My Heart Is Breaking UPDATE

nymaureen

My thoughts and beliefs are not from animal rights propaganda, as you call it. I breathe, eat and sleep animal rescue. I am one of those members, of the community, who has pretty much given my life to animal rescue, because I see that need. Do you live what you preach about it? I've asked before how many fosters do you have? How many hours do you dedicate to the computer putting foster animals on petfinder or other places trying to find homes for them? How many hours do you put in, as a volunteer, as the Treasurer of that organization, doing the banking and record keeping which goes along with it? How many hours do you volunteer creating various spreadsheets, among them a record of all of those which your organization spays/neuters, be they individually owned animals, foster animals in your program, or animals from the local shelter you are helping out. These type of things are necessary, if you want to apply for that grant, which you so desperately need. How many hours do you volunteer on the phone, working to coordinate spay/neuter appointments for those that have asked for your help? How many hours do you volunteer socializing those dogs and cats, which you've taken into your foster program. How many hours do you volunteer making special cards to send out to those that have so kindly donated to your program and you just feel, I need to send them a special card...doesn't feel right just sending a plain old Thank-You. How many hours do you volunteer, either putting together fund raisers and/or attending all of the fund raisers, which are needed, in order that your organization can continue to do what it has been doing? You can put all of the links you want but lets see you put some of your own experiences down.

 This is typical of that "us vs. them" mentality that I was talking about. Nothing I could say will be good enough for you, I have been down this road time and time again with others who have the same mentality and am not interested in this sort of arguement. Obviously I ahve not dedicated my entire life to rescue but that doesn't mean I can't form an educated opinion on the situation. My life is very "dog oriented though, maybe moreso than your's. But like I told Ron this is not about me or not about my dogs personally and it isn't about you personally either. It is about the issues that we (in general) have been very misled by the Animal Rights groups and shelters and rescues who continue to promote their agenda.

Agile, you could do so much good if you would just lose the attitude that you are the only one who "understands".   Your heart is in the right place but your assumptions are really annoying. 

Not to mention apparently only reading what you want to - our shelter HAS humane ed, behavior counseling, etc. that you referred to in your last post and we STILL get 17-18000 animals per year and have for the last few years (it's actually gone up this year due to the policies of a neighboring county's animal sheltering system that results in more animals being brought to us because we're seen as more progressive).  It's obviously not the shelter's fault in my community! 

I know the NE and West Coast are quite differnt, but sheesh, if you haven't seen the issues we see down here I don't know that you'll ever understand.  All the articles about the so called "no kill" (hate that phrase btw) nation I've read are written by people in areas like New England where they're actually importing puppies; here in the SE that's a loooong way off.

I guess I'm done with this thread because it seems that no matter how much i try to show the other side of things (that I see firsthand as a staff member at a shelter), it's not getting through.  I'm sick of the assumptions.

stardog85

I guess I'm done with this thread because it seems that no matter how much i try to show the other side of things (that I see firsthand as a staff member at a shelter), it's not getting through.  I'm sick of the assumptions.

Exactly.

EDITED by me. Sorry if that got emailed to you, Erin.

And, BTW...certain members of ''no kill'' shelters in my area have been seen on video surveillance, leaving dogs as strays in ''kill shelters'' night cages. I guess they don't want to get their hands dirty, they'd lose all those nice big donations....

You know, Mo, since I've been working again, I don't get much time to volunteer. I work as much as I can to pay the bills I have so that I'm not a burden to others. But, I totally admire you for what you do. And what I can do, and do, in fact accomplish, is donating to my local shelter when I can. Even a few dollars in the "tip jar." Since I have been making money, again, I was able to afford some of the food I used to feed Shadow. I still have some left in the "cheap" bag and it will go to the shelter the very next available opportunity. We have also donated old sheets and blankets so the dogs have something to lay on. The dog kennels are such that they have an inside room and one exposed to the elements. Here, close to the Red River, it can get downright cold.

I support the local shelter in spite of their euth policy. Times when the shelter is not full, I think they fudge and give the dogs a little more time. And if a little money or food gives a dog another week, then hooraw. Some of the things they have are donated. They have a mobile adoption kennel, air-conditioned, with an electric hitch stand that they could never have afforded.. A private citizen spent about $50k to have this special trailer built and delivered to the the Shelter. They use it for their mobile adoptions on Saturdays in front of the Petco.

I joined this thread to give support to someone helping a dog in distress, not having to defend what I do in helping dogs. So, for those who disagree with me, sorry about your luck. I do what I can when I can and and I will not apologize and those who don't like that I support shelter adoptions and donating and helping at shelters can find something else to worry about.

I think it's great that people buy from good breeders and do great things with their dogs. And I think it's great when someone rescues a dog from the shelter and I could care less what PETA is about. Other than I think PETA is over the line, as well. But that should be another thread.

To the original poster, rockonwhichyabadself. You are an angel.