I know all of us

have felt tired at some periods of my life. Tired from even a passionate cause we have been fighting for. Not just for animal welfare. But for anything that you sink your heart into. Your stand for the elderly. For the orphans. For salvation.

It doesn't help that there are voices of doubts around. Of discouragement. That a belief as such is worthless, and in the area of animal welfare, if it is only for the animals.

I have thought through this debate many times over. And got discouraged and then realigned in determination, and then discouraged again. And then buck myself up in my belief again. It has not been a steady plane yet. And it may never be, as with all things in life - the flow of tides.

For those who have been standing in the field of animal welfare long enough, there is no need for any convincing that the things done on the streets for the needy strays - are seldom ONLY for the animals. And it is a pretty naive thought to throw out without getting your own hands and feet into the action.

On the surface, it looks like the main priority is the animal on hand. To save and treat the injured and diseased. And if it is a case of abuse, then to attain justice for the abused animal.To the lay person, all focus seems to be on the animal. And humanity or a human being's interest is overshadowed.

But come walk along long enough, and you will see that behind many rescue work, there are many human faces and lives involved.

Be it the exhausted heart of a stray feeder who has sunk too deep to retract her steps now and the only way she knows is forward. And the people in her life whom we get to also meet. Or the good-hearted worker on the farm who is doing his bit to preserve a life. And his hardship and struggles and family we get to know about. Or the God-sent foster family who came forward in the nick of time. And their circle of friends who enter our life. And fellow common-hearted volunteers you meet. And their lives crossing into ours. Lives connected and involved in deeper ways than a mere meeting of 'animal people for the animals'.

As for the contention that the focus is always placed on the animal first (the question being, what about the human being?) - a very simple scenario explains it all. Cos even in a purely human to human interaction, always the focus is on 1 party first. The one who has the key need at that time.In the case of a rapist and a victim - the focus, attention will surely first be on the victim and all means will be rendered to help/save the victim first. And justice attained. That is not to say that the rapist, the other human being is of no value. But at the crux of the situation, it is the victim who needs help first.

Attend to the needful.

It is simple and clear. Should the case be one where an animal has attacked a child without reason, then the focus must be on the hurt child.

Thus very simply, in the area of animal welfare, by placing an initial first-focus on a needy animal does not mean that we downplay humanity. Why don't we withdraw the label of 'human' or 'animal'? Will it be clearer now where you first place your focus? Or will you accept that the focus is placed on the one who needs it more first?

The same for those for take their stand for child labour. Child prostitution. Women's rights. Apartheid. Racism. You don't ask - then what about that pimp, what about his life? No. You reach out FIRST to the party who has been hurt. To the one who is in greater urgency of help. For immediate rectification and cessation of suffering.

Find a need and meet it. In different areas of life.

Akin to the ongoing distress of life-skinning of animals in China - the key focus is to FIRST cease such inhumane practices, to stop unnecessary bloody suffering for the sake of a fur coat. It is not a proclamation that China people are to be condemned. But in such obvious suffering, the most urgent call is to STOP the suffering first. And after that, in tandem, we work to resolve the bigger issue - which includes providing alternative work for these people who have chosen to take on such cruel jobs, largely due to monetary gains, possibly in a market of few jobs.

I just felt that I should share my viewpoints for those who wonder about the value and purpose of animal welfare. My very simple reasoning - if there is a LIFE involved, and the balance of the value of life is skewed simply by your physical sight - then just close your eyes. You can hear a heartbeat. And you can feel a breath. You don't have to see to know there is LIFE. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, there are some people we love but choose to forgo, because we have used our eyes to see them and we just can't get past the barrier of sight.

It is easy to value someone who is like yourself. It is much more difficult when the other is so different from you. To value a life form that is so visibly different to us - that to me, is a powerful declaration of the preciousness of LIFE. An understanding and acceptance that transcends all forms. If we are able to impart this value to our children - to look at an animal and understand that it has a right of life - will it not be easier for them to look at their fellow brothers and sisters who exist in similar form, and understand that they have value in life?

I may be discouraged again further down the path when someone casts doubt on my choice of action. Or I may also be energised and lifted by words of faith and encouragement. I may never have the right answer for whether animal welfare is 'worth it' or not. I may doubt myself at times that I have spent precious hours on a stray cat and isn't it all silly?

But I would rather end up ridiculed than to sit with crossed-arms and do nothing at all. I would rather, even in my mistaken steps - help stop the suffering of 1 life, help make 1 life better, help remove 1 life from chains, from sickness, from abuse.

For every word of doubt to hit me, I lift myself up with the vision of 1 face of gladness. Of 1 smile from Bagel. 1 joyful whine from Ben. 1 huge hug from Puppy-Boy. 1 dash into the pool by Star.

1 life. Made better. Because you were there.

Be encouraged, friends. I will continue to be.


Bagel - rescued from a life in chains, now enjoying his gift of freedom.