Watching ads for the humane society , and you know , I love animals and all

[UndertheOcean]

But I prefer my very limited resources to go towards helping the mentally ill homeless lady I met downtown last weekend.


Maybe rich people can help them instead. For me right now , needy humans anywhere in the world trump needy animals.

[LostinVA]

1. Get it while it's hot!

:popcorn:

[Waya]

2. Oy.....

.....this oughta be good.....

[Warpy]

3. I have a hard time watching that one, too

I also devote more resources to needy humans.

The problem is that this has become such an uncaring country. Assholes have taken it over, heartless and cruel assholes who thing that as long as they've got theirs, all's right with the world and if anyone is suffering, it's his own fault, even when it's a helpless companion animal.

I've rehabbed feral cats and they've been adopted. I've adopted adult rescued cats. The one I have now is a rescued kitty who still flinches when my hand gets close to her face after 14 years being away from her abuser.

It's just frustrating to know how much work needs to be done with both humans and our companion animals when the assholes are in charge. That's why that commercial is so hard for me to watch.

[Nay]

4. Both people and animals need help, and each of us may have our

own reasons for helping one bunch or the other, and many help both. A love for and caring of animals leads humans to value other humans more highly as well -- witness the prison programs where criminals train horses or dogs, and learn empathy and kindness along the way.

There are an ungodly number of people (esp in this "I've got mine and the hell with you" society) who simply don't want much interaction with humans anymore, because they've had such bad experiences at school, work or out in the public. It's just not very nice out there anymore, and even social niceties that used to lubricate our interactions with each other have been destroyed. I guess I can't blame a lot of people for feeling more friendly toward animals.

[LeftyMom]

5. It's not an either or proposition.

:shrug:

[jesus_of_suburbia]

6. Exactly...

It's not an either/or.

If my heart leads me to give to animal rescue, it doesn't make me a bad person just because that money could have gone to help a human.

For that matter, if I go to a movie, I could have used that money to help a human.

[murray hill farm]

7. When the economy goes bad,

it is the pets that are the first to suffer. When a family is having difficulty feeding the kids, then they are not going to buy pet food, take their pets to the vets for annual shots, etc. Sad, but true. Right now, the animal shelters all over the country are overwhelmed with pets that families can no longer afford to keep. Very sad situation for family pets...and their humans.

[JaneQPublic]

8. I decide how much I can spare for charity and help a different cause each month.

Even if you're rich, it's unlikely you can ever give enough to any problem to completely eradicate it.

In my case, I'm far from wealthy, but I do what I can by giving $25 to an animal rescue group one month, a homeless support group the next, and some other worthy cause (and they are plentiful) the month after that.

[nam78_two]

15. "For that matter, if I go to a movie, I could have used that money to help a human."

Thank you-exactly. Most people have indulgences they put before the needs of other human beings, so I am not sure why charitable donations or work done for animals would be picked on :shrug:.

I lead a fairly low key lifestyle-don't drive, am vegan, rarely shop, but I have cable and internet. I do feel guilty about the cable but haven't completely weaned myself off of tv. The best we can do is try as best as we can by our lights. I think the Humane Society also brings horrific abuses of animals (factory farming-downer cows being dragged and kicked, still alive animals being tortured and abused etc.) to light.

I have eliminated many things from my life that I think I can live without so we can give extra money to both animals and people. And I cannot feel guilty about that.

[nam78_two]

12. Exactly-I never get this argument

Most people I know who help animals, care deeply about humans too and help them too :shrug:.

[tuckessee]

9. So, just exactly what have you done for the mentally ill homeless lady you met last weekend?

I hope you've done more than use her as an excuse to start a troll thread.

[UndertheOcean]

11. I can't do much to her since I don't have much money or resources , but I did buy her lunch

and drive her to a church that runs a homeless outreach program(they were giving out publix gift cards , and helping homeless people with legal or mental problems hook up with the appropriate help.)

[hlthe2b]

10. OH great another human v animal thead...Always prefaced,

of course, by "you know, I love animals and all." :eyes:

Screw that. Help them BOTH!

[UndertheOcean]

13. There were other threads on this subject ?

[hlthe2b]

14. All the time... Whether intentional or not....

some DUers seem determined to pit "animal lovers" against those involved in human efforts, as if one can not be interested in helping both animals and humans.... And, heaven help us if there is an animal abuse story posted (or conversely a child abuse story) as it becomes open season to accuse those who care about animals as being unmoved by the child story or vice versa.

