Take no notice.  Humans have plenty of advocates, animals need all they can
get.

Tweed

Before you even consider listening to her, is she using her resources to
make the world a better place or just to find fault with how others choose
to?

If people were perfect the Humane Society would be unnecessary.  They
aren't.  It is.  And I'm a little appalled at her notion of what is or isn't
a waste.  Unless she is Mother Teresa in her spare time.

If you are doing what you can, where you are, you are way ahead of most of
the population.
Jo

Ask her what she's done recently for abused, neglected and hungry children.
That usually works. I've found that most of the people I know who are active
in animal rescue are also involved with at least one 'human' charity. I help
out with collections for Oxfam, another donates to Barnados, another is an
active volunteer for a local children's hospice. I volunteered for a lot of
charities before I settled on Cats Protection, and I've been with them for
so long (getting on for ten years now) because the Branch I help is local to
me, I can see the good that it does, and people's energy goes into
fundraising, caring for cats, neutering cats, working with feral colonies
etc.

Jeanette

..> I had a friend say something really hurtful just today, she kind of
criticized

Some friend. Your donating time and money to animal causes does not take
away her choice to donate to causes for children. (Maybe you should ask her
how many needy children she has adopted recently.)  It is not an either/or
situation.  Help is needed where it is needed.  You donate where your
passions lead you.
Animals have no resourses of their own.  Unlike human children, they will
not grow up to be independent.  It is your choice to decide what you do with
your resources, and non of her business to try to send you on a guilt trip.
Money and time spent on any good cause is not wasted.
Annie

Sherry, how thoughtless a comment that was!  I never can make quick
comebacks but when you see her next tell her we all have our special ways to
help in this world, some work with animals, some with people, and we all are
part of a whole that tries to make the world a better place.  Tell her your
special gift is with animals and that you look foward to hearing how and
what she contributes to the welfare of children.

Hugs and purrs for you!
Christine

And how is it her business, how you choose to spend your time and
energy? You're not hurting anyone, so she has no right to criticize
you.

I wonder what *she's* doing for the abused and hungry children of
the world? Maybe she is doing something, I don't know - but my own
experience with the busybodies of the world, who feel they have to
tell everyone else how to live, is that they're not exactly pinnacles
of virtue themselves. They're too busy correcting everyone else's
"mistakes" to have time to look at their own.

I agree with - was it Krista? Sorry, I can't remember who said this -
that everyone should do their part to heal the world in whatever
way they are called to do it. We're all unique individuals, so our
contribution is also unique. If we fail to listen to what truly moves
us, and instead try to do what we think others expect us to do, we
will not be making the best contribution we can make (or, if you have
a spiritual bent: we're not making the contribution we're *meant* to
make). You're at your best when you're following your true passions.

No one individual can fix everything. But if everyone did what they
felt the most strongly drawn to do, we'd all be far more effective at
whatever it is we do, and I think the world would be a much better
place.

OK, in terms of a snappy comeback, this wasn't exactly a soundbite. :)

Joyce

I used to wait for someone to say that to me while I was fostering for
Cats Protection. My answer (which I never got a chance to use) is that
we are helping people just as much as we are helping animals.  

I had several examples ready, from my own personal experience:

- the young mother, victim of domestic violence, who had to escape at a
moment's notice with her 6-year-old son to a women's shelter but leave
her much-loved cat behind (her son's pet). She was very worried the
boyfriend would go back to their house and take out his anger on the
cat, but when we offered her a foster place at short notice, she was
able to ask a neighbour to get the cat which she then brought to us
(me). She and her son had peace of mind, and although she couldn't have
the cat back as she had nowhere to live, we rehomed it to another family
with a young child and she was happy to know this had happened.

- the single mum, with an autistic son who wanted a pet. They adopted a
lovely longhaired black male cat from us, a very laid-back and tolerant
cat. The autistic lad was very excited and delighted with 'Coal' and
they became firm friends.

- the elderly people who want company, but not the responsibility of a
kitten or young cat. We have a 'Golden Oldies' scheme where we adopt out
elderly cats, and pay all the vet fees. Very often an older person
appreciates the needs of an older cat and they can share a quiet and
slow-paced home life, knowing they don't have to worry about taking on a
pet which may outlive them.

- when a relative or friend passes away, we can ensure their loved cat
has somewhere to go, instead of it being left alone in the empty home,
or worse still, turned out to fend for itself.

- when there was a tragic domestic violence shooting resulting in the
death of one parent and the arrest of the other, the children went into
care and the house was boarded up. The children then asked what had
happened to their cat - the police were able to let us in and retrieve
the cat which they hadn't realised was there. I believe in that case the
children actually got to keep their cat in their new home which was
eventually with a relative.

There are many more examples I'm sure I and others here could describe,
but I defy anyone to continue to accuse us of not helping people after
hearing these stories. My personal reason for joining CPL was actually
to help animals, but I'm happy and satisfied that in doing so we help
people nearly as much.

HTH, Sherry -

Deb.

A comeback would be: Well at least I'm doing what I can to lessen the
suffering in this world. What are *you* doing about it?

Yowie