Which tin gets your dollar?

First of all, thank you for your coherent, well thought out, intelligent comments on my last posts, you really are wonderful women (and men).

Then, what I didn’t mention, and I should have, is that hierarchy is very much in evidence here in my country as well, I am ashamed to say.  It is not endemic only in the developed world.  Even among the poorest of poor, a hierarchy still exists.  Perhaps it is just part of human nature.  It just makes me sad. 

Then, to continue the thought process, a question.  Rather, a scenario…. (I’ve asked my husband and a few of my friends this question, their response interests me hugely.)

You’ve just purchased a few items and you get some change.  There are two tins at the till (do you call it a till there?  Check out point?  Whatever, you know what I mean).  One tin has a picture of a thin, neglected looking mangy dog.  The other tin has a picture of an emaciated African child. Both charities are legit.

Which tin gets your change and why?

I’ll tell you my answer after I hear yours.

For those of you shy types who don’t want to comment – pls select your choice on the poll. (and please do comment - us bloggers thrive on comments!)

Oops!  Forgot to add this - you have to choose one only, not both.

Poll results

Comments

[yaneh]

I'd have to say the human needs always come first in my mind.
Something that I've found hard to listen to/see regarding the devastation of Katrina is people who are upset and arguing with rescuers to save their dog/cat/whatever pet. When it comes down to saving a dog/cat/pet's life or another human being's life, in my mind it's a no-brainer. I am a lover of animals, I have a cat who I love dearly but if I had to choose between saving her and saving a human being, no matter who the human was, I would pick the human.
That being said, I tend not to give my change to tins. I prefer to give food &/or time to needy humans in my hometown. I feel that a lot of (even totally legit) charities spend too much of the donations on 'administration' and not enough aid seems to get down to those who need it most.
That's my $0.02

[Trish]

I feel guilty admitting, even after others have already, that I'd probably donate to the SPCA before the 'children'. First, I feel as though so few people look out for animals and we animal rescuers need to stick together (I foster kittens- have 4 right now driving me batty). Secondly, I just think my heart strings are pulled on more realistically by the image of a starving animal- I've seen it in real life. I've dealt with it. I've tried to save the lives of animals that others thought were worthless (2 kittens someone tried to drown in a caustic fluid were the first 2 rescues I've ever done)- so it intimately connects with me. I haven't actually known a starving child- so it doesn't seem 'as real'. Horrible- yes. Because I KNOW it is real.

Anyways- after saying all of that- with Hurricane Katrina, I donated infant clothing, $50 to a displaced family from my husband's company that moved to our town (his company is matching donations- so I thought that was cool) and then my daughter had some Red Cross Penny Drive so I dug out all of my pennies and sent them in with her- probably for people as well. I'd have donated to animal charities if they had presented themselves at the time, I'm sure.