Cynthia BlueI am just burned out with Rescue. Seriously. I don’t want to do it anymore. I want to stay home with my dogs and entirely ignore the overpopulation issue, all the tens of thousands of dogs that die every year because people don’t understand them, expect them to humans in suits, and abandon them.
It’s a horrible problem. It’s all over the stupid country. And all the good things that all the good rescues are doing seem like a tiny dent in the overall huge metal monster that it is. But we can’t take any more dogs into our home. At seven, we are packed. At six we are packed. At four we were okay and could do a foster or two. But at seven we cannot take anymore. Even at six, or at five, we wouldn’t be able to take anymore.
So I want to ignore the problem now, I want to bury my head in the sand, and pretend it’s not there. I want to work with my own dogs and love them and focus on them. I want to get Tony into a home, or a foster home. We are overwhelmed and overstressed. I have our used cisco router maxed, with all the internet stuff I do for rescue.
I won’t ignore the problem. I can’t. It’s too prevalent and anyone that has any dealing with dogs even in a very small way knows about it. The problem is there. It’s talked about. We have to be aware of it. And I’ll continue to talk about it, and be aware of it, and push rescue instead of breeding. But maybe, in my house full of happy dogs, maybe here where it’s safe and cozy and there is so much love and joy, maybe here we can ignore the problem and just be happy with who we have.
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I think there comes a point where we must accept what we can change and what we cannot. I agree the problem cannot be ignored, but you can’t save every dog any more than you can save every person or child or victim of any crime.
When we take on such a burden of responsibility we become less effective and eventually burn out… leaving little for us to share of ourselves with our loved ones.
Take care of yourself… so you can better care for others.. and recognize your limitations.
We all have our path to walk. I chose to believe that even the dogs that we can’t save have made a difference in someone’s life… however small it may be.
Fuzzy Logic’s last blog post..Best Laid Plans….
I think there comes a point where we must accept what we can change and what we cannot. I agree the problem cannot be ignored, but you can't save every dog any more than you can save every person or child or victim of any crime.
When we take on such a burden of responsibility we become less effective and eventually burn out… leaving little for us to share of ourselves with our loved ones.
Take care of yourself… so you can better care for others.. and recognize your limitations.
We all have our path to walk. I chose to believe that even the dogs that we can't save have made a difference in someone's life… however small it may be. <em>Fuzzy Logic's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sacredpaws/IZsb/~3...rel="nofollow">Best Laid Plans….</a></em>
I think there comes a point where we must accept what we can change and what we cannot. I agree the problem cannot be ignored, but you can't save every dog any more than you can save every person or child or victim of any crime.
When we take on such a burden of responsibility we become less effective and eventually burn out… leaving little for us to share of ourselves with our loved ones.
Take care of yourself… so you can better care for others.. and recognize your limitations.
We all have our path to walk. I chose to believe that even the dogs that we can't save have made a difference in someone's life… however small it may be. <em>Fuzzy Logic's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sacredpaws/IZsb/~3...rel="nofollow">Best Laid Plans….</a></em>
I think you have done an awesome job helping find homes for some wonderful dogs.
It is very hard to foster and keep up with your own family (kids and dogs)
I think the key in solving the issues we are having is education.
Hard part for me is that I may be able to adopt again in maybe 5-8 years. Such a long time.
I think you have done an awesome job helping find homes for some wonderful dogs.
It is very hard to foster and keep up with your own family (kids and dogs)
I think the key in solving the issues we are having is education.
Hard part for me is that I may be able to adopt again in maybe 5-8 years. Such a long time.
I am getting involved in bird “rescue” and it’s heart breaking. I do not understand how human beings can treat animals so badly. It makes me wonder about the human race. But yesterday at a meeting we were discussing compassion burnout. It happens to everyone and sometimes sticking your head in the sand (at least temporarily) is a good thing. You’re doing a really great thing and remember; if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. You are definitely part of the solution.
I volunteer at a shelter so I understand where you are coming from. We had 4 dogs at one time and it seemed like too many, I can’t imagine housing 7! At the shelter we like to remind ourselves that it’s one dog at a time. If we forget that, it gets overwhelming. Your 7 doggies are very lucky!
rialeilani’s last blog post..Seriously are we that lazy?
