In the wake of the horrifying devastation in Haiti, a question of morals that is all too commonly asked is again being brought to light, perhaps more prevalently than ever before. It is a question that I have been asked many, many times, and one that I never really know how to answer. I am a person who has, since I began volunteering, thought that I was always doing a good thing. I feel that what I do for animals is more than I could do for the world than by just sitting around, so I believe that what I am doing and where I am focusing my efforts is beneficial. The more I have immersed myself in this world, the more questioning I have heard from others (who I have to assume don’t really care about animals) about why I support the rescue of animals when there are so many human beings dying and suffering in our world. I feel that every time I come in contact with this question, or this “conviction of betrayal” I feel that it is being used as a defense for people who are unable or unwilling to do more themselves. I honestly do not understand why someone who is clearly doing something good for another living thing should be questioned about his or her antics.
I believe that we can create a better world for both animals and humans alike through humane treatment of animals, and programs that promote human to animal relationships.
Recently, Friends of Animals sent a letter to Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir confronting him about the white fox fur that he had specifically added to one of his costumes. He added the fur to the costume that he personally designed and stated that he thought it “looked pretty”. When Friends of Animals confronted Mr. Weir, he came back stating that he “totally gets the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But it’s not something that’s the No. 1 priority in my life”. Weir went on to state “There are humans dying everyday. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti. I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, it’s my choice”. Personally, I feel that it is his choice to support whatever cause he believes in, however, I don’t feel it necessary to outright support an act that you know is horrific just because you don’t choose to advocate for this group. My real point of this story is to show how this person is using what some people are passionate about as a defense. Just because you don’t support animal rights does not give you the right to support the mutilation and murdering of animals for fashion. And just because someone supports animal rights does not mean that they don’t support the human race. We all focus our efforts and our money where we see it is going to make the most difference in the lives of the things we care about. We all do what we think is best, and I personally will not criticize someone for doing what they think is right. I would strongly encourage everyone to thoroughly research ANY organization that you are considering supporting.
I don’t think that it is about putting humans first, or putting animals first, but it is about everyone doing their part. Some people are skilled in and dedicated to disaster relief for animals, while some, are dedicated to humans.
We can all watch the horrifying videos on TV, but unless we are actually there, we will never be able to imagine the mass devastation that was caused by this natural disaster. By supporting rescue efforts for animals, we are not being unsupportive of human rescue, but rather focusing our efforts into something that is very important to us. We are not “turning the other cheek” to our fellow humans by supporting the rescue of those who cannot support themselves. I think that many people think that by rescuing the animals, we are denying the people who need savior as well, and that is not the case. In many cases, if these rescue groups were not there rescuing animals, what are the chances that they would be there rescuing humans? Many of the people and organizations that are supporting the rescue of the animals in Haiti are also supportive of the rescue efforts provided by groups such as the American Red Cross. I personally know people who have made donations to both types of organizations. That is a personal choice that should be respected.
There is also a lot to be said about creating a humane nation through animal advocacy, because it is a proven fact that a humane community is a safer and healthier community. Both of these issues and these groups go hand in hand in regards to creating a better world.
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