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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not think animal charities are not that important

159 replies

LardLizard · 30/12/2017 00:36

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

OP posts:
LEMtheoriginal · 30/12/2017 11:54

Bumpowder I also agree 're the rspca too - sadly.

Interestingly they were to charity that received the most bequests from wills a few years back. The red cross. A humanitarian organisation as towards the bottom of the list. That really doesn't sit well with me

iBiscuit · 30/12/2017 12:04

I took offence too, Lem Grin

And I'm glad you responded and not I, because I've a little experience of imported rescue dogs and the people involved, and my opinion is (probably entirely unreasonably) tainted by that.

YellowMakesMeSmile · 30/12/2017 12:06

YABVU.

Charity giving is personal for a reason. We support many animal charities as the animals deserve better than the humans that neglected them in the first place.

We support a few health charities but far more animal ones than human ones.

Animals and chidren cant change their lives by adults can so we support them instead.

Dahlietta · 30/12/2017 12:07

I personally think human and baby charity's are a waste. I also think they should just be humanely killed to save the suffering.

Sorry, what?! Do you think people should be humanely killed rather than have a cure found for their illness or do you think people who are hungry or who have lost their homes should be humanely killed too? Confused

AnnabelleLecter · 30/12/2017 12:26

Two fabulous dog/cat rescue centres near us. We've had dogs from them including one we have now.
We buy Christmas cards, go to their open days, dog shows etc. The dogs and cats are very well looked after.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 30/12/2017 12:36

I support an animal charity, conservation really. Also a human one. You can care about both.

I see your point about shelters. I used to support a rescue centre, they take farm animals. But they are huge! They have literally thousands of chickens, herds of horses etc. They send a letter in the winter saying how desperate they are for donations to feed them all. They do a lot of good work but I didn't feel right supporting that...I don't know what the answer is though.

crazycatgal · 30/12/2017 12:40

Sorry but I value animals just as much as humans, I'm entitled to that opinion.

PersianCatLady · 30/12/2017 12:42

My friend always gives money to animal charities because she loves animals and thinks that a lot of people have the attitude that charities for people are more important.

It is her money and her choice.

MiaowTheCat · 30/12/2017 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 30/12/2017 12:48

I can't say I have ever seen rescues operating for profit though

There is a local-ish "rescue" to me who operate as a not for profit company - not a charity - and who pay substantial sums of money to their founder as rent and salary. They also have a very healthy bank balance, despite pleading poverty on social media. Their founder, incidentally, was removed from their position at another charity due to anomalies in their accounts... Their animals are kept in atrocious conditions too.

That's all I'd say - I don't care what people donate to, but I do wish people would do a bit of research and ensure their chosen charities are on the level.

RavenWings · 30/12/2017 12:51

I agree diseases, I can think of one rescue in Ireland which hoard animals in horrible conditions. The founder spends her time either buying animals from fairs (which many people have said just encourages breeders), or asking over and over for donations on FB. It irritates me so much as it undermines the work of legit rescues.

PersianCatLady · 30/12/2017 12:59

I agree that people shouldn't buy pets they can't afford to look after, but if somebody already owns the pet what do you want to happen? Cats can live for 15+ years, so maybe its owners could afford it 15 years ago
There are quite strict conditions for a pet to receive PDSA treatment, they were wonderful at a hard time in my life when my cat needed treatment that would have cost £400 at the vets and it wasn't covered on her insurance.

The PDSA told us that the treatment cost them £150 and I managed to scrape £75 together as my contribution and I felt awful for not paying more towards it.

Some people do take advantage and not give a donation at all and I must admit the receptionist did appear to be shocked at my contribution but I felt that the PDSA is there to help not be taken advantage of.

I am very grateful that I could get this help for my cat at a hard time in my life.

I agree that you shouldn't get pets when you can't afford them but I could afford my cat when I got her and I can afford her now but I had some difficulties a few years ago.

crazycatgal · 30/12/2017 13:05

@DiseasesOfTheSheep are you talking about TAS?