I am getting involved in bird "rescue" and it's heart breaking. I do not understand how human beings can treat animals so badly. It makes me wonder about the human race. But yesterday at a meeting we were discussing compassion burnout. It happens to everyone and sometimes sticking your head in the sand (at least temporarily) is a good thing. You're doing a really great thing and remember; if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. You are definitely part of the solution.
Cyn - I know how overwhelming it can be for sure! You definitely deserve a break.
If you want me to watch Tony for a week I’d be more than happy to do it! At least that way you could have a break. Or at least just get him out on walks for ya when we go out! Just LMK!! I adore that big boy and he gets along okay with my two!!
I volunteer at a shelter so I understand where you are coming from. We had 4 dogs at one time and it seemed like too many, I can't imagine housing 7! At the shelter we like to remind ourselves that it's one dog at a time. If we forget that, it gets overwhelming. Your 7 doggies are very lucky! <em>rialeilani's last blog post..<a href='http://polynesianprincess.wordpress.com/2008/02/2...rel="nofollow">Seriously are we that lazy?</a></em>
I volunteer at a shelter so I understand where you are coming from. We had 4 dogs at one time and it seemed like too many, I can't imagine housing 7! At the shelter we like to remind ourselves that it's one dog at a time. If we forget that, it gets overwhelming. Your 7 doggies are very lucky! <em>rialeilani's last blog post..<a href='http://polynesianprincess.wordpress.com/2008/02/2...rel="nofollow">Seriously are we that lazy?</a></em>
Cyn - I know how overwhelming it can be for sure! You definitely deserve a break.
If you want me to watch Tony for a week I'd be more than happy to do it! At least that way you could have a break. Or at least just get him out on walks for ya when we go out! Just LMK!! I adore that big boy and he gets along okay with my two!!
Hi Jen, yeah I am recognizing my limitations.. I swear when I was younger I didn’t have any. LOL or I just didn’t have much sense, which was probably the case.
Hi Astrid, it is hard to foster. It didn’t used to be this hard, but then I didn’t have so much going on, either. Ugh.
Thanks Flo. I can just imagine how bird rescue is, too. It’s so sad how awful people can be to animals.
Hi Christy oh thanks so much! He would love to go on walks with you for sure…
HI rialeilani thanks for your comment. I don’t think I could work at a shelter, every time I’ve gone into one I’ve ended up adopting an animal. ugh. I agree, though, we have to focus on the animal we have, because we do make a difference to that animal.
Seven is too many, that is why we can’t take any more. Even six will be borderline. But we can handle six. I dream of the day we’ll get back down to three… but I wish none of them had to die to get there. We don’t want to lose any of our family.
Hi Jen, yeah I am recognizing my limitations.. I swear when I was younger I didn't have any. LOL or I just didn't have much sense, which was probably the case.
Hi Astrid, it is hard to foster. It didn't used to be this hard, but then I didn't have so much going on, either. Ugh.
Thanks Flo. I can just imagine how bird rescue is, too. It's so sad how awful people can be to animals.
Hi Christy oh thanks so much! He would love to go on walks with you for sure…
HI rialeilani thanks for your comment. I don't think I could work at a shelter, every time I've gone into one I've ended up adopting an animal. ugh. I agree, though, we have to focus on the animal we have, because we do make a difference to that animal.
Seven is too many, that is why we can't take any more. Even six will be borderline. But we can handle six. I dream of the day we'll get back down to three… but I wish none of them had to die to get there. We don't want to lose any of our family.
A big thing I had to learn in my work in Mexico is You really can’t save them all. Its like the old starfish parable. You can walk the beaches of the world, picking up starfish and tossing them back into the sea. Even if you did this without stopping, day and night for the rest of your life, you could not save them all. What matters are the ones you DID save. You’ve saved seven dogs (countless others over the years, but seven at the moment) and have given them all a wonderful life. But if you continue to take in and take in and take in more than you are capable of supporting with that same level of love and care, then you are no better than a collector and you aren’t helping the animals anymore. We all have to know our limits.
Twice a week I got to my local shelter to pick up the dogs and cats that have been adopted to be spayed and neutered, and every week I walk away leaving behind cages upon cages full of animals that will most likely never know a kind touch or a warm bed ever again. The last thing they will feel is the sting of a needle and cold metal table. Its heart breaking, but I can’t focus on that. I have to focus on the ones that were saved, and doing what I can to make these new pets and new owners mesh and understand each other so they don’t end up getting returned. We all do our small part, and make one small difference every day. Its the best that anyone can do.
