When saving animal lives, when is enough enough?

[VeganD]

When is enough enough?

I was putting out the trash opened the lid to put the rubbish in and on the lid I saw a little woodlice I tried to get it off but it fell deep into the bin and these bins are the big ones

So i thought since it was my fault i cant just leave it in there so i stuck my head into the bin and tried for a good 5 minutes to get it out remember these bins do not smell nice at all so in the end i did rescue it but then i also noticed there were lots of little flies in the bin

So that is my question when is enough enough do i spend all day in a smelly bin trying to get little flies out that will be killed when the dumpster truck picks it up or do i just say enough is enough and that’s it

I also have a habit or more of a disorder like before I close doors and windows I need to check all around the seals to make sure there is nothing in there this can get pretty stressful

Do you do anything like this

Please give your input

[my3labs]

Hi VeganD,
I don't go to the extremes that you're describing. I do my best to save all creatures but I can't say that I would dig around in a trash can to save a fly. At some point, I just have to say that I've done all I can do. I'm sure that "all that I can do" is not enough but it's all I can personally do while having some sort of life.
We can't save them all, but we certainly do better than all those necrotarians out there.
My point, I guess, is that I applaud your efforts and give you a big thumbs up! :thumbsup:

[Oracl]

I do similar things to what you have described, VeganD. :agree:

Once I have noticed some animal, even a tiny insect, in trouble, I do my best to fix the problem. I think the little flies you mention would be able to get in and out of the bin though. They are so tiny that they can fit through very small spaces, so I would probably let them do their own thing. (So there is a limit I guess!)

I too check doors and windows, before closing them. We get friendly geckos and spiders here that seem to get into the most amazing places at times.

It's great that you are so thoughtful and considerate in all your actions. Just try not to let it all become a huge burden in your life, especially if there is a situation where you simply cannot help. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

I too check doors and windows, before closing them. We get friendly geckos and spiders here that seem to get into the most amazing places at times.
I wish I had friendly geckos around. There's nothing in my door way except dog hair.
I do have anemones growing on my boat though. I worry about them when I wash the boat, which I need to do once or twice a year, even though I use biodegradable organic soap. I don't use it near where they are, but I worry about the runoff, and the fact that they are saltwater animals, and I use freshwater to wash and rinse. I also worry about taking a shower and doing the dishes, because the water drains right into the bay. I do take care to use the best organic biodegradable shampoos and soaps, but it still bugs me a little. They don't have shells like the barnacles do, although they do close up tight when the tide goes out. I think they, like many small creatures, are probably tougher and better able to survive situations than we think, like the tiny flies in the trash. There's also probably many much worse chemicals in the bay than my soaps and cleaners. Its hard not to obsess about these things sometimes!

It's great that you are so thoughtful and considerate in all your actions. Just try not to let it all become a huge burden in your life, especially if there is a situation where you simply cannot help. :)
:agree:

[Charmagne]

BWM - you would love it outside my kitchen window right now. There are 7 little green tree frogs and 4 geckos!:eek: They eat the bugs that are attracted to the kitchen light - they are there every night. I am VERY scared (silly I know) of geckos but as long as they stay on the outside I am fine. If they did come in they could have the house too!:o I would leave until someone came to carry it out!!:rofl:

[VeganD]

Thanks guys very happy I found such a great and understanding forum before I found vegan forums I thought I was alone with this

Another thing I do which I made another topic about is pick snails up and put them some where safe when it’s raining as they get all over the pathway

I am not sure what it’s like where you guys live but for here when it rains they are everywhere

Just going back to the door and windows thing so before I close them I check around the frames just to make sure it’s not going to kill anything again can get a bit stressful when you have many windows open and you need to check everyone of them I possibly have OCD do a quick search on that if you want to read more

Have you guys ever been outside at night got a torch and just seen the life outside its amazing all these small little bugs and ants it’s really something so small just amazing

Like you guys I do my best to save as many as possible no matter size

One thing I have done a few times and it’s a pretty difficult situation and that’s if I see a fly or something stuck in a cobweb I get it free now you could say I am messing with nature because now the spider will go without things like this are very difficult for me because I don’t like to see other animals eating or hurting each other

Any advice on what I can do on this my cats keep killing mouses and bringing them in maybe it’s their way of saying thank you for taking care of them they don’t eat them just bring them in

Now I will make another topic on this sometime soon but do you have pets if so do you make them vegan if so why and if not why not

My cats are not vegan hope you don’t think bad of me for that

[thevegantwins]

I'm a big believer in you do what you can. A perfect vegan does not exist (except maybe in some person's deluded mind :rolleyes:). Our apartment complex has a swimming pool and every time that I'm in it, I spend quite a bit of time rescuing bugs who have fallen in. However, the personal safety of my 3-year olds have to be considered as well so I can not rescue every insect that has fallen in. I do what I can. I drive alot and I know I kill many bugs during my commute. Would it save bugs lives if I didn't drive? Yes but then how would I earn money to live, to donate to animal causes, support vegan businesses etc.. My own way of dealing with this issue is my prayers that I offer up to those whom I unintentionally harmed.

