Reply #15: Work towards correcting the wrongs to Humans...

[hlthe2b]

does not need to come at the expense of our compassion to animals. It is NOT EITHER/OR and like many here, I get incredibly frustrated at those who boil it down to that. Would we criticize someone who was working on reducing discrimination to one group as being uncaring or discriminatory towards another simply because that group had not been included in their focus? This is ridiculous. If you are ever in need of help, I'd be willing to bet that those who live a life of compassion towards animals will be among the first, if not the very first in line to help YOU.


The last I checked you and I--through our tax dollars-- are NOT paying for the care to Barbaro. His owner is fully capable of paying this premium care, so it is NOT coming at the expense of the many humans who need it. While I might wish every rich person would put money towards uninsured HUMAN care, I don't think it is our decision to make.

A final thought, however. When the highest level, high tech care is given to a horse or other expensive breeding animals--or even a beloved family pet-- at one of the leading veterinary schools, the knowledge gained quite often may add to our knowledge of related conditions in HUMANs. Most major therapies, including surgical procedures for humans are developed, tested, advanced in ANIMALS first. So, arguing against such care may just be biting off our HUMAN noses to spite our faces...:shrug: