to not like the RSPCA and turn over when their adverts come on TV.

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

I will get flamed no doubt and I'm probably lighting the blue touch paper and then going off for some quality time with DH and leaving people to go demented but here's the crack:

I hate all these begging for money adverts on TV, for animals.

I want to give my money to abused children, great ormond street, breast cancer, other cancers etc.

I want to help poorly children, save daughters and mothers, sons, siblings, fathers, grandparents from diseases and death.

I do not want to house a rabbit or any other kind of animal.

I'm no animal lover as you may have gathered and that doesn't make me a bad person but I just think these people need to gain some perspective.

I hate reading about people who have left thousands of pounds to some animal charity. There are people, family members, dying out there. People are worrying for their children's lives for crying out loud.

Surely these are more worth while charities? I don't want to be guilted into giving however many pounds a month to dogs or hamsters in this 'difficult climate'.

I want to give hope and aid research into saving lives.

I would not give to the RSPCA because they have used captive bolt guns to destroy dogs
see Many Tears

"I want to give hope and aid research into saving lives"

So do that and quit complaining about other causes that need money.

They don't all put animals down.

I give food,blankets etc.... to the PDSA
I give to the dogs trust and the cats protection, i do whatever i can to these poor helpless animals bless em

"
Surely these are more worth while charities? I don't want to be guilted into giving however many pounds a month to dogs or hamsters in this 'difficult climate'.

"

What has 'more worthwhile' got to do with it. If you don't like it, don't give. But why object to other's doing it.

Sadly animals are hideously abused by human beings in a world that has become a totally human-centric world. Not to care at all is unbeleivably cruel IMO. Don't give, but don't dismiss the concerns of others.

I give to several charities regularly. Some of them are wildlife and environmental causes, some are not. It is possible to care about many things

I do wish people wouldn't make sweeping statements about what the RSPCA do and don't do.

I worked as an animal collection officer for 15 years. It was extremely hard, sad but rewarding work.

I never squandered funds saving feral pigeons. It is illegal to treat and release grey squirrels so I never did that.

I did bust a gut recuing animals and did a bloody good job. Maybe none of you were in my patch.

Anyway.

Just don't donate if you don't like them. As I said before.

Agrree with callisto. How is it possible to not like any animals. Just wierd. So the only living creatures you like are two-legged and hairless?

Not entirely sure where you're getting your information from, Callisto?

You can't release a grey squirrel into the wild as it's a criminal offense, because they're officially pests or non-native species or something. Found this out when we had one living in the attic...

And I would argue that campaigning for a hunting ban falls well within the 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' remit, but hey, that's just my opinion.

Its not weird. You don't have to hate animals, or want them all dead, just not actively like them.
I'm not an animal lover. I don't "get" animals, growing up in council flats where pets were banned, little experience of animals, most exposure negative. I don't have a problem with anyone else liking, loving or owning animals, I just don't particulary like them myself. In an abstract, far away in the wild, aren't they majestic sort of way I like exotic animals and such, but pets?
Don't see the point.

Does piss me off that animal lovers tend to think one is some sort of heartless freak if this is admitted to though.

PS, on giving to animal charities, I am reminded of the story of Queen victoria giving to various chariatble causes...on the same day she gave 10 pounds to Battersea Dogs Home, she allocated 5 pounds to the Famine Relief fund in Ireland. Literally millions of people starving to death on her doorstep, and the woman preferred the dogs. Says a lot I think.

It is weird as we are all animals. So in fact you do like animals but only one type. But it doesn't really matter, I just find it odd. Not heartless at all.

And that example only 'says a lot' about Queen Victoria.

Says a lot about what? Queen Victoria?

I only give too animals charity's, so what does that say about me

Ormirian I find it odd that people have animals in their homes, with the hair and the poop and the licking...ewww! But I'm sure some people love all that.
And to be honest, theres not that many animal people I like either

Do you not think though that there are plenty of people who prefer animals to people, or some people? As they are, of course, allowed to, each to their own. The queen story I thought illustrates a rather peculiarly English* attitude to animals. I can understand giving to the dogs home, but in the face of such unimaginable suffering to people so close by....