Rachael’s last blog post..The trail mutt rides again
A big thing I had to learn in my work in Mexico is You really can't save them all. Its like the old starfish parable. You can walk the beaches of the world, picking up starfish and tossing them back into the sea. Even if you did this without stopping, day and night for the rest of your life, you could not save them all. What matters are the ones you DID save. You've saved seven dogs (countless others over the years, but seven at the moment) and have given them all a wonderful life. But if you continue to take in and take in and take in more than you are capable of supporting with that same level of love and care, then you are no better than a collector and you aren't helping the animals anymore. We all have to know our limits.
Twice a week I got to my local shelter to pick up the dogs and cats that have been adopted to be spayed and neutered, and every week I walk away leaving behind cages upon cages full of animals that will most likely never know a kind touch or a warm bed ever again. The last thing they will feel is the sting of a needle and cold metal table. Its heart breaking, but I can't focus on that. I have to focus on the ones that were saved, and doing what I can to make these new pets and new owners mesh and understand each other so they don't end up getting returned. We all do our small part, and make one small difference every day. Its the best that anyone can do. <em>Rachael's last blog post..<a href='http://riverflower.blogspot.com/2008/02/trail-mut...rel="nofollow">The trail mutt rides again</a></em>
A big thing I had to learn in my work in Mexico is You really can't save them all. Its like the old starfish parable. You can walk the beaches of the world, picking up starfish and tossing them back into the sea. Even if you did this without stopping, day and night for the rest of your life, you could not save them all. What matters are the ones you DID save. You've saved seven dogs (countless others over the years, but seven at the moment) and have given them all a wonderful life. But if you continue to take in and take in and take in more than you are capable of supporting with that same level of love and care, then you are no better than a collector and you aren't helping the animals anymore. We all have to know our limits.
Twice a week I got to my local shelter to pick up the dogs and cats that have been adopted to be spayed and neutered, and every week I walk away leaving behind cages upon cages full of animals that will most likely never know a kind touch or a warm bed ever again. The last thing they will feel is the sting of a needle and cold metal table. Its heart breaking, but I can't focus on that. I have to focus on the ones that were saved, and doing what I can to make these new pets and new owners mesh and understand each other so they don't end up getting returned. We all do our small part, and make one small difference every day. Its the best that anyone can do. <em>Rachael's last blog post..<a href='http://riverflower.blogspot.com/2008/02/trail-mut...rel="nofollow">The trail mutt rides again</a></em>
Oh Mexico… I was down there once and was very saddened at the state of the dogs there. It broke my heart. I admire you for going there to help, that must be very stressful.
And your shelter job.. yeah, we have to focus on the good things, the animals we do save, as they are all grateful.
I am in need of a break for a while, though. I refuse to become a collector!
Fortunately I think I have enough sense not to.
Oh Mexico… I was down there once and was very saddened at the state of the dogs there. It broke my heart. I admire you for going there to help, that must be very stressful.
And your shelter job.. yeah, we have to focus on the good things, the animals we do save, as they are all grateful.
I am in need of a break for a while, though. I refuse to become a collector!
Fortunately I think I have enough sense not to.
You are doing a wonderful job, but sometimes you just need to take a little time out for yourself and your loved ones so that you can re-charge and keep going. Yes, the overpopulation problem and the inexuseable cruelty that humans inflict on animals is overwhlming - no one person can make a difference for all of those poor animal, but you sure a making a difference in the lives of the ones that you can help.
Michelle’s last blog post..Introducing Trinity!
You are doing a wonderful job, but sometimes you just need to take a little time out for yourself and your loved ones so that you can re-charge and keep going. Yes, the overpopulation problem and the inexuseable cruelty that humans inflict on animals is overwhlming - no one person can make a difference for all of those poor animal, but you sure a making a difference in the lives of the ones that you can help. <em>Michelle's last blog post..<a href='http://turbotaj.blogspot.com/2008/02/introducing-...rel="nofollow">Introducing Trinity!</a></em>
You are doing a wonderful job, but sometimes you just need to take a little time out for yourself and your loved ones so that you can re-charge and keep going. Yes, the overpopulation problem and the inexuseable cruelty that humans inflict on animals is overwhlming - no one person can make a difference for all of those poor animal, but you sure a making a difference in the lives of the ones that you can help. <em>Michelle's last blog post..<a href='http://turbotaj.blogspot.com/2008/02/introducing-...rel="nofollow">Introducing Trinity!</a></em>