To not think animal charities are not that important

[LardLizard]

Just making me think someone I know very well is often posting about making huge donations to a local animal shelter
Basically a dog rehoming centre
But i don’t think they actually regime many most of them just end up living in this dog shelter
Personally I’m not sure if it’s more humane to end their suffering for some dogs that won’t get a proper home
I mean wonder how many dogs there are out there that are homeless ? Day just in the uk alone

I don’t jus when ever I see these posts I just think oh that could have gone to a more worthwhile cause that actually helps children babies adults humans

And don’t get me wrong I do adore animals
I just prefer putting humans first

Anyone should feel free to donate to any charity that they wish but I always want to know exactly how my money is being spent. I work in medical research and I'm appalled by the amount of money that's donated generously by members of the public and then wasted (often on equipment with no real plans of using it because 'there's money available so why not access it' attitudes).

I donate to the local branch of a national pet charity by purchasing items off their Amazon wish list. I know exactly what's being purchased with my money. Many charities have wishlists, so it's a god way of knowing your money isn't being wasted.

Also, I think donating to ANY charity is a good thing if it’s one that you really believe in and want to support. It would be a shame if we all donated to the same ones all the time. If someone wants to donate to help animals then it’s not harming anyone. And if someone else wants to donate to something like a cancer charity or a children’s charity then it’s also not harming anyone else. We all have different beliefs and passions about certain topics

To those baffled by charities bringing in dogs from abroad - having had my Romanian rescue for 2 years who is only just starting to get over the trauma of his mistreatment at the hands of humans - the conditions that these animals have to endure are truly horrific. Street/shelter dogs are treated worse than vermin and if I were to tell you exactly how they despatch many of them you'd literally be sick. The worst of the UK shelters are palaces in comparison and at least we have decent welfare laws here.
Animals know no borders. Often the foreign dogs are the ones that very much need the most help. I sometimes find the people judging this attitude are the same ones who will moan about human immigrants a la Daily Mail.

It's worth noting too that a lot of established animal rescues/charities have links with dog food suppliers, so exclusively use their food. So not necessarily the cheapest food going. I know that DT for example get a lot of food donated at branches & only feed their dogs one brand - unless medical food etc is needed. They donate the other stuff to other charities/rescues in their area

Ginger hear hear!! Have had four Rommies myself in foster & support a fab charity that work with Rommie dogs. Of course there is always idiots bringing them over with nowhere to go, no money etc...but then there are idiots doing that here with UK dogs. Responsible rescue can only be a good thing!!

It winds me up that in our local supermarkets, when they have those token containers where people vote for a charity to recieve a donation, it is always always the animal charities that win. Never local youth services, homeless, mental health, womens aid. Nothing. Always the bloody cats.

Each to their own etc, but my choice is usually something like WWF for the reasons @steaksauce mentions. But, I would say that, as well as tackling the bigger picture, (the environment), there are already metaphorical fires which need to be put out. Famine, war, water shortages, homelessness, refugee crisis; all of which can be linked to climate change / the environment.

So, I think we need both. I thought the general consensus was that preventing climate change actually isn’t an option any more, so tackling the problems it is already causing is part of the work which has to be done imo. That includes things like the refugee crisis, water shortages, famine etc.

As for animal shelters, which don’t euthanise... I wouldn’t send them any money personally, no.

Pets, which can’t be rehomed, may be better off being put down in some cases. Much as I like animals, (former long term veggie and short term vegan), I personally don’t think keeping homeless pets alive, should be top priority. It sounds cold, but if one has to prioritise.

Wild animals are different though. Conserving wildlife is something I think is very important. Not because I like the cute, fluffy animals, but because they’re part of the ecosystem we humans are currently messing with, but upon which we rely heavily.

I prefer animals to a lot of humans. I donate to many charities but the majority are animal rescues.

The philosopher Peter Singer writes about this topic in his book “Animal Liberation”.

Historically, people who worked tirelessly for children’s welfare tended to be the same people who worked for animal welfare. Of course things are different these days with charity work being something you make public, that has a corporate image and that has become competitive. People wear their pin badges to show how compassionate they are.

A bit like the OP, actually.

@grinch

Why? The aim of shelters is to rehome the animals surely? So (hopefully) they will also get out sooner or later.

I put humans over animals in my charitable donations.

@LardLizard

*I totally accept it’s her choice
Just think it could be better spent that’s all *

And equally, in my opinion, your donations to Sands could be better spent.

