Here are some facts about animal rescue work:
- It never ends. There are always animals that need places to go, and not enough places for them to go.
- We are constantly being bombarded by people begging us and pleading with us to take animals. The person contacting us always has the worst situation because it is the worst situation to them.
- We are constantly trying to juggle where animals are going to go and how we’re going to continue to take care of the animals that we currently have in our care.
- We do not have an unlimited place for animals to go. Yet oftentimes, people think we have some sort of special place that animals can go to. But it’s in their imagination because we certainly don’t have it.
- It gets tiresome to beg and plead constantly. We beg and plead for money and foster homes. Even though we plead regularly for help, it never seems to be enough to handle the need.
- Every single day, in every moment, animal rescues feel the weight of the animals in their care heavy on their backs and shoulders. It can cause them physical/mental/emotional illness from the burden.
- Finding a balance between home life and work as an animal rescue is virtually impossible. People are constantly needing something at all hours of the day and night. Creating boundaries and sticking to them is nearly impossible. And when you do stick to boundaries, people get upset with you.
Those are just some of the insights I wanted to share.
What can you do about it?
If nothing else, be more empathetic towards people in rescue. Be more understanding and kind. Be appreciative for what they do and don’t expect them to always be able to do what you want them to do. Don’t think you can put yourself in their shoes because you’re not going to be able to unless you are actually in their shoes.
Pitch in when you can, donate money, and be a good human in general. The ripple effect of being a good human makes a huge positive difference in the world as a whole.❤️🙏💪❤️🙏
Thanks for reading this. Thanks for being our cheerleaders. Please consider sharing.
-An animal rescuer for 22 years officially and for decades more in an informal way.
