Thoughts on people committing their time and resources on animals

[MsMediator]

What are your thoughts on people devoting their time and resources on animals (versus humans)? This could involve people choosing certain professions such as veterinary science, committing time/volunteering at animal shelters, zoos, etc., and/or giving monetarily more/primarily towards animals and animal causes?

Some people seem to have a more black/white reaction on spending a lot of money on animals (vet bills, donations, etc.). Does this necessarily mean that they are prioritizing animals over humans? I think most everyone would prioritize a human whom they loved over a pet. Maybe the people they love at that point in time are not as needy compared to their pet? If you say, "Well, this person could have given $X to the poor instead of paying for vet bills/donating to wildlife charity," what is to become of the animals? A lot of these animal charities are very low on resources, hence their constant fundraising.

And what about people committing most of the waking hours towards animals either through work or volunteering?

 

[blueluna5]

I've had different thoughts on this bc I grew up in a household who were not pet people. I ended up having quite a few pets as I got older and would consider myself a pet person now (even though I don't consider them higher than humans).

I still consider their quality of life important. It's wrong to make any creature suffer and if you really can't care for them effectively don't get a pet, or do a fundraiser, or give to the vet clinic where they will do it and put the animal up for adoption. There are a lot of options to make sure animals are cared for. I can't stand to see abused animals. I think it's ridiculous and so sad. They only live for such a short time. You're lucky to get a decade with them and they're gone before you even know it.

So all in all I'm glad people do take care of them. I wish they did more in regards to limiting certain breeds and spaying/neutering. I believe people are here for different purposes and some to care for animals specifically. I don't believe in a finite sense of money, but rather that money is spiritual. Meaning both humans and animals can be helped. But you can't help those who do not wish to help themselves for both people and animals.

 

[gb9]

What are your thoughts on people devoting their time and resources on animals (versus humans)? This could involve people choosing certain professions such as veterinary science, committing time/volunteering at animal shelters, zoos, etc., and/or giving monetarily more/primarily towards animals and animal causes?

Some people seem to have a more black/white reaction on spending a lot of money on animals (vet bills, donations, etc.). Does this necessarily mean that they are prioritizing animals over humans? I think most everyone would prioritize a human whom they loved over a pet. Maybe the people they love at that point in time are not as needy compared to their pet? If you say, "Well, this person could have given $X to the poor instead of paying for vet bills/donating to wildlife charity," what is to become of the animals? A lot of these animal charities are very low on resources, hence their constant fundraising.

And what about people committing most of the waking hours towards animals either through work or volunteering?

many years ago, my grandfather was in the hospital, i went to see him, and the Pastor from their church was there.

while i was talking to him, he commented " you know, when someone's pet gets sick, they take the day off work and take their pet to the vet.

but, they won't leave work 30 minutes early to go by and visit someone who is sick."

that was about 20 years ago, and that has stuck me since then..

 

[JaumeJ]

Many animals will receive the care of man with affection, while many people will not recognized the care desired to give them..

 

[MsMediator]

many years ago, my grandfather was in the hospital, i went to see him, and the Pastor from their church was there.

while i was talking to him, he commented " you know, when someone's pet gets sick, they take the day off work and take their pet to the vet.

but, they won't leave work 30 minutes early to go by and visit someone who is sick."

that was about 20 years ago, and that has stuck me since then..

I see the Pastor's point but he is speaking in extremes. Most people would not take off a day for a routine vet visit. However if the pet is very sick or injured that is a different story. Also, most people would spare 30 minutes to visit someone, especially someone they know pretty well.

He isn't really making an apples-to-apples comparison. He is comparing a person/being someone is close to, versus a person/being who is not. He might as well said most people would take off a day for a sick child/spouse/parent, but would not spare 30 minutes for a neighbor. This isn't really an animal vs human issue. Most people do visit someone they love (especially someone they live with or are close to) or know pretty well in the hospital, regardless of whether the being is a person or an animal. Usually, these are people/beings in the immediate family or very close friends. Similarly, most people would not visit a distant relative/stranger or really care for a stray animal. As Christians, though, we really should care for/visit the lonely/unwanted.

 

[MsMediator]

I've had different thoughts on this bc I grew up in a household who were not pet people. I ended up having quite a few pets as I got older and would consider myself a pet person now (even though I don't consider them higher than humans).

I still consider their quality of life important. It's wrong to make any creature suffer and if you really can't care for them effectively don't get a pet, or do a fundraiser, or give to the vet clinic where they will do it and put the animal up for adoption. There are a lot of options to make sure animals are cared for. I can't stand to see abused animals. I think it's ridiculous and so sad. They only live for such a short time. You're lucky to get a decade with them and they're gone before you even know it.

