tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post2287907891956552682..comments2023-09-21T10:44:10.199-04:00Comments on One Bark at a Time: How to answer a question of great stupidityFredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-64254436958211182082010-05-13T22:12:20.748-04:002010-05-13T22:12:20.748-04:00BRILLIANT! Thank you for putting into words how I ...BRILLIANT! Thank you for putting into words how I have felt my entire life!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09869833930476842869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-62080708044636332602010-01-21T11:21:05.881-05:002010-01-21T11:21:05.881-05:00My answer to that stupid, stupid question is: &quo...My answer to that stupid, stupid question is: "Well, each one of us lucky people has a duty to help. We have to do so with respect to our attitudes and skills. I am good with cats and dogs; what are you good at?".<br />They usually change topic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-36436133666613185422009-11-12T16:35:35.825-05:002009-11-12T16:35:35.825-05:00What a wonderful post! Spot on!What a wonderful post! Spot on!Suzi Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02869448922051303723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-38208984421068667122009-03-15T00:48:00.000-04:002009-03-15T00:48:00.000-04:00Wow, sounds like your boss might be a bit conflict...Wow, sounds like your boss might be a bit conflicted.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-8666650240250215902009-03-14T22:21:00.000-04:002009-03-14T22:21:00.000-04:00My boss who is a veterinarian of all things is one...My boss who is a veterinarian of all things is one of those "why help animals when there are starving children?" types. I cannot even begin to try to make sense of his irrationality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-8773599658614686952009-03-13T10:29:00.000-04:002009-03-13T10:29:00.000-04:00Fred, I'm halfway through it. It's hard to put dow...Fred, I'm halfway through it. It's hard to put down. Orbinski has worked in most trouble spots of the world and risked his life to witness what people do to each other. <BR/><BR/>If it were about animals, we probably wouldn't be able to read it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-60453412085962515082009-03-12T18:32:00.000-04:002009-03-12T18:32:00.000-04:00redstarcafe, thanks for the book recommendation. ...redstarcafe, thanks for the book recommendation. I'll check it out. I'm warning you, though, it better not make me cry.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-69479783080079339392009-03-12T16:29:00.000-04:002009-03-12T16:29:00.000-04:00You hit the nail on the head as usual, Fred.Count ...You hit the nail on the head as usual, Fred.<BR/><BR/>Count me in with those who just scroll by when we read those "Comments" after news articles. Those and "A dog story? Didn't they have any REAL news to report like starving kids in Africa?"<BR/><BR/>That is right up there for me, along with ubiquitous german shepherd and raccoon dog parkas on the TTC.<BR/><BR/>For those of us who are compassionate enough to support animal causes, some heartbreaking but beautiful reading is James Orbinski's "An Imperfect Offering" which talks thoughtfully about his experience with Doctors Without Borders in Rwanda during the genocide. I'm sure we can all relate, even those of us who imprinted on animals very early on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-53903582287146965692009-03-12T06:09:00.000-04:002009-03-12T06:09:00.000-04:00Well said Fred. I'm so tired of being judged by ...Well said Fred. I'm so tired of being judged by what I do for my own animals and animals in need. My wallet spring open on its own when I see a Salvation Army kettle in the distance, yet every (well except folks in rescue) think all I do and care about is saving strays...thank you for writing the article, its rather healing actually to read it. Dotonequarterdalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345800045262159609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-85428616282609503442009-03-12T01:13:00.000-04:002009-03-12T01:13:00.000-04:00That was...actually quite beautiful. I've been ask...That was...actually quite beautiful. I've been asked that question before because I part-time volunteer at two animal shelters, hold two jobs, and foster at least one dog at a time, sometimes with a litter of kittens and/or a mother queen. All the while, the other person I live with has terrible allergies.<BR/><BR/>"Why do you subject her to that?"<BR/><BR/>Well, she doesn't mind. Why do you? *hem hem*<BR/><BR/>It's the only thing I ever felt I could really say to justify myself, not even comprehending the question. Why did they ask that? It catches me off-guard every damn time. Then the next time it's asked, I still haven't an answer because I -still- wasn't expecting such a peculiar, almost insulting question. <BR/><BR/>Now I have an idea as to why it bothered me so much; because -they- bothered me -personally-.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting this.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08984322419680921397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-21063990351901767132009-03-11T23:35:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:35:00.000-04:00You have more patience than I have with assholes l...You have more patience than I have with assholes like this. I just slowly back off and walk away. There is no way to reason with them.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07145008534811435024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-62672032024795229522009-03-11T23:29:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:29:00.000-04:00Anonymous, very true about not being restricted to...Anonymous, very true about not being restricted to only one cause at a time and it's fantastic that you're an example of just that. But, I would go so far as to say even if the one and only cause a person committed herself to was with regard to animals, that is still better by far than what most people do with most of their free time and money.<BR/><BR/>There's also the argument that by helping animals, especially pets, you <I>are</I> helping people because pets bring such an incredible amount of emotional well being into people's lives. It's funny that if you said you fixed other people's cars for free, everyone would automatically understand that you're doing a charitable thing <I>for people</I>. But if you tell them you're rescuing dogs so that they can become great pets for people, some just can't make the connection that what you're doing will also, in the end, <I>benefit people</I>.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-57734426234032278992009-03-11T22:06:00.000-04:002009-03-11T22:06:00.000-04:00An excellent analysis, Fred! But you missed an im...An excellent analysis, Fred! But you missed an important point: the assumption that one can only give one's energy/time/money to one cause at a time.<BR/><BR/>What makes anyone so sure that we work with animals exclusively? This says more about the attacker than about the attacked. <BR/><BR/>In fact, <B>while</B> working with animals, I have also worked to help adult survivors of abuse, funded the education of poor children, served actively on the board of a 100% volunteer organisation that raised and distributed about $C250,000 a year to individuals and groups that could get funding nowhere else, and that was just one typical year.<BR/><BR/>Rather than attack when asked this stupid question, I politely ask the person how they are so sure what I do with my life. This usually leads to some spluttered generalisation about animal lovers not caring about people.<BR/><BR/>The conversation almost always ends when I ask "Aren't people also animals?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-72071898358744528062009-03-11T20:59:00.000-04:002009-03-11T20:59:00.000-04:00Yeah.You have to stand for something, or what's th...Yeah.<BR/><BR/>You have to stand for something, or what's the point? Having lunch? Caring what B actress is dating which B actor this week?<BR/><BR/>Screw these people with their shopworn schtick. I always ask them how much they donate to charity each year - in both time and money.<BR/><BR/>They are small, shallow, bitter people who I think envy those of us who love living things more than a bunch of mass-produced garbage that doesn't have any real or lasting value.Caveathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10712858257904194590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-4275308887965659452009-03-11T20:30:00.000-04:002009-03-11T20:30:00.000-04:00Straight up and dead on. I love it. Skewer those...Straight up and dead on. I love it. Skewer those self-righteous hypocrites.Social Mangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14135369986061367480noreply@blogger.com