Catholic perspective on animal care

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Kathrin

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I know it says in the CCC that we are to care for animals, but avoid spending resources on them that should be spent on people.
That is, if people as well as animals are in danger, people would come first, right? My last dollar should go to a starving child rather than an animal shelter…

Now, I take it though that it doesn’t mean that all people’s needs have to be taken care of before I tend to an animal? Otherwise a pet owner could not walk his dog, because he should spend that time visiting an elderly person, or something?

If the animal in question is in much graver need than the person (let’s say, trying to help an injured animal versus visiting somebody who doesn’t really need you at the moment, but of course would be happy to see you…) then it wouldn’t be wrong to help the animal, right?

I hope I am making myself clear?🤷

Kathrin
 
IMHO Right! Also consider how much animals add to the quality of life as pets, visiting nursing homes and schools, assistance animals such as seeing eye dogs, and even monkeys who aid people in wheelchairs. Walking the dog benefits not only the dog but also the person. Stroking an animal causes positive physical responses in people and reduces stress. Pets are a gift from God who means for us to care for them as well as to be mindful of other people.
 
I am glad you say this.
I am an animal lover. I was just wondering about the church’s perspective. And I don’t only mean pets, I mean wild animals too. If I help an injured bird instead of an injured person lying nearby, the church would probably say that’s wrong, right? But - if Ihelp an injured bird instead of doing something less important for a human, the church would not say it’s wrong, right?

Kathrin
 
I think you’re right. Firemen have to rescue people before pets but they try to get the pets out too. However, they shouldn’t put their lives at risk for them because a human life has more intrinsic value than an animal’s life. But helping an injured animal instead of visiting a shut-in doesn’t mean you won’t visit the person later or on another day that week. It’s a question of balance.

Jesus said that if your animal fell into a hole you should pull it out, even on the Sabbath. Since we all have different talents, I think that it may even be a person’s calling to operate an animal rescue rather than working with the poor in the inner city (I know of a Franciscan sister in California who actually does this).
 
:confused:

I dont know any starving kids so my $ would go to feeding the animal.
 
KathyCatholic said:
:confused:

I dont know any starving kids so my $ would go to feeding the animal.
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You don’t know any starving kids personally or you don’t know OF any starving kids?

I’m willing to bet that most of us here do not know any starving kids personally, but that doesn’t mean there are none that we could assist. 🙂
 
I rescue abused exotic parrots. These animals were taken home by people that had no idea of the long term care or how to feed them. We also have three rescued dogs, one drop off cat and two dumped rabbits. The kids have legless frogs, one eyed fish and the list goes on. Our home is full.

This being said if there is someone that needed us to provide them with a meal they would be welcome to share what we have. We have taken in families till they got on their feet. Children till their families could care for them.

But if the choice was a person or the animals the person would come first. God has blessed us that we have not had to make this decision. We don’t have much but it has always been enough.

BUT PEOPLE COME FIRST.
 
40 Billion dollars Americans spend on pets. It is a shame.

Imagine what 40 Billion could do for Catholic Elementary Schools.😦
 
I agree that the modern pet ‘industry’ is ridiculous, but I would never tell someone that they couldn’t have a pet, or that they shouldn’t because they don’t donate enough to their local parish school.

We have 3 pets currently and have had more in the past. But, if our finances were in a state where we had to choice between a new pet and caring for our neighbors (whoever they were), the people would come first.
 
buffalo said:
40 Billion dollars Americans spend on pets. It is a shame.

Imagine what 40 Billion could do for Catholic Elementary Schools.😦
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Part of that “40 billion” goes to pay my salary, part of which I use to send my son to Catholic High school.

Shame? 😃
 
“only what’s matter is the love” , the animals have more love in their souls like humans, this do not mean i don’t help humans.
this is my experience! (my dog, Mozart’s dog, starys dogs…)
 
kjh said:
“only what’s matter is the love” , the animals have more love in their souls like humans, this do not mean i don’t help humans.
this is my experience! (my dog, Mozart’s dog, starys dogs…)
Click to expand...
What matters most is to know God’s love for you and to return it.

Animals do not know love in the same sense humans know and experience it. They show affection.
 
I think there needs to be perspective here.
People who want pets need to learn and know how to protect them and care for them. Don’t take on pets that would require too much of your time. This resolves the issue of abused pets. I shake my head at the number of cats that roam my neighborhood.
Regarding care for humans over care for animals, we are all called to different things. Not all of us can or want to be priests, or firemen or police, or doctors, etc. Some of us have a vocation to minister to animals, some to caring for abused children and women.

No, we shouldn’t pass up the injured person to take care of an injured animal, but the animal deserves care, too.

From the proud owner of a coral reef aquarium system with shimps, crabs, anenomes, corals and fish who spends hours a week taking care of them, as well as hours a week to parish ministries.
 
it’s your opinion, and i respect it. but not mine! it’s a free choice, but i’m sure you never had a dog who stay always with you. my grandfather had one, and afther he dead the dog stay on his grave, 2 days and barking. the dog want to digged out him! i think it’s more like affection!
 
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