So all in all I'm glad people do take care of them. I wish they did more in regards to limiting certain breeds and spaying/neutering. I believe people are here for different purposes and some to care for animals specifically. I don't believe in a finite sense of money, but rather that money is spiritual. Meaning both humans and animals can be helped. But you can't help those who do not wish to help themselves for both people and animals.

While I believe humans are valued more than animals, I also believe humans are perhaps more "deserving" of suffering than animals. This is because Adam and Even dragged all of creation into suffering (disease, abuse, etc.), when all these other beings did nothing wrong. The Christian view is that humans deserve to suffer since we are of sin. I quote "deserving" because I also believe no one should really suffer, if you see what I mean.

I started this post because I read a blog of a pastor saying that we should volunteer towards human causes than at the animal shelter.

Overall, I believe that it is fine to care for animals/nature/etc. and what God has created. It is possible to do both, just like people working in less meaningful secular jobs (in the sense that these are not faith based jobs) but still fellowship and have a sound relationship with God.

Curious, what do you mean that money is spiritual and that it is not finite?

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

What are your thoughts on people devoting their time and resources on animals (versus humans)? This could involve people choosing certain professions such as veterinary science, committing time/volunteering at animal shelters, zoos, etc., and/or giving monetarily more/primarily towards animals and animal causes?

Some people seem to have a more black/white reaction on spending a lot of money on animals (vet bills, donations, etc.). Does this necessarily mean that they are prioritizing animals over humans? I think most everyone would prioritize a human whom they loved over a pet. Maybe the people they love at that point in time are not as needy compared to their pet? If you say, "Well, this person could have given $X to the poor instead of paying for vet bills/donating to wildlife charity," what is to become of the animals? A lot of these animal charities are very low on resources, hence their constant fundraising.

And what about people committing most of the waking hours towards animals either through work or volunteering?

It's surprising how much the Bible speaks about the proper treatment of animals. I always ask the Lord for help so the animal does not suffer when I must take it's life for food.

The times I had to put down a severely injured animal hit by another, I had temporary short term PTSD.
It took all the grace I had to refrain from physically beating a man in a restaurant who told me he goes out of his way to hit opossums on my road.
He was a wicked neighbor. I guess that's one way to love a neighbor is to not beat the hell out of him. He got a stern rebuke in public, but decided to leave the vengeance to the Lord.
Weeks earlier it brought me to tears to have to kill one of his victims, an opossum, with a screwdriver because that's all I had in the car to put it out of it's suffering at the time. It was in agony probably for hours before I arrived.

I've invested a lot of time in wildlife rescues. From a child, I would have my parents support raising injured birds for release and other veterinary care.
I want the Lord to reward my parents for helping me and the support in the ministry if there's any to be shared by the Lord. My parents already have anything they want from me when Jesus establishes His Kingdom on Earth. Family is everlasting and comes before any animal. That's coming from perhaps the biggest animal lover on the forum. Yes, animals are important, but people are created in the image of God. They have everlasting spirits once they decide to receive His free gift of everlasting life.<

 

[Lynx]

I started this post because I read a blog of a pastor saying that we should volunteer towards human causes than at the animal shelter.

Maybe that pastor doesn't know very many people.

Different people are different. Different people have different parts to play. Different people have different ways they can help.

Some people are taking care of people. That doesn't mean animals should be ignored. We shouldn't ALL focus on taking care of animals, but neither should we ALL ignore them. Let some people take care of people while other people take care of animals.

I would love to know what scripture that pastor used...

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Animals serve many purposes.
One is to teach compassion and responsibilities to children.
Another is to show love.

 

[JaumeJ]

It is written that an evil man is cruel to his beast.
I believe this applies to all creatures , even snakes, but I still do not like them.

 

[SomeDisciple]

There's definitely a place for animal services; especially in agriculture; most of what we do with animals is ultimately done for the benefit of humans.

But if you're going to give money to a wildlife charity (or any charity) you should at least know what the charity does; how it uses your donations; and how that benefits who and what it benefits.

 

[Mouse_Cheeks]

What are your thoughts on people devoting their time and resources on animals (versus humans)? This could involve people choosing certain professions such as veterinary science, committing time/volunteering at animal shelters, zoos, etc., and/or giving monetarily more/primarily towards animals and animal causes?

Some people seem to have a more black/white reaction on spending a lot of money on animals (vet bills, donations, etc.). Does this necessarily mean that they are prioritizing animals over humans? I think most everyone would prioritize a human whom they loved over a pet. Maybe the people they love at that point in time are not as needy compared to their pet? If you say, "Well, this person could have given $X to the poor instead of paying for vet bills/donating to wildlife charity," what is to become of the animals? A lot of these animal charities are very low on resources, hence their constant fundraising.

