Controversial discussion on animal welfare

[Sonia59]

Kirsten you managed very well arguing with her, I am usually very bad in doing this and I better avoid...which is the complete wrong way to try to open their eyes, I know

I am always amazed to see that some people never realize that humans are not the only living creatures on this planet, and that with ONLY humans, we could not survive, that all living creatures are interacting with each other.
I would be curious to know if this woman really helps the poor people, though... It is very rare to find persons who give everything they have to humans and nothing at all to animals, even just a bit of consideration

And I agree that it probably has something to do with lack of education and consciousness of their surrounding world.
Not far from me, my mother-in-law hates cats. When she was young she used to know cats only has farm/barn cats. They have to live outside, survive as they can, and not be too close to us (at least to her!). No need to tell you that she probably thinks I am completely crazy when she sees me kissing and spoiling my cat, and talking to him

[kb2yjx]

Kirsten, I have to agree and say I am very proud of the way you stood up to the woman. Whenever some tells me that it is not worth my time to spend money on them, I tell them essentially the same thing you did about the human race. I also point out to the person, why the world is in the shape it is today because of the way humans have abused it. AND, that there were not cats or dogs flying those planes that hit the Trade Towers!! That usually shuts them up!! GOOD SHOW!!! Sandra

[Laura's Babies]

GOOD for YOU holding your beliefs up with this person and holding your ground!

I would have told her that EVERYONE has a place in this world, the rich and the poor. Some are poor by choice, preferring to live the simpler life. I have known such people during my life. I grew up poor and I feel I am a better person because of it and I do not need fine and fancy. I think there are more important things in this world than fancy houses, clothes or cars. It is how you treat your neighbor, your friends and loved ones and how they treat you. Your relationship with God is the most important thing and how you treat the creatures He created.

[Barbara]

If you look at other countries, you can see that things develop everywhere. In very poor countries many people don't have the money to have spoiled pets like we have.

Even in these countries you will find people who treat animals well and others who don't.

As soon as the countries develop and get wealthier their relationship to pets changes as well: some families will have pets and e.g. as a tourist you will find shops that sell pet food- something that will not be found in countries where the strays just live from table craps.

I was very happy when I saw a family in Thailand with their big yellow dog (typical Thai style- like a mix of boxers, labs, retrievers and GSDs) wearing a bandana round his neck

So it is a cultural thing: if in your own culture poor children cannot get basic medical care (e.g. parts of South East Asia where polio still exists) then you may be upset if you see overweight pets with diabetes lying on a custom made sofa.

On the other hand if you see a cat in Sri Lanka (as I have seen) that is thin like a skeleton and in fact starving your heart breaks. One of our authors lives in Bali and there are no vets who can perform surgery in cats (like neutering). They don't have the instruments. But even in these countries you can find people who help the animals. Simply because they have a heart.


The only possibility is the development of these countries. Their relationship to pets reflects the relationship our own grandparents had: to consider them as useful, to treat them well but not with love- and to live with the fact that they might die and to replace them. Now for us it is different. And it is a fact that we can afford it to be different. In this case our relative wealthyness (even the poorest of us Westerners is much richer than.......) could buy us the unique experience of sharing our feelings with an animal. Sometimes I call Filou "my little predator" and I just cannot believe how close two different species like he and me can be

[catmandu]

If Animals ruled the World you would have no hungry people,as Animals share more than people ever will.
There are poor because there are so many Greedies who take more than thier share,more than they need.
I remember reading about farm surpluses where they would pour out the extra milk,and put lime on the extra produce,so the poor couldnt have any.
Pets would spread the welth around so allcould eat.
I am proud of you Kirsten,the way you spoke out,and The Found Cats are too.