9 October
Is this a betrayal? I’m fighting to protect animal welfare, yet my agency is in cahoots with a coal company.
One reader is questioning their agency’s loyalty after discovering that while helping them create campaigns to advocate for animal welfare, they’re also partnering with a coal company.
Pearl steps in with advice on navigating this ethical dilemma.
The dilemma
Dear Pearl,
For years, I’ve poured my heart into protecting animals—fighting to stop cruelty and improve the lives of our beloved furry companions. My agency has been instrumental in amplifying our voice. They’ve crafted beautiful campaigns that tug at the public’s heartstrings and have done wonders for our cause.
But now, I’ve found out something unsettling. This same agency—the one helping us promote kindness and care for animals—also has a big coal company on its roster. Yep, the kind of company contributing to pollution and climate change, which harms the planet we all share—including our pets. It feels hypocritical, like they’re playing both sides.
I don’t want to jeopardise the wonderful work we’ve done together, but at the same time, I can’t ignore the nagging feeling that we’re not on the same page when it comes to our values.
What do I do, Pearl? Should I confront them? Or should I look the other way and focus on the good they’ve done for us?
Yours sincerely,
Torn Animal Advocate
Pearl’s advice
Dear Torn Animal Advocate,
Oh, darling, I hear your distress, and it’s completely understandable. It’s like finding out that the person who lovingly pats your dog by day is working in a puppy mill by night. The cognitive dissonance is real.
In any relationship—whether personal or professional—alignment of values is key. You’ve worked tirelessly to advocate for the welfare of animals, yet here you are, partnered with an agency that’s cozying up to one of the biggest polluters around.
If that doesn’t sit right with you, it’s time to have ‘the talk’. Open a dialogue with your agency and express your concerns about their conflicting loyalties.
If they can’t see the conflict or aren’t willing to reconsider their relationship with that coal company, then perhaps it’s time to find a new agency that truly lives and breathes the same values you hold dear.
After all, sweetheart, you deserve a partner who’s fully committed to the same mission as you.
Good luck, darling!
Love, Pearl.