And what about people committing most of the waking hours towards animals either through work or volunteering?

Bless their souls. The innocent and voiceless among us need those who feel for them and care to meet their needs.

 

[Pemican]

I remember a pastor once saying that it was a sign of a degenerate society when people neglected or abused animals. And recently I read somewhere about mean dog syndrome: that mean people create mean dogs through abuse and cruelty.

So of course humans take priority, but how you treat animals reflects on your character. Has not God provided for the needs of animals as well as humans? And do not animals sometimes protect and save people's lives? I once met a dog who dragged an unconscious person out of one of the Twin Towers in NY on 9/11.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

There's definitely a place for animal services; especially in agriculture; most of what we do with animals is ultimately done for the benefit of humans.

But if you're going to give money to a wildlife charity (or any charity) you should at least know what the charity does; how it uses your donations; and how that benefits who and what it benefits.

I've looked into most of the wildlife charities. You'd be surprised how many promote extreme leftist agendas.
The local rescues and Non-governmental adoption groups seem like the best by far. You can actually talk to the caregivers and leaders in those. The ones that you never heard of are the ones that need it most.

Mine was not a simple rescue, but used wildlife and zoo animals as a means of bringing the list to Christ.
The Lord used the exotic animals and recovered wildlife unable to be released to open doors to the gospel.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

I've looked into most of the wildlife charities. You'd be surprised how many promote extreme leftist agendas.
The local rescues and Non-governmental adoption groups seem like the best by far. You can actually talk to the caregivers and leaders in those. The ones that you never heard of are the ones that need it most.

Mine was not a simple rescue, but used wildlife and zoo animals as a means of bringing the list to Christ.
The Lord used the exotic animals and recovered wildlife unable to be released to open doors to the gospel.

PS: Correction

Mine was not a simple rescue, but was a means of using wildlife and exotic zoo animals to lead the lost to Christ.

The message was not about mere conservation, although I'm not against that since we are supposed to be good stewards of The Lord's creation. The most important thing is that many hear a clear presentation of the good news, the death, burial and resurrection of our Creator, and trust Him for eternal life.

 

[Seeker47]

I have been concerned for several years about the relationship between the American people and their pets. Be patient, I'll try to explain.

There can be little question that focus, attention, and spending on our pets has increased exponentially during the past several decades. Very few households are "pet free" and our pets are pampered now more than any time in our history. It is now nearly a crime (sometimes it is illegal) to house your pet outside the home. They get designer food and better health care than many of our fellow citizens; despite its exorbitant cost. They have become welcomed travelers (not so a very few years ago) and it is increasingly common to see them in our grocery stores and restaurants. We even have public parks now, exclusively dedicated to pets. Except for the high cost of vet care, I have no issue with any of these.

My issue is this; is there a connection between our continued elevation of pets and the continuing de-valuation of children (and the elderly) in modern society? (Our declining birth-rate and the total disinheritance of our elderly are just two of many supporting statistics).

While we chase the god of self-fulfillment, pets have become the "easy" replacement. They place far fewer demands on our time and treasure. They also become an easy replacement for the love and attention we would normally expend on our children and others.

Try as I might, I can find no parallel in God’s word.

 

[Lynx]

I have been concerned for several years about the relationship between the American people and their pets. Be patient, I'll try to explain.

There can be little question that focus, attention, and spending on our pets has increased exponentially during the past several decades. Very few households are "pet free" and our pets are pampered now more than any time in our history. It is now nearly a crime (sometimes it is illegal) to house your pet outside the home. They get designer food and better health care than many of our fellow citizens; despite its exorbitant cost. They have become welcomed travelers (not so a very few years ago) and it is increasingly common to see them in our grocery stores and restaurants. We even have public parks now, exclusively dedicated to pets. Except for the high cost of vet care, I have no issue with any of these.

My issue is this; is there a connection between our continued elevation of pets and the continuing de-valuation of children (and the elderly) in modern society? (Our declining birth-rate and the total disinheritance of our elderly are just two of many supporting statistics).

While we chase the god of self-fulfillment, pets have become the "easy" replacement. They place far fewer demands on our time and treasure. They also become an easy replacement for the love and attention we would normally expend on our children and others.

Try as I might, I can find no parallel in God’s word.

I use the proliferation of pet salons as a metric of prosperity. We are not nearly as hard up as we claim we are, if there are three pet grooming salons within half an hour of where I live. We are doing pretty well financially, as a country, i believe.

If hard times come, like on the level of the Great depression, we will see a lot of businesses wither and die. But as long as there are three pet salons within half an hour of where I live, I don't think we have seen true hard times yet.