there are people who need charitable help. But what about the money people spend otherwise? Do you tell people on threads about clothing that there are people suffering and they should spend their money on charitable donations to help people in need?

Why are there so many idiots on this thread?

"why are there so many idiots on this thread"

My theory: if you havn't loved an animal your soul is not complete.

YABVU. People are entitled to donate money to the charity of their choice. People face many choices in life, and sometimes they make the wrong one. But I do not believe there is a right or wrong choice with charitable giving. If anything, giving to charity at all can only be right, as it is a selfless act, caring about something or someone beyond oneself.

With regard to some of the comments on this thread about the relative "status" of humans and animals, let's remember that humans are animals. Yes, we've had some evolutionary good luck, but we are still animals underneath the clothes and technology.

I have met some wonderful people, who have fully utilised their human capacity for love, kindness and compassion. I have also met others that fully utilise our capacity for unimaginable cruelty; these people I consider to have a lower status than my cat.

I do find it funny though, that, if you look at our horror/science-fiction novels and films, one of our greatest fears is that we will lose our spot as the dominant species on the planet; that we will become, hunted, tortured, harvested. As so many of us treat our fellow animals.

Why are the supporters of animal charities so very rude??????

People are not more important than animals we have given ourselves that accolade over time but a life is a life and none is more valid than another.I love my cats to bits and try not to treat them as second class!

I love my animals to bits too. But they are NOT as important as my children. Or as anyone else's children. Or as any other human being.

And anyone who looks at two charity boxes and makes a choice to put the element of their income they set side for charitable purposes into the one that supports a donkey sanctuary rather than an orphanage has, in my opinion, very skewed thinking.

YABVU. I always donate stuff to the charity shop that supports our local animal home. They are helpless and rely on people to feed and look after them.

I think of it as taking responsibility, most animal charities are sorting out a mess that humans created. I think it says something really shitty about humanity if we create a problem affecting animals then leave them to suffer.

Says something even more shitty about humanity if we leave our children and old people to suffer.......

Seeker it's called freedom of choice and I won't let you or anyone else condemn who i decide to give MY money to.

As has already been pointed out do you criticise those who do not donate anything and spend their money on luxuries etc.

Yes I do. Conspicuous over-consumerism outrages me too.

And actually, I reserve the right to challenge anyone's choices. You don't have to defend your choices if you don't want to, but I have the right to challenge them

Then I have the right to say piss off.

You have that right - but you do your cause no favours if you do.

It's not a cause though. It's about my choice and others who choose to donate to an animal charity.

Instead of having a pop at those who donate to the charity of their choice try and convert some non donators and see what you can achieve.

You aren't going to convert me nor others like me, in fact you would put me off donating if you were representing one and preaching humans are this........ etc etc.

I give monthly to the WSPCA and I think that it's very important to value and care for animals.

Not preaching - just expressing my opinion. Politely. And without personal attacks.

Animals are so vulnerable in the face of our vast, resource-gobbling, human population. We have all the power therefore we have the responsibility, too.
I give to the SSPCA, Help the Aged and the Red Cross monthly. It's not either or, and anyone who thinks it is should try some joined-up thinking.

Eeeew! Some nasty fuckers on this thread!

PDSA and RSPCA here and what of it?!

I happen to adore animals and agree with the many posters who have pointed out man's continuing abuse of animals and our responsibility to do something about it!

Grrrr!

Just like to add that I also donate to Age. I think more people should do the same to help protect our vulnerable elderly - not as fashionable as children unfortunately.

Good one xkittyx