Conference misery::feline_v1

    	I've gotten letters from these people several times myself.
 
    	Now don't get me wrong, I've got 6 indoor cats.  I love them
    dearly and treat them better than a lot of people treat their kids. 
    BUT...   This is a very ethnocentric campaign.  What I mean by that
    is that in that culture, raising cats and dogs as food is normal
    and the lack of "humane" treatment is not wrong in their eyes.
    So what, you say?  I consider it wrong and that means they should
    too?  My answer to that is:  Have you ever seen how they raise poultry
    for food in this country?  If you think they all run around the
    barnyard in the sunshine, you're about 50 years behind the times.
    How would you respond a a group of Indians boycotting our goods 
    because we *gasp* eat sacred cows?  How about that lobster that 
    you had dropped alive into a pot of boiling water at the seafood
    place the other night? 
     
        Before you flame me,  I don't approve of the fact that they
    treat our friends as a source of food, but I am aware enough and
    realistic enough to know that as long as I am not a vegatarian,
    I am being hypocritical to scold them.  If you're a vegatarian,
    please forgive my tirade and I'll see you at the next "Free the Poultry
    March".
    
    Just trying to be ethically consistant and realize that things are
    never as black and white as we'd like them to be.
     
    tlh
    

    Tracey,
    
    I have to say that I shared those same thoughts when I received
    my copy of that newsletter.  And of course, I am very suspicious
    of all the requests for money for different animal causes.  You
    never know if they are legitimate and if they are, how much of the
    money is used to actually benefit the animals.
    
    As far as my donation money goes, I just continue to donate to the
    local humane society, because I feel that I should help the animals
    in my country first.
    
    JoAnn  

    ... at the risk of causing flames.
    
    First off, I'm a cat lover. 
    
    Having said that, I must say I cannot work up the disgust this
    article is wont to envoke. Why? This article deals with practices
    that are part of a *different* culture. I really don't think we
    have any right to go in and try to stop it. Is what they are doing
    any different from the beloved New England boiled lobster dinner?
    Nope. 
    
    *We* like cats. I'd say people in most western cultures at least
    see the 'cuteness' in cats, even if they wouldn't have one as a
    pet. It's societal, which precludes absolute.
    
    The thought of eating a cute, furry, fuzzy little numbkin does
    not appeal to me in the least, but I have plenty to eat. I don't
    know what the economic climate is for the people who engage in
    this practice, but if they're hungry I can't fault them for taking
    advantage of an available food supply. Mind you, if this were going
    on in this country, I'd be appalled. But these folks are eating,
    not torturing the kitties for some sort of perverted thrill.
    
    I'm not going to push my values on a culture I have no knowledge
    of if they're not asking for it. I also won't try to push my values
    on the other readers. I am *not* taking an adversary position to
    the work of this group, but rather, I'm trying to look at it from
    the point of view of those who are directly concerned. I certainly
    wouldn't think ill of anyone who chose to support this organization
    and the work they are attempting.
    
    Sorry if this offends the cat lovers out there. I'm one also. But
    I'll only pass judgement on the practitioners of this act when *I*
    am above reproach. (And have given up lobster, beef, pork, ect.)
    
    Edd
    
    

    
    
    I agree with .1 --> .3 and I would like to add that I would question
    the motivations of an organization that asks for donations based
    on a story that was specificly designed to nauseate.

    I couldn't resist looking into CANINE. As I suspected, the IFAW,
    according to the author of USSCSL::CANINE Note 733.4 is under
    investigation by the Postal Service and the Attorney General for
    fraud. If you received questionable literature, or literature from
    a questionable agency, call the AT's office and see what's up. I
    would make a point of doing that *before* sending any money.
    
    There are legitimate agencies, with which you may or may not agree,
    but the tactics used by this outfit would certainly *not* elicit
    money from me.
    
    

    Thank you thank you thank you.
    
    I have received two mailings of this, the first one was about cats
    and dogs, the second about dogs only.  The second also deals more
    with the Phillipines than Korea, stating that the recent political
    turmoil is causing a resurgence of dog eating.
    
    Like the author of the base note, I was outraged, horrified, repulsed,
    etc.  But in reading this I can also see the other side of the story,
    it is their culture.
    
    I was going to put in a note, but .5 answered it for me.  I have
    heard of the many scams for getting people to donate in the name of 
    Etheopia, I wanted to find out if this was also of ill repute. 
    Has anyone heard further about the investigation?
    
    Even if this is a legitimate organization, their method of showing
    a picture of a dog that has had its legs broken and tied behind
    its back, though effective, is repulsive.

    Sharon