Why do you spend so much money, time and effort to help animals when there are people in need? After all, they're just animals.
We get asked this a lot, and there are many, many answers. Here are some of them:
The Holy Bible and other holy books tell us we should be kind to animals. After all, didn't God create the animals himself, and breathe the breath of life into them just as he did us? Didn't He value them enough to instruct Noah to save them all before He destroyed the world?
- "The righteous care for the needs of their animals." (from Proverbs 12:10).
- "although there is no beast that walks on earth and no bird that flies on its two wings which is not God's creature like yourselves: no single thing have we neglected in Our decree. And once again: Unto their sustainer shall they all be gathered." (The Holy Quran, Al-A'nam 6:38)
- "Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals." (from Ecclesiastes 3:19)
- "...And who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever."—Psalm 136:25
Saints, popes, other religious figures and the Catholic Church have all taught that we should show compassion to animals.
- “If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” --St. Francis of Assisi.
- “They (animals) too, are created by the same loving hand of God which Created us...It is our duty to Protect Them and to promote their well-being.”—Mother Teresa.
- “Animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren…the fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect…as near to God as men are.” He reminded people that all living beings came into being because of the “breath” of God. He spoke of St. Francis’s love for animals declaring, “We, too, are called to a similar attitude.”—His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
- “Not to hurt our humble brethren (animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission—to be of service to them wherever they require it.”—Francis of Assisi.
- “Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.”—Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2416
- “It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.”—Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2418
- “Life is as dear to the mute creature as it is to a man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not to die, so do other creatures.”——The Dalai Lama
- “Because he has pity on every living creature, therefore is a man called ‘holy’”—Buddhism Dhammapada
- "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated...I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by [people] from the cruelty of [human kind]"—Mahatma Gandhi
- "A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is a bad as an act of cruelty to a human being."—the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)
- "What is a man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die form great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man."—Chief Seattle (Native American)
- "The obligations of law and equity reach only to mankind; but kindness and beneficence should be extended to the creatures of every species, and these will flow from the breast of a true man, as streams that issue from the living fountain."—Plutarch
- "The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different."—Hippocrates
- "Our task must be to free ourselves— by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."—Albert Einstein
- "I have developed a deep respect for animals. I consider them fellow living creatures with certain rights that should not be violated any more than those of humans."—Jimmy Stewart, actor
- "The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous."—Emile Zola, 1840-1902
- "Kindness and compassion toward all living things is the mark of a civilized society."—Cesar Chavez, Mexican-American political activist
- "The thinking person must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition or surrounded by a halo....We need a boundless ethic which includes the animals also."—Albert Schweitzer, Nobel prize winner
Dogs have been our companions since the last ice age, aiding in the hunt, carrying our burdens, guarding our camps and keeping us warm at night. Dogs were once very much like wolves, but Man has changed them into what they are today: black labs, Shi Tzus, Akitas, poodles, Saint Bernards, Skye terriers, Siberian Huskies, dachshunds and even Aspins. Dogs have broadened their idea of what constitutes their pack to include us: they've left the dog pack and joined the human "pack". They offer us everything, even laying down their lives to protect ours if necessary. The dog is truly man's best friend. We owe them something in return for these centuries of unselfish, unfailing service: a decent life.
Cats have been our companions since at least Biblical times when Man first changed from being hunter-gatherers to being farmers. They've been protecting our grain stores from destruction by rodents and preventing famine, and kept our homes free of disease-bearing vermin ever since. They, too, have been our loving companions for centuries, serving and loving us while asking no payment in return except mere food, water, stroking and kindness. We also owe them something.
There are many, many institutions, organizations, charities and individuals committed to helping the poor, but the animals only have us. We feel the need to be the voice of those who can't speak for themselves yet can feel joy and pain, can think, love, cry and suffer just as we can. Someone has to help the animals too. Those "someones" are us.
If a dog or cat has no owner/guardian to take care of it, then everybody is its guardian and should take responsibility to provide at least food and water every day, and to call for help if the animal is sick or injured. It's the least we can do for these, our four-legged friends.
P.S. If those aren't enough reasons, please read this touching article in the Inquirer, She Wasn't "Just a Dog"