A British cat that was run over by a car has received the first complete feline knee replacement surgery. After twelve weeks of hospitalization and unprecedented veterinary procedures, Missy the cat is back at home with her family:
The design phase was particularly challenging for the prosthetist because human knee replacements need only accommodate walking, but a joint for a cat must assume that the user will try to run and jump.
Link via The Presurfer | Photo: Bancroft Media
The new total knee replacement implant for the other leg was designed by Dr Fitzpatrick, Professor Gordon Blunn and Mr Jay Meswania of OrthoFitz Implants.
It is made of two parts which are linked together with a hinged mechanism so that the knee ligaments - which had all been shredded - would no longer be required and the knee could no longer dislocate.[...]
The three-inch long implant is made out of stainless steel and is bonded to the thigh bone and the shin bone using cement
The design phase was particularly challenging for the prosthetist because human knee replacements need only accommodate walking, but a joint for a cat must assume that the user will try to run and jump.
Link via The Presurfer | Photo: Bancroft Media
People who are abusive toward animals also tend to be
abusive toward people, but it can go the other way,
too: People who have compassion for animals can also have compassion for people.
And angie493, the relationship between a person and a companion animal is very much like the relationship between a parent and a child. Would you value your daughter's life over the life of a stranger? You're citing a study where people were asked a simplistic hypothetical question and I'm sure that "both" wasn't
an option. In real life most people would choose both.
Furthermore please explain why should we value humans over animals? You just say we should, but you don't give any reason for this behaviour.
Also I don't know anyone in Haiti. I also don't know if my money would actually get there. I'd rather spend it on my cat who's a good friend to me.
Oh and another point. How do you know Missy's owner didn't donate money to Haiti, the homeless or braindamaged people like you?
I DO in fact spend my money and time working with the homeless and others in need. Your argument that one should do X for 24/7 if you're advocating that one social value should be encouraged over another is trying to over-simply to ridiculousness that point and you know it.
My point is that shouldn't we value human life over animal life. You'll be surprised how many people wouldn't and won't. And that is what is MOST frightening.
A study was recently done that asked "If you could go into a burning building and could either save your pet or a perfect stranger - which would you save". Almost 50% answered they would save their pet. THAT is what horrifies me - that someday I might die because people cared more about some animal than a person in need. I certainly don't want to live in a world where that's the case - and it scares me that anyone would advocate for that kind of attitude. Think of what would happen if the whole society believed that?
And THAT madmolecule - is my point
It's their money. Who cares if they spend it on kitty prosthetics? If you want to spend your own money donating to Haiti or your local homeless shelter then by all means, go for it. Just remember that you don't really NEED that coffee, or those potato chips, so I'd re-think the "justify spending this kind of money" argument.
I gotta say, if this was my beagle Ace, I'd outfit him with the best bionic leg money can buy. I readily admit that I am a sucker.