Earlier quoted context omitted.
I once read an article which was about how we are willing to spend thousands to save one particular dog, or one particular injured bird, instead of donating that money to "animal habitat preservation" or something similar which will save thousands of diverse animals. And then there's the whole industrial farm-animal raising thing, where billions of animals are systematically tortured. But nobody cares, because it's n…
Just because the act is irrational or sub-optimal does not mean it is insincere. In many respects, the "rational" response would be to shoot the dogs with a rifle and donate the rescue funds to an animal shelter.
In this case, there may be an argument that the resources directed towards rescuing the dogs could be better put towards mitigating the hazards of volcanic eruptions in general, but I wouldn't and won't be the one to make that call.