You seem very compassionate and caring, VeganD and that, to me, is what defines veganism.

Regarding vegan cats, there are conflicting opinions and 'facts' regarding cats and veganism. If I had a dog, I would definitely raise that dog vegan but I truly do not believe that it is the healthiest for a cat to be vegan and since I took the responsibility to care for my fur-friend, Felíne, I feel my obligation is to her though I regret opening that can of dead animal every single time. We just started giving her vegan kibble along with the dead animal to lessen the amount of animals she consumes.

[dreamer]

I struggle with what you're talking about too, VeganD. I also feed my animals dead animal products and especially don't feel that I have a healthy choice with my cat (who keeps having UTIs and bladder stones). I feel bad about contributing to the animal agriculture industry in this way, but I also have a responsibility to my furbabies...it's an imperfect solution I know:( As far as keeping her from bringing in mice, she's totally inside and thus can't get hold of any mice, birds, etc. I think that's really the only way to keep a cat from doing what you describe. She does occasionally kill spiders and bugs, but I try to "save" them b4 she can do damage--it doesn't always happen though.

I have also wondered about how "vegan" I am, since I do kill ticks & fleas on my furbabies (using spot-on pesticides). I also kill mosquitos that land on me or get into my house--as in my house they can also bite my furbabies. I will try to save animals when I can, such as pulling bugs out of my bird baths if I find them alive. But I don't save anything from spider's webs--I dunno it just seems cruel to the spiders though I also feel bad sometimes when I see the little creatures in their webs:( I guess we all have to draw the line somewhere, as otherwise we'd probably all go crazy;)

[paul]

Maybe the woodlice would be better off in the bin, once it gets empted at the tip if the wood lice has survived then its got all that food there for them.:eat:

[Gliondrach]

It doesn't matter how many flies you get out of the bin, more will get in - unless it is sealed airtight. Many of them will fly out when the bin is picked up and shaken about before being emptied into the dustbin lorry.

As Paul said, the woodlice might be all right. They are tough.

I, too, rescue beetles from spider webs. The spider will go hungry that one time but the insect would be dead if left in the web. The spider has another chance to catch something else. I pick the bits of web off with a pin or piece of paper and at least half of them walk away. Some are dead and I try to put them back on the web.

You can't spend all your time rescuing everything. There would be no end to it. You would have to look in all your neighbours' bins. And those in the next town. And those in France.

As others have said, just do what you can in the normal activities of your daily life.

Checking windows and doors for insects is not OCD - constantly washing your hands or that the gas is off would be. What you do is compassion, not OCD.

[my3labs]

I've saved bugs from water dishes, spider webs, from my cat and dogs, etc. Like others have said, you do what you can.

My dogs and my cat are not vegan. I wish they were but I'm just not sure it's the best thing for them and like TVT said....it's my responsibility to take care of them and I believe that meat is best for them. I've often wondered if I would adopt more carnivorous/omnivorous animals because of this. I have a really hard time feeding them what we feed them. But I know that in the long run, there are so many that need homes that I will put my feelings aside so I can offer a loving home to more.

[Bowwowmeow]

BWM - you would love it outside my kitchen window right now. There are 7 little green tree frogs and 4 geckos!:eek: They eat the bugs that are attracted to the kitchen light - they are there every night. I am VERY scared (silly I know) of geckos but as long as they stay on the outside I am fine. If they did come in they could have the house too!:o I would leave until someone came to carry it out!!:rofl:
Oh yes I would Charmagne! I love tree frogs too! :froggy2:

[Oracl]

My cats are not vegan hope you don’t think bad of me for that
No, I don't think badly of you, VeganD. :) I feel that this is possibly the most difficult issue of all for vegans to come to terms with. In my ideal vegan world there would eventually be no domesticated animals, so we would not have this dilemma. However, that is a scenario that even many vegans disagree with and this is not the thread to start that argument! ;)

[VeganD]

Thank you for all your kind and warm replies

Its so good to know others out there feel the same way

Like many have said you do your best

I just couldn't leave that woodlice there knowing i could possibly save it i am just happy i didn't need to spend any more time in that bin it wasn't nice at all lol

Thank you again for all replies