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No, I don't believe we care too much about animals. People always seem to put themselves on a platform above animals, probably in the belief that they are of a higher intellect etc. Yet, however many experiments we do concerning animal behaviour we can never truly understand how they think and perceive life.
I'm sure that they look on our daily activities and think we are completely insane for getting up at 8:00 am each morning to work, get paid and so on . . . I would strongly like to question our intellect - I'm all for "four legs good, two legs bad". Let the animals revolt!
Dominique Lee, UK

I am sure one could find any number of needy children in Britain who could benefit from the fifteen thousand pounds. Turn those pigs into footballs!
James Rush, Surrey, England

Of course we care too much about animals. Look at the amount of dog mess in our towns caused by the filthy owners of the poor things. Ban cats and dogs as pets unless it can be proved they serve a purpose.
Pepe Tozzo, England

I'm not so sure that saving a couple of pigs from the butcher is worthwhile, it would be better to spend the time (and money) making sure that the animals that are slaugthered suffer as little as possible...
Andreas Baadnes, Norway

Caring about animals is in our own best interests, up to a point. However, like everything in life, you have to take a balanced view, and the interests of humans should always take precedence over the interests of animals.
As for the 'Tamworth Two' - we Brits like to root for the underdog - any pig smart enough to escape the abbatoir deserves his freedom!
David Evans, UK

We don't care more for animals than humans. We pay a significant amount in taxes for human welfare, via the NHS, Social Security, and overseas aid. This process is very much out of the individuals hands but I certainly feel as if I'm contributing. We even fund modern factory farming out of our taxes.
Animal welfare on the other hand is purely down to charitable donation. Also it's much easier to care for a stray cat or dog than it is to take *direct* care of another human being. What's wrong with caring for animals as well?
Rob O'Connor, UK

I believe that Animals have no rights at all so I hate the term ANIMAL RIGHTS. It's meaningless. Thinking, breathing intelligent human beings are the masters of the world, and yes we mess up a lot but we have the right to do with animals whatever we like.
Adrian Cotterill, UK

We Don't care enough about animals, could you imagine spending your whole life enclosed within a small area with no space to turn around ?
Animals have every right to live out their natural lives. They are not here for our pleasure !
Why do human's destroy everything of beauty?
Jon Clark, UK

The trouble is not so much that we care about animals, but that we are overly attracted to the cute ones and very squeamish when it comes to meat. That is probably why there is a food crisis in the meat industry as food is killed miles away from where it is consumed (before being transported and stored), and packaged in a sterile manner so as not to offend the sensitive (which probably hides the defects).
If we took a more hands on approach to meat production (like in countries where buying a chicken from the market means getting a live chicken) there probably would be more vegetarians, but at least people could take more responsibility for what they eat.
Anthony Breckner, UK

We seem to care when it suits people who wish to appear caring. For the vast majority of the time 90% of the British population don't give two hoots - they are happy to eat them so why should they care at all? It's time we stopped being hypocrites who just mask the caring vacuum that exists most of the time.
Keith Farnish, UK

It is now getting ridiculous, of course we care too much about animals, we seem to forget that it is totally natural to eat meat and that these two pigs had been bred for the table, what all these animal lovers forget is that if we did not eat pork there would be no pigs in England except a couple in a zoo somewhere.
Nick Smith, England

The press went a bit over the top on this story, but that's because they knew it would be popular, because most people like a bit of light relief - after all, most people do not usually talk about pigs all day - it makes a change.
Dr Dominic Wilson, UK

I see no contradiction in the fact that most of us were fascinated by the story of the "Tamworth Two" whilst at the same time we love to eat sausages. Pigs are are highly intelligent, cute animals that just happen to taste great!
Phil Gullen, UK

The pet food industry consumes more money in the usa than that of some third world countries and for what? Show dogs, horses bred to race, and a total over abundance of cats?
Reinhold Schuster, USA

Only people kill for fun. Animals kill only out of need. Then it seems that animals are better than people !
Mike Winterbourne, Australia

How is it possible to care too much about any living being? Is it possible to set a limit on the value of a life?
Mark Carter, Malaysia

It's probably fair to say we sometimes care too much for individual animals -- while generally ignoring (or worse exterminating) animals on the whole. Animals are in the same position as children: We go on-and-on about our deep concern for their well-being and then turn the other way while they're being abused.
David Coursey, USA