• sweeping hyperbolic generalistion, natch

I meant animal people in that all people are animals as you said, rather than animal people as in people who like animals. But I guess both work, a bit

I don't think it's a particularly English attitude. BTW I don't argue that the attitude exists. I know a few people that think that way. But it isn't all that common IME. Many people are sentimental about animals but that doesn't mean they don't have their priorities 'right'.

I do find it a bit sad that there are those who resent animal charities advertising because it means some people can exercise their right to choose to donate their cash in a way they don't approve of.

There are many sad human casualties of human society and they all deserve help. But don't forget that there are entire species dying out because of us. That is important too.

Andgodcreatedwomen & heathenofsuburbia - re: the grey squirrel thing, I know that it is illegal to release a grey squirrel, but in the Torygraph a while ago there was an article about a squirrel stuck in a bird feeder. Thge RSPCA officer who came out (due to the presence of the press no doubt) got the squirrel out of the feeder and released it. I was horrified at the time as I know the laws regarding squirrels and other vermin and he also destroyed a perfectly good bird feeder. It's not a one off case either - just watch the crap on Discovery or Animal Planet (as my DD does obsessively).

OP - I would never trust someone who expressed your opinions.
However, I hope you put your money where your mouth is and DO give to the charities who's causes you care about.
The one that gets me into arguments is the Starlight Foundation and similar charities. It's sweet and all, but there are children dieing becuase they don't have water, so sending a British kid to Disney Land hardly strikes me as urgent. Many people clearly disagree with me though and thats OK!

Callisto,

It is not illegal to release a squirrel if you are removing it from a bird feeder and letting it go there and then.

It is illegal to move it, treat it and then release it.

Not to be picky!

Some interesting and varied opinions on this thread.

I'm not 'weird' for not liking animals. I'm allergic to the point that if I am around fur or feather I sneeze none stop, my eyes go red and itchy and puffy, the skin on my face goes blotchy and itchy and I get itching inside my ears, throat, chin and chest. It's horrible. If a dog licks my arm my arm will be covered in a red itchy rash and tiny pimples. Just not nice, so obviously that's not a great starting point. Also I am scared of them and I cannot stand the smell, it turns my stomach. Neither do I like dog poo outside my house, dogs bounding around my baby etc.

I think the thread title might attract animal-lovers to come and defend animals so perhaps not a balanced arguement.

I do give to charities when I can manage- the ones I prefer are NSPCC (or any children's chairty including Children's wards), Great Ormand St, Breast Cancer and Lymphoma. I can't bear the thought of a loved one finding they are ill with cancer and there not being a cure for them (this happened with my nana). I also think charities for Pregnant women and Pre Eclampsia (+HELLP syndrome), SCBU, etc are important, too. I have lost one young family member and almost lost another to this. For me personally, these are more important than animal charities.

I am also allergic, i have 2 cats, 1 dog and a newborn kitten, i love animals,and they are the only charity's give too.

(And the Queen Victoria story is not true, either. In fact she donated large sums to Irish famine relief.)

Why would people 'only' give to animal charities?

What if (please God this doesn't happen) the child of someone who only gives to animal charities gets leukemia or something? Or they or their mum or sister get breast cancer? Their DH gets cancer? These charities are relying on donations to save people's lives.

I'm not saying everyone can give to every charity, that's a silly notion, but what if everyone 'only' gave to animal charities?

Personally I am more bothered about situations like Baby P than dogs being abandoned etc.

Don't the RSPCA receive 3x as much money as all the other charities combined? I find the disparity disturbing.

To be quite honest, (lljkk dons flame-proof suit) I wish all animal shelter type charities just put down the beasts 2 weeks after receipt if a new home couldn't be found. This would lead to a scarcity in remaining animals, and much better welfare for the remaining animals. People would consistently value and properly care for the animals in their care, and the Animal charities wouldn't need to hardly exist after all.

Totally - I think what you'll find is that it's the OP saying she ONLY gave to human charities. The ones of us who do support animal charities also give to human charities.

It is v stupid to assume that because someone loves animals they do not also love humans and want to help them.

Re the illness thing: you could turn it on its head and say why should I give to medical charities when that's what the NHS/my taxes are for. Sounds a bit churlish though, no?