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 30/12/2017 13:07

No I don't think so...

crazycatgal · 30/12/2017 13:09

@DiseasesOfTheSheep We must both know animal shelters with questionable practices then - which is a bit sad.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 30/12/2017 13:10

Are you talking about one that has initials like a breakdown recovery service?

iBiscuit · 30/12/2017 13:25

I think helping people to keep their pets is admirable. I'm a massive hypocrite though because I don't think I've ever donated to the PDSA Blush

Cats Protection paid for vaccinations etc when I took in a stray years ago - it was that or the cat would have been taken into a foster home (and vaccinated anyway). I couldn't actually afford a cat really, but I'm glad they enabled me to keep her, and in terms of their finances it probably made sense to sub me rather than try to rehome her.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 30/12/2017 13:37

Are you talking about one that has initials like a breakdown recovery service?

Me? I'm talking about a "rescue" with a name, that describes a geographic feature.

mustbemad17 · 30/12/2017 15:03

LEM unfortunately there are bloody loads of 'rescues' who work for profit. The one we campaigned against was run by two owners who 'rented out' the land they owned to their own rescue...thus the rescue was paying their £3k a month mortgage out of donations. Also having lavish dinners, holidays away etc off the back of dogs stuck in a dingy stable block not big enough for the number of dogs. Disgusting. Sadly the same 'rescue' has now resorted to taking pups from Spain - who are funded in spain for everything they need - & delivering them to well-meaning adopters in the UK for a fee. Not only are they breaking the law, they are raking in a profit per trip & putting lives at risk. But, as long as the money comes in, who cares? Grr.

I also detest the RSPCA. Their idea of 'suitable' is appalling & actually does not even cover the five basic freedoms. I feel for the smaller, franchise centres who really struggle on a tiny, tiny percentage of the donations the larger umbrella centres receive

LEMtheoriginal · 30/12/2017 17:57

Christ mustbemad that's awful - we have so many "rescued" dogs brought into us at the vets where I work and so often my heart is in my mouth as these are often highly nervous dogs homed with young families and an accident waiting to happen.

everybodysang · 30/12/2017 18:31

Somebody much earlier in the thread said my name and "how do you know they don't?" (sorry not to namecheck, i find it tricky on the app to go back) and I assume that was in response to me saying this:

I do sometimes wish, when people are in a frothing rage over something animal related, that some of that energy could be directed towards human injustice. But I understand why people get upset at cruelty to animals - I'm not a psychopath! I just wish people would get AS involved and outraged about cruelty to children etc.

And the answer is, I don't know, that BUT in my experience I just don't see the level of passion for human injustice as I do for animals. People get SO passionate and angry about animals, don't they? I don't think it's wrong, I just wish that those who in my experience pour a lot of anger and energy into that could be persuaded to stand up for some human causes too (by which I mean vocally, rather than financially) - I think it would make a difference.

But the lovely thing about the UK is that we ARE charitable. And there are loads to choose from depending on what's important to you.

missymayhemsmum · 30/12/2017 18:36

YANBU. there are better uses for her money like giving hungry children a future.
I mean I think rescues are great and the people do a great job. But it's a worthwhile hobby and a service to your community as much as a great act of charity.

Some people run scout groups, some people coach football, some people join gardening clubs, some people run marathons for charity, some people rescue stray dogs. And people get to choose how to spend their spare cash, whether on a fave charity or a new kitchen.
Posting about your charitable donations on facebook is a little unreasonable, but if you care about the rescue centre, it's struggling and you want others to care too, why not.

Skarossinkplunger · 31/12/2017 07:55

Sorry LardLizard I’ve just got back to the thread. In answer to your question, I have some issues with the race for life.

Costacoffeeplease · 31/12/2017 08:20

What the fuck has it got to do with you how people spend their money Confused

I don’t send Christmas cards now but donate to charity instead, this year we did food bank, soup kitchen and dog and cat rescue - all local (I’m not in the UK) it is possible to help all manner of causes

Fluffyears · 31/12/2017 08:54

People are srsehokes in general in my experience and dogs are not they are just furry love. I’d rather give my money to poor innocent dogs. Hop this helps!