Angel with Morgan and Tanner just after we made a big break through with her
Rescue work has always been near and dear to my heart.
When I began as a dog trainer I volunteered a lot with local rescues as a foster parent. I averaged about 5 dogs a year at my house and have kept in touch with most of their owners since. It was rewarding work. Dogs like Diesel, Chance, Chopper, Brooklyn, Simber, Trout and Reece taught me so much. They tested my skills, my knowledge and, at times, my patience. They also showed me so much love. I feel blessed to have had them in my life.
After Rigger came home with me, my fostering was curtailed somewhat. Having three dogs and a cat already in my home made it difficult to bring new ones in. I tried to find other ways to give back and have maintained a close relationship with many of the rescues. I help out where I can, do volunteer work for them and sit on a couple board of directors groups.
Sam: this beauty came into my home unable to walk on leash, not house broken nor kennel trained AND she was in heat. 6 weeks later and she was perfect!!!
It is astounding to see the scope and breath of the work that happens on a daily basis in a well run, quality rescue. Most of the public have no idea how much effort is involved. Most rescues rely on public funding, operate on shoe string budgets, depend heavily on volunteers for even the simpliest but necessary tasks, and have staff that put countess overtime hours in with no pay.
Even that description does not accurately account for the extent of the work.
So here is my open letter to all you rescues(ers) out there...
I want to say it.
Thank you!!!
When somebody can no longer “give my dog the life he deserves”, you are there
When a person realizes that the cute puppy they bought was not going to stay 10 pounds and instead topped out at 80, you are there.
When there are stray cats living in an abandon shed and their population is rising daily, you receive the call.
When a family needs to give up Fido because allergies were discovered, you smile and say “we will take him.
When a dog reacts negatively to a child and now “needs to be in a child free home”, you say “Bring him to us”
Diesel: He had three legs, was rude, obnoxious and had no manners but he stole my heart anyway
You operate on shoe string budgets. Your staff works long hours with little pay. Your volunteers are some of the most dedicated and selfless people one could meet. You make tough calls daily.
You decide to provide thousands of dollars in dental care to a surrendered cat when people respond “Why, when that money could have been much better spent elsewhere”.
When the decision is made to euthanize a dog because he is deemed too big a risk, people ask “Why couldn’t you just put the time and effort into working with him and make him safe”.
Your decisions are under scrutiny daily by people who do not know all the details. You take criticism, try to answer the public’s questions as best you can knowing that you are never going to be able to please everybody. You do one thousand things right with no accolades but the second something is questionable, the critics come out of the woodwork.
Jacob, Morgan and our Kitty chilling a couple of weeks after bringing him home
Every day is a battle to provide the best quality care for the animals at the shelter while ensuring there is enough money in the budget to pay the next light bill.
When Fifi has to make that trip to the vet to be euthanized, it is your staff, your volunteers, which sit with her ensuring she is not alone, that she has a friendly face to be there when she crosses that rainbow bridge.
You do this not because it is your job but because it is the right thing to do.
You give so much of your time, generosity and patience to animals that you do not even know. Often times, you are the only people who have ever showed an ounce of care to these creatures. You are the ones that let them know...humans can be ok.
You spend your days cleaning up feces. You deal with fleas, puke and bodily fluids. You get bitten. You get scratched. Yet your response is to look the animal square in the eye and say “that’s ok..let’s try this again.”
Reece, one of the smallest fosters I brought into my home but this little dog was all heart
You are heros yet most of the general public have no idea what goes on. They view the shelter as a place where cute puppies and kitties stay while waiting for their furever homes. They think you lucky. They envision you hanging with the animals all day, frolicking outside with them, cuddling with them in their runs.
The public shouts; “Dream job”. " Who wouldn’t want to hang out with animals all day?” “You are so fortunate”.
You simply respond, “Yep” with an understanding smile knowing that the public’s perception is not a reality. You know that you have to go into the shelter today and to play the trading game with Tank who may turn on you if you do not do everything perfectly…that Charlie has serious resource guarding issues that may make him unadaptable…that there is a litter of kittens who may not have survived the night despite your best efforts because they were left abandon on the side of the road. You know that your work is rewarding but it is also heartbreaking on a daily basis.
You are behaviourists, public relations experts, event planners, fundraisers, veterinary assistants, trainers, volunteer coordinators, and social media gurus all rolled into one. You step up to the plate and put the work into these animals when their owners did not want or could not do so.
Snow days? What are those? The animals still need to be fed, watered, let out of their enclosures.
You do all this with a smile on your face and a lot of love in your heart.
Be proud of the work you do. It is undervalued, and poorly recognized but so important.
In case nobody said it today…..THANK YOU!!!!
Afterword: I wrote A BLOG IN THE SAME VEIN a while back. I think the information still holds true as do the challenges given. Thank your local rescue, their staff and their volunteers. There is a lot of good being done out there.