Caring about Dogs more than humans

[milly143]

I am watching the news and they showed a terrible clip of a woman stuck in a flood, holding a dog. She was thrown and rope and swang accross to he pulled up but as she went through the water, the dog got swept out of her arms. It made me cry. None of the other terrible scenes have made me cry. Does anyone else seem to get more upset when something bad happens to an animal, more than another human life?

[LoftyLottie]

Yes I do. But milly I honestly think it is because animals are so defenseless and they don't understand. I feel the same about tiny children and animals - they are both so innocent. Adult Humans at least have the ability to help themselves.

It made me upset seeing a horse struggling in the floods.

[LoftyLottie]

I don't think it means that you care about dogs more than humans though. I think your feelings are perfectly natural.

[cazzz1975]

children and animal, I feel the same way, both defenceless, though the children one kicked in more once I had kids.

[LoftyLottie]

Snap Cazz!!

[arwyn]

I so do, I thought I was odd ha ha.

[wolf63]

I am not an emotional person and almost never cry at films - apart from once when a kitten got electrocuted in a film and during the film "The Incredible Journey".

I do get a bit angry about the injustice of a child being killed or injured in real life - but I am never driven to tears.

Susan - 2 cats and no children. ;-)

[Prudie]

I'm the same and have often privately thought I must be lacking in something. I'm still moved to tears over the death of my dog 10 years ago but I have lost both parents since and the grief was not one that involved tears.
When I see a headline about soneone drowned or nearly drowned trying to save a dog I always hold my breath hoping to read the dog got out on its own.

[ganesh]

You feel sorry for the doggy AND sorry for the owner who must be so upset.She was trying to hold on to it and it's very sad.

[jules77]

I have felt the same, I watched the horses trying to find dry land and ending up on the rooves of houses, I cant watch it anymore.

[arwyn]

I have to switch the t.v over when the animal charity ads come on. dogs left at the side of the road, donkeys over worked, I could go on .

[China Doll]

No. I never get more upset over an animal than I do a human. I don't think the two are comparable. I don't like or obviously endorse cruelty to animals but seeing cruelty to animals will never make me feel as sad or more sad than cruelty to another human being.

[Andyvon]

I think we aren't as affected by seeing human death because we have become so conditioned to it since childhood. A recent study in the US showed that the average child has watched 16,000 deaths by the time they reach 16! Of course, those are all in films, on TV, in the papers etc. but the line between fantasy and fact does blur. That's the problem with violent computer games and films.

We have all had years of becoming conditioned to watching humans die - whilst popping out to put the kettle on during the adverts! However, we hardly ever see the death of a dog, horse or other animal depicted in the same way. When we do it is novel and causes upset. In fact, if one programme depicted an animal dying there would be uproar.

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps we are all just nice soft people. Animal lovers are usually drawn towards other animal lovers. I certainly find that anyway, amongst friends and Mr LL is as bad as I am. And animal lovers are usually kind people which means being kind to people and animals.

[China Doll]

Not sure I would agree with that Lofty, I like and am very interested in animals, particularly certain species suchs as sharks, hippos, monkeys and reptiles but I wouldn't say I'm an animal lover. I respect and like them, I'm very fond of the domestic cat in particular (not so keen on lions and tigers strangely though think they're magnificent to look at). I would just never cry over the sort of thing that milly is describing. I just can't put humans and animals on an equal standing but I'm a very kind person by nature (although I hide it quite well!) I don't equate being an animal lover with being a kind person.... In fact in some cases, I find they're often very much the other way if they are in the extreme section of animal lover (and no I don't mean dogging!). I think it would be wrong and misleading to link a human character trait with a love for animals. (Just my opinion though obviously).

[Chaffinch]

I think Andyvon is right, there is so much violence shown on T.V etc regarding human beings, that we are accustomed to it, which is awful, so animals still touch us. I was upset by the clip of the lady and her dog, and glad I did'nt see the horse one.

[LoftyLottie]

I have to disagree. There are a small element of people who are totally obsessed with animals though and really can't get on with people. And there are a lot of 'doggy' women who fall into that category. I am not one of those.

What I do believe is that genuine kindness and caring extends over all life forms (except for earwigs!!) and I really do believe that children brought up in a home where they are taught kindness towards pets end up generally as better people for it.

We will have to disagree. You see I don't consider humans superior. Superior in brain power yes, but not superior in importance.

I have a strange ambition to cuddle a big cat!!

[LoftyLottie]

I just think when an animal or a child is hurt or in danger it brings out more compassion because they can't fend for themselves and I can't stand the thought of humans or animals being bewildered. I suppose I feel the same about elderly confused people too. Compassion is stronger towards the weak. I think that is very natural.

[China Doll]

Compassion towards the weak most definitely, I wouldn't do what I do for a living if I didn't feel that way. I don't have compassion for animals because I don't think it's a trait animals observe either unless maybe with their own offspring. I do not like cruelty for the sake of cruelty to any living thing (I hate bugs but will rarely kill them and will petition for them to be just put outside). Definitely have to agree to disagree Lofty, no way I'm ever going to see animals as equal to humans but do see your point as well :c)

(That said, there are a few animals I like vastly more than certain humans I've met but I'm on first names with both! ;0)

[horselady]

Yes, me. I cried when that lady had to let go of her dog and at the sight of the horses in the floods, how terrified they must have been, knowing they were trapped? I snivel at those charity requests too, about bears, donkeys, horses, you name it.