Why do animal stories get more traction than human suffering?

Her owners are flood victims from Rompot, and in March the dog was hit by a car.

Puddles had surgery at a veterinary specialist in Des Moines: a steel plate and seven screws in her leg, 75 staples near her neck, vet bills of more than $3,000 and a series of appointments coming up.

Flood Them with Love, a local charity whose primary goal is to help flood victims, asked for donations for the dog's medical care. Animal lovers from coast to coast responded with get-well cards, gifts and donations that more than covered the expenses.

“It was very encouraging on one hand, but it was a little disheartening on the other hand, that it was easier to raise money for an injured animal than it was to raise money for 18,000 flood victims,” said Karla Goettel, founder of Flood Them with Love.

Animals and their suffering get a lot of attention in America today. In Eastern Iowa, it often seems like human problems - the grinding, complicated aftermath of the flood, distant humanitarian crises or even troubling new reports of child abuse in the state - struggle to get the same emotional traction as the story of a dog or cat in distress.

There's the story of the dog breeder in Wyoming, Iowa. At first, it looked like a crisis. Sheriff's deputies, a federal agent and animal welfare groups descended on the Thunder Ridge Kennel in Jones County and seized dozens of dogs. Some of them had skin conditions and dental problems, and later the United States Department of Agriculture determined the kennel was dirty, cluttered and unsafe in several ways.

“You can see it in my face; it's breaking me up to be here, doing this,” Sonia Brandley of the Last Hope Animal Rescue told KCRG-TV9 on the day of the raid. “And it's not because I'm psycho or crazy; it's because we love animals.”

Eventually most of the dogs were returned to the kennel owner, who promised to make changes to his operation.

Part of the reason animal abuse cases get more attention than most child abuse cases is privacy law.

Almost everyone in Eastern Iowa knows the high-profile horror stories, like the rape and murder of 10-year-old Jetseta Gage, but how many know that child abuse increased dramatically in Iowa in 2009? The Iowa Department of Human Services reported an 11 percent rise in founded cases of child abuse last year. Most of the 10,148 children who were abused had been neglected.

Statistics don't affect people emotionally, though, said Stephen Scott, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. People respond to specific, clear examples of abuse, and it's nearly impossible to publicize a case of child abuse.

DHS workers, non-profit agencies and even the family is restricted in what they can say about the situation - unless the case goes to court. By that time, the abuse has usually been severe and has already occurred.

“You can do it only if it's in the criminal justice system,” Scott said. “We work on the prevention end of things, and we are somewhat handicapped by the fact that we can't hold up a picture and say, ‘This is Johnny, who wasn't abused because his parents received crisis care in time.' ”

People also want to feel like their contribution actually makes a difference, Scott said. Increasing property taxes to pay for more DHS workers just doesn't have the same appeal as writing a check for $200 for medical care for a suffering dog.

There's another angle. Nick Longworth, director of spiritual care services at St. Luke's Hospital and a professed “dyed-in-the-wool animal lover,” said people may find it easier to pour out affection for animals, because they're so uncomplicated. They aren't deceitful, vengeful or manipulative. Humans can ascribe to them whatever thoughts and motives they want.

“We can and do give them credit for being benevolent and good,” Longworth said. “We have a tendency to cast upon them the things we want them to be.”

In contrast, relationships with humans - even children - are messy, complicated and frustrating, Longworth said. Project thoughts and motives onto another person at the peril of your friendship. An animal offers none of the same resistance.

“It's paying attention to us, it's chosen to be with us,” Longworth said. “To not have it ask you any question, to not have it question you as a person - and it thinks whatever you want it to think - it's pretty cool. It's easy.”