Gingerstuff - so I am a daily mail reader that hates immigrants then??

Yes I totally agree what these dogs go through is horrific. Totally disgusting and upsetting. But I also see the aftermath regularly in mywork. Traumatised dogs further traumatised by being flown into the country. Only to be forced into a totally alien situation. These dogs haven't had a miraculous happy ending they are fucking terrified of life and take years of rehabilitation before they can enjoy life in a family. With experience owners can slowly show these animals what it is to be loved but sadly because many people don't have the experience and rescues take on too many they are rehomed inappropriately. These dogs often end up back in rescue or euthanized. It does work out and I am genuinely pleased when it does. But with animal welfare one has to be objective and sadly make difficult decisions.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be doingbour utmost to help these animals but bringing them here en masse is not helping. Too many "rescues" popping up bringing animals into the country needing veterinary care that they cannot afford.

I would rather see neutering clinics and a focus on helping these animals in situ than traumatizing further with often a sad outcome.

LEM I certainly don't disagree with you about the irresponsible rescues shipping dogs in that end up in a worse situation (I've become quite involved in this world so I do see what's going on). But it's also heartening to me to see the many, many dogs like my own who were on death's doorstep in a shit situation and have been rehomed with compassionate, responsible, experienced owners and given a new lease of life in the UK. As I said, I don't care where a dog or animal comes from, I will help the ones in most need and right now that tends to be the ones treated abominably in their home countries abroad. The rescues that I support also work very hard to advocate and carry out neutering programmes and education of the locals in how to treat their animals properly. I think it is, very slowly but surely, making a difference.

So why make that comment? I actually found it quite upsetting

Why would you be upset about It @LEM? Ginger said she “sometimes” finds people who have issues with it are daily mail readers who also have problems with immigrants. She didn’t say she thinks “everyone” is like that. And she wasn’t referring to you personally

Well done would probably think that your £1k could have gone a lot further and saved a lot more babies/ children if you’d donated to a charity that offered vaccinations or mosquito nets or malnutrition in the developing world than to a UK charity.

But the beauty of charity is that you get to give your money to a cause of your choice and that you see as worthy, not a choice someone else has deemed most worthy.

I think the tin pot shelters are cruel. We have 2 round here and the rspca is continually called on them for neglect. Saying that I also wouldn't donate to the rspca because they're bloody awful too!

Agree with what Worra said.

OP starts thread about charity knowing very well that there will be questions asked about her own commitment and support.

Which conveniently allows OP to show off her fundraising charidee credentials.

At which point we go full circle with a very muted acknowledgement that it's a matter of personal choice, so not really AIBU.

So the entire point of this was just a stealth boasting exercise...

@Gingersstuff when was the last time you were late to work because your way was blocked by a pack of dogs?
Or in your kid's way to school.
Or went to a park and have two or three bark rabidly at you because you got too close to the bush they were sleeping in?
Or went to take the trash out and got attacked by a pack of dogs?
Or had your kid bitten by a dog that was supposedly picked up,neutered, chipped and put in a shelter?
I could keep going. It's easy to ooh and aaah when you don't have to deal with that day in day out.

I agree with lem that importing "rescue" dogs is disgusting. One of the local tinpot jobs does it to turn a profit many are riddled with parasites and should probably be put down but because they're cute they get snapped up.

TheDM i agree with your sentiment re homing animals, to a point. Have spent the last three years campaigning to shut down two disgusting rescues, one locally & one in Scotland. The looks of horror when people find that out! 'Surely alive is better than dead?'

To me there is a big issue of quality of life. If a dog's needs can be fully met within a rescue, great. If a dog's needs aren't being met long term then the question has to be asked, have you really rescued it?

I have a rescue dog. When we chose her what struck me was the sheer number of working dogs in small kennels who you know will not be getting enough stimulation for their needs. One of the many border collies in there was spinning circles and jumping off the walls with bordem all of the border collies had on their description sheets that they had issues with being neurotic so needed expert homes. Then there were the huge amounts of huskies too.

I get these centres rely on volunteers to walk these dogs but can you seriously tell me one 30min walk a day is enough for these breeds?

Indigo it was a direct response to my previous comment

Mustbemad - I completely agree with you. Whilst these rescues are well intentioned they lack the resources to give the animals what they need. I can't say I have ever seen rescues operating for profit though