Animals? The people who worry about animal issues of these sorts need to visit a part of the world where PEOPLE live in lesser conditions than many western pets and food sources.
JE, Hungary

How can we say we that we care about animals too much when we have many species on the brink of extinction? And what about factory farms where animals are raised without any contact with nature and with no thought to their future except how to grow them faster and cheaper?
Dallas Beus, USA

I accept that animals need proper and kind care, but people are often forgotten. Why don't the media focus more on the homeless and unemployed. Why? Because people aren't quite as cuddly as these pigs. Animal welfare should be on the same level as people's, not at a higher level.
Nicholas Stock UK

I think people who have been brought up in the city have unrealistic attitudes towards animal welfare. There is a need for people to accept the killing of animals to produce food is simply a fact of life. Farmers have always maintained that it is in their interests to maintain their animals' welfare. The fact is, the media see animal welfare, food safety, etc, as hot issues these days and this has led to the public becoming obsessed with such matters.
Gary Phillips, London, UK

How can we care too much for a creature that when treated with kindness and respec in turn gives us an unlimited amount of devotion? And even when we lash out with anger and cruelty, forgives us so unfailingly? Would we were so kind to ourselves.
Janet, USA

WE need to treat both ourselves and animals kinder.This is a nice story, and we need more nice stories when the world seems to have nothing but sad ones.
Susan Schechter, USA

One cannot care too much for any form of animal life which is being mistreated. But is all the media fuss really reflective of the man-in-the-street's attitude? How many "animal lovers" reflect on where the bacon on the breakfast plate came from?
Graham Williams, Australia

Some people devote their lives to conserving human lives and some devote their lives to animals. We need more people to care for animals as the human race has created an environment where the humans are ruling the animal kingdom. As responsible rulers, we are obliged to look out for them as they cannot protect themselves. Everything is connected. If we continue to devalue any life that exists on our planet, we will be next on the extinction list.
William Barron, Canada

Over 95% of people think it is just fine to eat animals. And yet, the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) seem to get "equal time" under some misguided notion of media fairness. Humans are the superior beings, and we should act accordingly. Be kind, be fair to animals, but we should be in charge.
Michelle Frager, USA

I don't think we care too much for animals, but we need to pay more attention to people too. There are many people in need, and I would like to see them get the attention and help that they need as well.
Leslie, USA

The noblest human capacity is empathy and compassion for others, whether human or animal. To ignore the pain and suffering of animals because they are "only" animals lowers us to the level of the beast. In the end, it is not about the animals but about what kind of people we are and whether we see the world as a jungle where the strong kill and eat the weak or whether we believe in extending protection to those who cannot protect themselves against cruelty.
Joseph Turner, USA

People go all out to rescue a few individual animals and then slaughter millions that have been fed antibiotics to counteract the ravages of the slovenly living conditions forced upon them. Ironically, people are animals, too. Until we care for all animals, under all circumstances, we cannot possibly be guilty of caring too much.
Shane, USA

Yes we do care too much about animals! Why? Well it's not that we care too much about animals but that we care too much about animals compared to humans. Pick on a weak kid in school and you might gain popularity, but try kicking a lame dog and I assure you popularity will be a far away dream. Rightfully so, but shouldn't we expect the same reaction for the former situation?
Moheb Morgan, Canada

A difficult one - pets are trusting and excellent companions for young and old. I love meat, prefer not to think about abattoirs, but would we have cattle, sheep, pigs, etc if we didn't eat them, or would they too be endangered species. The balance is not to over anthropomorpholise - great word!!
Peter Melville, UK

It's all relative, I suppose. Some people take the care of animals to an extreme whereby they invest thousands of dollars in jewelry and even clothes for their animals. I think this is an insult to animals and humans. On the other hand, there are those people who are deliberately cruel and heartless to animals. Ultimately, we need to reach a balance in the care of animals because not enough of us realise the very important comfort and companionship value of animals.
Sandra, Antigua

Like the woman in Istanbul who cares for over 600 cats, many, including myself, would do likewise if we had the resources. Animals, like children, are vulnerable. The weak, feeble, poor, are likewise. We increase ourselves when we give to others, and diminish ourselves when selfish, cruel, or even evil. It is an age old question, is it not?
Loryn Frey, USA

