I hate this!

Sorry work is really drain for you! I hope things get better and hopefully some people will be able to adopt some dogs out from you guys. It's never easy turning down a dog especially when his fate is in the balance. Try to be stick with it and just think if you took each dog home that you turned down at the shelter you would have a way to full house.
 
If only people would get smart and consider a dog for life instead of turning them over when they just don't care about it. I wish all dogs could have a good home that would always be there for them and few dogs would ever end up in a shelter.

I think it's great that you dedicate yourself like this to making a difference in the world, one dog at a time.  It's hard to remember that you can't save everyone of them or you would be overrun by the ocean of pups in need.  Try to keep an energy barrier around you as much as you can so that everyone and everything doesn't suck your spirit dry.  When that happens, you get jaded, bitter, sick, burned out, or depressed.  Keep on lovin em all, it looks like you really found your place to help and contribute and you're dang good at it too.  Feed and replenish yourself in all ways to keep strong.  I think you're great, Amy.    Jules

Wow, what a rough day, Amy.
 
I know I couldn't do what you do.. I wish I could, because it makes such a difference.  I'm so grateful that there are such dedicated people, like you, who can and DO do it.  Hang in there, it's like anything, I'm sure... somedays are better than others.  Just remember to REALLY enjoy that great moment when one of those special kids find their wonderful, forever homes. 
 
You're doing a great thing... we're rootin' for ya!  [sm=angel.gif]

I have, in the past, visited a few husky rescue sites. And there is a burn-out turn-over. Or, a person, will leave rescue work for a while and re-charge. You get your heart broken every day and it takes its toll. I once talked with an ACO from the Sherman ACC. I would have a hard time dealing with the humans who have abused animals. He, OTOH, handles it just fine because he has the right temperment and mentality. You do what you can do and that is all that you can do. You can't save everyone and but you can save some. And to those few that you can save, you literally made a world of difference. So, hold onto the power you have to save a few.
 
I've had the resources to take care of one dog. But for that dog, Shadow, we were the difference between life and death, literally. His previous owner was living with her dysfunctional family and her adoptive mother was going to euthanize Shadow out of pure meanness and had already PTS 2 of the cats at the house. Shadow was next, by about half a week. It was Labor Day Weekend 2004. She showed us a pic of him from her phone camera and how could you not love his face? We said yes. She immediately, and I do mean that very minute, left and drove home, nearly sending a rooster tail of gravel, and got him and his belongings and brought him back. Shadow is shy at first. I took an entire hour of visiting. Once I started telling Shadow about our huge backyard, he was all over me. When it was time to leave, I opened the door to my truck and he was immediate up in there and wondering why we weren't gone yet. When I had initially stepped out the door to bring the truck around, my wife tells me that he was at the door whining. As our friends had noted, it would have been nigh onto impossible for us to leave without him.
 
Keep that thought with you in the tough moments.
 

I can sooooo relate to everything you're saying! In the past I've worked for the SPCA and a county animal shelter. It's physically and emotionally draining. I cleaned cages, walked dogs, helped people with them, held dogs for exams, etc. for up to 10 hrs a day. It's much more exhausting than it seems. When I got home, once I sat down there was no getting back up. That meant that a lot of times I ended up doing the same thing as you, falling asleep at 6:00 or 7:00 at night.
 
And it is completely heartbreaking when you see animals get put to sleep all the time. [] Some of the cases were understandable, very aggressive animals I felt like needed to be pts because they were dangerous. But other times it was so much harder. There was one dog, a Chow mix that I named Pumpkin, that was just the sweetest dog. She was at the county animal shelter and the vets came around every morning putting an E (for euthanasia) on animals cards every morning. When I saw the E on her card I couldn't believe it! I found out that they were putting her to sleep because she had kennel cough. I begged them to put her in an isolated area, but they refused to do that, they let me have 1 day to try and find her a home.... I couldn't get in touch with any of the Chow rescues and I was already over my limit at my 1 bedroom apartment and I knew I couldn't even foster her because my Shar Pei probably wouldn't have gotten along with her, I had cats, etc. So the next morning when they put her in one of those metal carts and wheeled her to the back area I just broke down in tears. I still feel like I failed her. [] 
 
I won't even begin to get into all the other stories that I have because they're much more horrible. But anyway, I really do know what you're going through, it is HARD work in every sense of the word.

I agree with Ron here. It is a tough call to make. May I make a suggestion? What we have started doing is picking up breed specific rescues, that are reputable and have been inspected by one of the staff to ensure there is no hanky panky going on and we will call them if we have a particular breed come in. Like Shepherds, Corgi's, you get the idea.
 
Hugs to you girl. I would be worried about you also as DH has a good reason. It is your system's safety net working to shut down.
At least that happens to me when I am overwhelmed or extremely stressed out.

Sorry to hear you are going through this. i can't imagine dealing with this everyday. You are at least doing something and you are making a difference. Remember that. Unfortunatly we can't save them all.

mmm.....it's sad, I know many shelters here would turn away animals because their full and really don't have the space.  I occasionally would volunteer at the animal shelter to walk the dogs.  [8|] 

I think I am emotionally drained

 
It's called "compassion fatigue".  Lots of shelter workers face this, and it's real.  Bless you for being the angel that you are and helping all the critters. []

Please remember that you are not "Failing" these poor dogs.  Its people like you that give them that one last chance for survival.  It is because of people like you that these No Kill shelters exist in the first place.  But you can't save the world by yourself.  Take a breather if you need to.  You deserve it.  Sit back and remember all the dogs that you helped to find forever homes for.  And try to believe that someone else sees what you do in the dogs that have been turned away. 

Amy - In my heart, you're one of life's heroes.  Thank you for doing what you do and know that you truly do make a difference.  Take time to love and pamper yourself though.  You won't be able to do this job if you're not well.  Hugs and huge pats on the back.  Thanks from me and millions of dog lovers and doggies [sm=angel.gif]

Amy, bless you!  You are doing something I've always wanted to do but know in my heart I can't.  Please do take care of yourself.  You have a kind & gentle soul & can burn out fast.
I was wondering how it's going with the little poodle you were working with??

Amy, sorry that you are feeling so drained, but thank you and God bless you for the work you do. It can't be easy, and I admire you for it.

Amy, you are doing such a wonderful thing for these dogs, and of course, because you have such a big heart - you are worn out, emotionally drained...  It takes a really strong person, whose heart is really in the right place, to do what you are doing - just remember, that even though you can't save the world, you are making a very big difference to those you are able to help every day.  Hang in there and take care of yourself!!