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?

Oh for fuck's sake.

What a ridiculous, twattish, nasty, arrogant and blinkered thing to say.

Why do animals need charity? Is it because the badgers are torturing bears and putting them in cages? Are rabbits burning down the rainforest and shooting orang-utans? No, we are. As soon as man keeps his filthy, greedy hands to himself and stops making the lives of most species on the planet a misery, you and your humans can keep all this charity.

Totally agree LoopyLoops

She really did "run for the hills", didn't she? Is she a newbie? Was this purely to wind everyone up?

OP, if you're a newbie, I suggest you namechange from now one. I, for one, won't be able to think of you in a good light after this.

Funding terrorism may be wrong.

Funding donkeys, cats, dogs, WWF....! Damn those evil organisations.

Not surprised the op made herself scarce considering lack of logic and abuse that passes for debate on this thread!

i made myself scarce as i feel the thread has got out of hand. i didnt mean to upset anyone and think i may have been a bit emotive when using the word 'wrong'.:(

however i still will only give to human charities as i feel humans have priority over animals.

the reason i feel so strongly about this is because i have just returned from the gambia and it was horredous seeing what a poverty stricken place they live amoungst. guess i wanted to help more than what i could.

sorry if i have offended anyone x

I haven't read all of this thread but it makes me so sad that so many people seem to think human life is more precious than animal life. I just don't get it, why are humans so special ? surely as most of animals problems are caused by humans it is our responsability to help sort it out. That is not to say we should not help our fellow humans out too though.

You shouldn't be apologising OP. You have a right to ask a question and, if possible, have a debate.

From the experiences you have had in Gambia I can undrestand why you would want to raise the debate.

The response from some of the 'animal lovers' on this thread have turned me from being undecided to agreeing absolutely with your POV.

I have always refused to give money to animal charities. i would rather help people.

Militant animal lovers are a very strange breed - usually so because they're unable to form relationships with their own species

Hmm. This question of "what do you do when faced with two collecting tins?"

Am I the only person who tries to predict other people's donations when deciding which one needs my donation more?

For instance, any mental health charity would typically lose out if contested with a cute animal charity, so I'd go for the mental health one. Children versus animals is more difficult. I think a lot of people assume everyone else has given to the children, and so give to animals.

I would entirely agree with OP on my choice of charities but everyone is different and luckily have a free choice. I never know why one person makes up their mind and wants to do it for everyone else!

I pretty much agree with you. I haven't read rest of the thread and I'm pretty sure that your op will have generated outrage. For us, we have a limited amount of money to give to charity and give to 2 charities that are about helping people.

Well, I know I'm not going to end child starvation by donating to Oxfam (which I do, btw).

But when I donate money to certain animal charities (I give money to the Dog's Trust) I know it's going to go quite a long way.

I used to do volunteer work at an animal sanctuary when I was a teenager. It's a really small, local operation that has saved lots of animals over the years, as well as provided work experience and employment to local people. I know how strapped for cash they are and how much it is appreciated when they're given money.

I understand the OP's point but I would hate to think of a world where animals were just left to suffer.

I also give money to Amnesty International - maybe that's a less worthy cause than other charities...?

Haven't read the whole thread but I gather the OP has had a hard time. FWIW, I think YANBU OP. I tend to favour charities which help humans over animals too, particularly kids' charities or overseas aid. Flame me too if you like.

Yes YABU

In the same vein you could say that money shouldn't be spent on disabled children as more 'good' could be done by spending money on medicines for third world countries.

There are many worthy causes, all of which are very deserving.

Besides, as others have pointed out, it is not up to you to dictate other peoples donations.