In the arms of the angels?
Hungry humans and fat cats.
I/we, are the happy owners of a small three legged sweetheart of a dog we picked up at the local Humane Society. We also have six cats running around here. Given my choice I would have only one for rodent control. I have had a pet most of my life, including a monkey as a child.
There is a commercial currently playing on tv featuring a pretty song sung by a lovely, talented woman (Sarah Mclachlan) sponsored by the ASPCA for the prevention of animal cruelty. It portrays pathetic, neglected animals while “Angels” ( In the arms of the angels.) plays in the backround and asks for twenty dollars a month to support one.
I realize there are decent pet owners and some really crappy ones, that will always remain. My opinion however on what should be done with the excess of uncared for pets and their offspring is tempered by the following facts.
According to Unicef, having a child remains one of the biggest health risks for women worldwide with fifteen hundred women dying daily in child birth. That’s one half a million annually.
At 1 020 million, for the first time in human history, 
more than one billion people are undernourished
worldwide. This is about 100 million more than last
year and around one‐sixth of all humanity.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the U N.
- 1 billion people live on less than $1/day
- 146 million children under age 5 are underweight
- 10.1 million children under age 5 die every year,
over half of hunger-related causes
- 10.1 million children under age 5 die every year,
- 1 in 7 people is hungry
- 1 in 6 people lacks safe drinking water Evangelical Lutheran Church
The pet industry is a major segment of the U.S. economy. This year Americans will spend about $48 billion on their pets, according to consumer research company Packaged Facts. In the next two years, that number is expected to hit $52 billion. Oakland Business Review
I’m sorry some pet owners treat their animals very badly. I regret that over one billion humans are undernourished and some can be very brutal and uncaring about others. Given a choice however, my twenty dollars a month will feed and care for a starving child. Our children are fat. Our pets are fat, while our neighbors die for lack of water, food and health care.
According to, AVMA, there are 72 million dogs and 81.7 million cats among the pet owning populace. According to Pet finder the annual cost of a dog is approx, $600.00 and a cat is $500.00 or $45.00 a month not including the initial years cost. For $35.00 a month you can sponsor a child through World Vision or even less through other concerned organizations.
This is just my opinion. You can feed your pets steak, dress them up to look silly, by them toys, insurance, cemetery plots, it’s your money. Decent food and friendship works for me. It is also my opinion that if you spend more on your pet than your brother, you are a fool.
For information on Obesity in America see: John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Sarah Mclachlan, In the arms of the angels and the ASPCA. Misdirected talent.
I would find this argument more legitimate if a link to World Vision was prominently placed:
http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/search-for-a-child?open&campaign=1193519&cmp=KNC-1193519
As it is, it seems mostly like alot of uncalled for snark aimed at a bunch of nice people who are moved by suffering of helpless creatures. I myself prefer to focus on matters that concern relieving human suffering, and frankly sometimes find animal rights activists alittle annoying, but it could be worse. They’re advocating kindness not cruelty, which is good, and unfortunately too rare, so I choose not to denigrate them.
There are many real villians involved in causing world hunger and other forms of human suffering, but Sarah Mclachlan ain’t one of ‘em. I think it’s this post that’s misdirected.
Thanks Alan,
I’ve sponsored a half a dozen kids through world Vision. Adopted 10 special needs kids and fostered 15 or so. The link to World vision is up and thanks for your comments. I’m not interested in one up, or who’s cool, smart or handsome. Sarah’s not bad, Hell Willy Nelson is doing a spot also I see, and well Hell, I love Country. The page was really just about how we treat our pets and can’t seem to remember our brothers. I know the world is a difficult place to be born into if life drops you in Somalia. I whine to God on a steady stream. Just put your money where your mouth is I heard many times as a child. So I try to and give people little wake up calls occasionally. I’ll keep doing it. Don’t know what your religious convictions are or if you lean one way or the other. Don’t matter. One of my favorite scriptures is, “Take care of the widows and the orphans”.
“In the arms of the Angels”. This commercial states that this year thousands of animals will die and displays pathetic creatures while the Song “Angels” plays in the backround. Nice song Sarah Mclachlan, but do you really care more for cats and dogs than for the over 5 million children under the age of five that will die this years under horrid conditions of hunger and decease? With the limited resources we have, why did you choose to lend your considerable talent to the ASPCA? To help maintain the already over abundance of dogs and cats in the US? Put the animals peacefully to sleep! Raise money for a well. For shots, for tents against mosquitos, for seed crop, for food, for shelter. Think about it Sarah, You are no fool. Prioritize.
I just wanted to say good job on the site! I was surfing on some different forums when I found your site. After looking around on this website I’ve come up with some great ideas for my website. I just thought I’d let you know
Maybe you saw a different commercial than I did, but, That is not a lovely woman. She looked a little like the dogs she was whining about.
I just saw that commercial for umpteenth time. It really is pathetic that people care more for animals than starving abused humans. No wonder the world looks at Americans as self serving idiots. We spent 48 billion on our pet problem and ignore dying children. If the ASPCA could get their priorities straight they would support putting to sleep unwanted, overpopulated, cats and dogs and feed humans. And Melissa put your talents to better use. The commercial preys on the emotions of people and distracts them from more pressing and urgent issues.
Pet spending topped 48 billion in 2008
I guess a lot of people don’t think of world hunger because it’s seems so far removed from where we live. Out of sight, out of mind. I read your page, “A time for reflection”, We definitely live sheltered lives. I love my puppy, but I can afford to feed and care for a child also.
Thanks so much,