A social issue that had been kept under the rock for too long?

Question

Too much attention is paid to and too muh money is spent on keeping pets, while people throughout the world are starving.

To what extend do you agree?

Answer 1

I agree 100%.

It's getting worse too.
Pets are also overweight, clothes horses and heavily medicated too.

Answer 2

I don't agree. If we are going to say this, then we may as well say too much attention is paid to appearances, clothing, cosmetic surgery and the like, when people in the world are starving.

Oh, and too much attention is paid to technology while people in the world are starving. Real statistic. There are more televisions in America than there are toilets. Scary.

And what the heck are you typing on? Oh yeah, a computer, that's expensive. How many people could that feed?

Don't get me wrong. I do believe that we should do something about people starving. It's terrible that people die from hunger. But I don't believe that my dog is the cause of the problem. She is relatively inexpensive to care for compared to feeding a human. I mean, bag of dog food that lasts a month is about $15. Her vet bills are $38 dollars a year now that she is fixed. (Only needs yearly shots.) Water, pretty much doesn't raise the bill.

There are far more critical problems in America than my dog, or anyone else's dog, which impact the hunger problem. Let's take the war in Iraq as an example. We waste more money there than we do on pet care.

How many of us own more than one car? I know I do, that's totally extravagant. And heck, I have my heat cranked up to 75, there's more money that could be used. How many pairs of shoes do we need? Or pieces of jewelry that serve NO purpose at all other than decoration. Heck, I painted my living room last month, that's a total waste of money. Yesterday, I bought a CD and I went out to eat at a restaurant.

The point I'm trying to make is, it's not one thing, pets, or anything else that siphons money away from feeding the hungry. It's a lot of things. We all attribute to the problem. Few of us offer solutions. It's sad, we all do it.

I see the point you are trying to make, but to me, my dog doesn't attribute to the problem as much as other things do. If I hadn't taken her from the pound, she might be dead now, so there's a whole other problem there.

I just think it's a multifactoral issue. Not one animal, not a collection of animals, or all the pets in America. It's the frame of mind we keep, the lack of care for others, the thinking that we can continue along this path. Unfortunately, we don't really think about suffering. We are so extravagant. And if we think we aren't, we are lying to ourselves. Think about it next time you go grocery shopping. Instant this, prepared meal that... it's expensive to eat that way, yet we do it. And people right now are starving.

So, that's a long winded way of saying, nope, don't agree, think it's bigger than that.

Oh, and my dog says "woof" meaning she'd give up some chows if anyone needs them.

Answer 3

I STRONGLY disagree. I have 4 dogs and a cat. I love my animals. They're innocent loving creatures that are dependant on us. And they were made that way because of us. We can't just abandon them now. Do I feel bad that there are starving children all over the world? Of course I do. I don't believe that having pets have anything do to with world starvation, though. Sure, a lot of people spoil their pets because pets become apart of a family. And one pet is a lot cheaper than supporting a whole third world country. I'm sure if people had the money to give and buy food for those people, they would, but most of us are just getting by. And having a pet makes it easier because they're always there when you need comfort.

Answer 4

People in the world are starving because, in many of the lands, their governments are stupid. There have been many governments use food as a weapon in a war. They just let it rot on the docks while their people were starving to death. Or they used it to buy weapons to "protect" their people. How are they going to protect them if they are all dead from starvation? Pets do need to be fed. Even if they were wild animals, they would still need to feed. So, while some people do spoil their pets, it in no way affects the world's starving.

Answer 5

I do not agree at all... I have a dog and 2 fishes, and I can afford them because my wife and I work hard. Are you implying that I should take whatever extra money I have and contribute all of that to the rest of the world's starving people? Screw that....

What's next? Everyone must limit themselves to having one child so we can get the homeless off the street?

Answer 6

A bigger social question that's been too long hidden is dare I say it? . . . incest. Everyone has finally jumped on the wagon to protect kids from predators but no one wants to tackle the beast at home . . . the predatory parent. relative, or friend. As terrible as any child abuse or sexual abuse is incest is the worst possible crime because it destroys a child's ability to trust and leaves them questioning what love is what trust is and what they can expect from the next person they dare trust. Yeah people spend a lot of money on pets but at least it helps people learn about caring for something more helpless and teaches responsibility. Nothing positive can be said about incest yet there are still laws on the books that allow a predator to go back into the home of their victim to do it all again.

Answer 7

Animals homeless and on the street hungry are a problem too. People who have pets are solving that problem. There are plenty of people and organizations that help humans who are hungry.

Answer 8

Disagree. Dispite what opera might tell you, If you are dying of AIDS, or are poor and in debt, maybe you shouldn't be having kids. The stupid and ignorant perpetuate starving people. DOn'tcha agree?

Answer 9

Na, I love kitties. Im not really a fan of people. Kitties will be your friend thru anything. I mean I dont kno really....You cant out run death...so u can save them from that death, but there is another death waithing//

Answer 10

I strongly disagree. If you killed all the pets in the world it still doesn't mean everyone would have food.