Too many animals are treated better than humans, if you look at all the wars and meaningless slaughters of PEOPLE in the world today and then look at the top stories on the BBC News, Pigs rank higher than people! They may be smart but they are still livestock and should be treated accordingly!
Andreas Wheeler, UK

I find it laughable how everyone makes such a fuss about this. What about all the other pigs that didn't make it ? Haven't they got any real news to give us instead of this nonsense ?
Sandy Madanayake, UK

No, we don't care too much about animals, but we certainly don't care enough about humans. What's even more shameful is that we care more about animals than we do about humans. There really should be enough love and caring to share all around.
Jacinth Henry-Martin, St Kitts, Eastern Caribbean

How can we care too much about animals when we don't give enough care and consideration to ourselves-the ultimate animal?
Lindsay Wright, UK

It really is a matter of whether we believe that animals are equal to humans or not. Children from a young age are brought up on anthropomorphic stories which imply that they have the same feelings and motives as us. This is highly unlikely!
Keith Sunderland, England

Those who do not care for animals are inclined to not care for people. For we are all creatures together on the earth.
June Eickhoff, USA

Although many humans fail to show compassion and love to their fellow men, I believe that even the most cynical has, at one time or other, felt remorse or sorrow for some cruelty done to an animal. Do we care about animals too much? For some, it is the only way to tell if there is a heart inside.
D L Davenport, USA

This isn't to do with caring about animals, it's just to do with a media circus. Judging by today's BBC News, it's not restricted to tabloid press either. But that isn't to condemn the story... it's entertainment. The fact that it's involving animals is neither here nor there.
Andi-Tsuyoshi Williams, Japan

Animals are treated as lesser beings. People seem to think that the larger or 'prettier' an animal is, the more right it has to be treated with respect.
Joanne Kay, USA

Of course we do not care too much about animals. Apart from the shocking cruelty that the RSPCA have to deal with every day, you seem to be saying that we care more about animals than humans. I do not think it is valid to blame animals for our apparent lack of compassion for each other. "Do we care to much about animals" is a fatuous point. It would be better to ask why don't we care about each other ? And leave the animals totally out of the debate.
Mark Barnes, England

I agree with the concerns of the English people towards animals. I am a native of Spain and I do regret the ancient customs that my country still permits.
Ana Maria Eccles, USA

Ms. Marcus-Arellano has hit the nail on the head. We in the Western world, don't care enough about animals. This is the only possible conclusion once we consider how we allow many domesticated animals to be treated at mass 'processing' facilities here. I have in mind hens, pigs and cows especially. Moreover, our willful destruction of the habitats of many wild animals in the name of profit and 'progress' has in the past, and continues to be disgraceful. Should we not view the hysterical celebrity bestowed on a few pigs and donkeys (or people for that matter) as merely the obverse side of the insignificance we are all reduced to by economic calculation? You and I also are often taken into account merely as 'human resources' and frequently care about each other only in so far as we can be useful or profitable to one another. Our abuse and celebration of animals is merely one facet of a larger tragi-comedy.
L Jerzykiewicz, Canada

I think that Britain should be proud of its improving treatment of animals although we still have a long way to go. The government is taking long overdue steps in Europe to ban battery farming of hens and Britain under both this government and the last has opposed the disgraceful practice of veal crates. Intensive farming of animals should not be acceptable in a civilised society and we should all reduce consumption of meat to once or twice a week and be prepared to pay a realistic price for the food we eat. Perhaps then we will really be able to claim to be a nation of animal.
Stuart, Wales

I wonder how many of the people that have pledged money towards saving the two pigs have actually eaten bacon at some point over the last 5 years..
Sarah, Germany

If you have the intelligence and imagination to empathize with terror, pain and suffering, you care about all living creatures.
Paul Warren, UK

People seem to care more for animals than other People!!
Peter, UK

I believe that we don't care enough about animals. Proof ? Just take a visit to your local pet shelter. It's always full of abandoned and abused animals. It's true that human abuse victims should have first priority but animals deserve to live and to have a good life at that !!!
Alison Marcus-Arellano, USA

No, we do not care too much about animals. We brutalise ourselves when we inflict uncaring pain and suffering on our fellow creatures. Bravo to these two courageous and resourceful pigs. If they had been humans escaping slavery or certain death we would have been outraged as well as supportive.
Fiona Maskell, USA

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