[nam78_two]

16. That is a rather tricky argument

If you have any indulgence above the bare minimum you need to live, the argument could be made that that money could go to help needy humans instead. I mean, wouldn't that be the logical extension of this?

I would argue that there is a better case to be made for people giving up their indulgences in order to help the needy than giving up their charity that is helping other living creatures.

Most people try to do the best they can by their lights on such things and have their own reasons for why they start activism of some sort or support of a cause. Supporting a legitimate cause is better than not supporting any cause at all.
I think the arguments of this cause is better than that one get rather tricky. I think there are horrific abuses in the factory farming system for instance that we as a society are turning our back on. I am glad there are people out there working on that-we need people to support and work on a diverse number of causes.

[MedleyMisty]

17. Humans are animals

We are no better than other species. Worse, I'd say - maybe it's primates in general that are worse though, because chimps go on raids and kill other chimp tribes too.

Life has no hierarchy of value. All life is equally sacred. Personally I struggle with incorporating humans into that because my natural instinct is to place humans at the bottom of the totem pole. Humans suck a lot and are weak and ignorant and violent and hateful and murderous and self-centered and really, from all that I have seen in my nearly 28 years of life on the planet, just really fucking evil nasty little shits. And you read history and realize that actually this is the best that it's been and that humans used to be even worse.

But I also have to work on realizing that it's not either/or and that in fact if I try to do what I can to show humans that they don't have to be so nasty and evil that it'll be better for the other species - like if maybe I can succeed in teaching a human empathy, that human won't then go and torture a member of another species just for fun.

And yes, I feel greatly disconnected from humans. I guess I have the same DNA building blocks for my body, but I swear that my mind isn't human.

Anyway - you can help both. If you can't afford to help both financially, then you can volunteer at a human homeless shelter one day and at a rescue group for other species another day.

[flvegan]

18. To each his or her own.

So long as one is doing something good for another, then that's a fine thing.

Personally, I give a lot of my resources (including 1/3 of my home and entire yard) to animals and related charities. I also give to food banks, and I'm quick with a couple bucks when I see a homeless person. Everyone has preferences for using their money, so long as your compassion isn't limited.

[tabasco]

19. Why not just post about what you do for people and encourage others to do the same?

Why did you have to mention the Humane Society?

I suspect you attempt to disparage those who help animals. That makes your entire post seem suspect. You are probably lying about helping the old lady just to make a point.

Have a nice day.

[mitchtv]

20. you again?

sorry I love animals, there not enough people helping them. Don't be ridiculous.I can also walk and chew gum together

[UndertheOcean]

22. What wrong with me ?

Just expressing an opinion

[Contrary1]

24. Nothing wrong with you, in my opinion...

Fortunately, I am in the position to help both humans and animals. Do what you can, with what you have to offer. Only you can decide that. Don't worry about what others may think.

[mitchtv]

28. Nothing is wrong with you

Just that you seem to like to hit the hot buttons, It was meant in only the best way

[UndertheOcean]

23. dupe

[ColbertWatcher]

21. Charity is not an either-or zero sum game. n/t

[Dogtown]

25. Suit yourself

Hardly rich, but I definitely take up your slack; every spare dime and lot's of my free time is spent repairing the damage done to domestic animals for thoughtless and insensitive people.

Cool on you, UtO, and I'll accept in advance that you didn't really mean that dig about rich folk.

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

26. So give 10% to tthe animals and 90% to the homeless organization.

Every little bit helps. Otr none at all to the animals. Wothe*f*ever.

I can't even believe I saw such a ridiculous OP here. :wow:

[alarimer]

27. I'm more inclined to help animals than people.

But that's because I like almost all animals better than almost all people. And of course animals (especially wild animals) are in much more danger from us so they need help to save species from people continuing to rape the planet and destroy their habitats.

[NuttyFluffers]

29. do what you need to do to follow your heart.

and thanks for sharing.

there'll be people who will be different from you, and that's OK too. there is no judgment against those doing their best to do the right thing in their heart.

calcifying hierarchies of suffering and need is a game of factionalism, which becomes an excuse to do nothing. it is best to let people follow where they feel they can best help. you found your direction, so please continue.