Pets and People
God said, "Let the earth produce every kind of living thing..." God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature... Genesis 1: 24-25
In case you did know this, we have pets - at present we have 5 dogs and 1 cat. At various times our family has had a rabbit, gold fish, various kinds of lizards, snails, mice, hermit crabs, and various bugs and spiders and other creatures that have been pets in one sense of the word or another. We love animals. I love animals and they love me (Amy says I must rub myself in bacon since every dog I meet has to lick me!).
I needed to say that before I say this, I am deeply concerned with the way our culture is treating pets and how we are treating human beings. One statistic might be enough, in 1994 people in the USA spent $17 billion dollars on their pets. In 2018 people in the USA spent $78 billion dollars on their pets. The projection is that we will spend about $213 billion dollars on mental health service in 2018. So we spend about 1/3 the amount on our pets that we spend on mental health services. Public spending—spending by federal, state, and local governments—on transportation and water infrastructure totaled $416 billion in 2014. Most of that spending came from state and local governments: They provided $320 billion, and the federal government accounted for $96 billion. We spend almost the same amount on our pets that the federal government spends on transportation and water infrastructure.
Amy and I spend a lot on our pets - food for 5 dogs and one cat (4 of them over 65 pounds!), their various medications and supplements, regular vet visits, nail trims, treats, and toys. And we are conservative pet spenders. No lavish pet beds or special foods or vet specialists. We have taken a look at our pet spending and realize that this luxury needs to be balanced with other uses of our resources. Our pets should not, cannot come before the very real needs of our fellow human beings. Some dog food is more nutritious then some prepackaged foods people eat. When we care more for our pets then we do for the homeless, the mentally ill, the poor, the immigrant, etc. we show the poverty of our culture. When we treat our pets better than we treat each other we show the illness of our society. Businesses and neighbors are willing to provide treats, water, etc. to our pets but they shy away from doing so for some people.
I am all for pets. Study after study has shown their value and worth. I love my dogs and cat. But I also need to love the stranger, the foreigner, the poor person. I must see them as just as valuable and worthwhile as my pets. I want to challenge us all, let's take a look at what we spend on our pets and equal that spending with what we give to feed, clothe, and care for our fellow human beings. Spend your portion of that $78 billion but equal it so that another $78 billion is used to care for our sisters and brothers.
Thank you God for creating all living things. Thank you for the pets that mean so much to me. Help me to realize that there are many people who would like to be treated the way I treat my pets and help me to treat them even better then that. Amen.
In case you did know this, we have pets - at present we have 5 dogs and 1 cat. At various times our family has had a rabbit, gold fish, various kinds of lizards, snails, mice, hermit crabs, and various bugs and spiders and other creatures that have been pets in one sense of the word or another. We love animals. I love animals and they love me (Amy says I must rub myself in bacon since every dog I meet has to lick me!).
I needed to say that before I say this, I am deeply concerned with the way our culture is treating pets and how we are treating human beings. One statistic might be enough, in 1994 people in the USA spent $17 billion dollars on their pets. In 2018 people in the USA spent $78 billion dollars on their pets. The projection is that we will spend about $213 billion dollars on mental health service in 2018. So we spend about 1/3 the amount on our pets that we spend on mental health services. Public spending—spending by federal, state, and local governments—on transportation and water infrastructure totaled $416 billion in 2014. Most of that spending came from state and local governments: They provided $320 billion, and the federal government accounted for $96 billion. We spend almost the same amount on our pets that the federal government spends on transportation and water infrastructure.
Amy and I spend a lot on our pets - food for 5 dogs and one cat (4 of them over 65 pounds!), their various medications and supplements, regular vet visits, nail trims, treats, and toys. And we are conservative pet spenders. No lavish pet beds or special foods or vet specialists. We have taken a look at our pet spending and realize that this luxury needs to be balanced with other uses of our resources. Our pets should not, cannot come before the very real needs of our fellow human beings. Some dog food is more nutritious then some prepackaged foods people eat. When we care more for our pets then we do for the homeless, the mentally ill, the poor, the immigrant, etc. we show the poverty of our culture. When we treat our pets better than we treat each other we show the illness of our society. Businesses and neighbors are willing to provide treats, water, etc. to our pets but they shy away from doing so for some people.
I am all for pets. Study after study has shown their value and worth. I love my dogs and cat. But I also need to love the stranger, the foreigner, the poor person. I must see them as just as valuable and worthwhile as my pets. I want to challenge us all, let's take a look at what we spend on our pets and equal that spending with what we give to feed, clothe, and care for our fellow human beings. Spend your portion of that $78 billion but equal it so that another $78 billion is used to care for our sisters and brothers.
Thank you God for creating all living things. Thank you for the pets that mean so much to me. Help me to realize that there are many people who would like to be treated the way I treat my pets and help me to treat them even better then that. Amen.
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