In tears all day....

Rescue stories are different when they hit you between the eyes... I understand your pain Barb.. I see it all of the time. Maybe not as bad as that poor little thing in your store but they do come in to me full of fleas, hooks, whip and round worms and ear infections. Hypothyroid, bad skin sores flea dermatitis, no fur and very scared. It's the courage of these little souls plus what we can do for them with good food, clean beds, medication, love and attention that brings about a success story for each one. It's the success stories that keep us going every day... Because they are worth it.

Hugs
Judy
 
I worked with a cat rescue group and I think I burnt out. I spent many nights pulling shifts for feeding and medicine, etc. I bandaged, ointment, pills, liquids, washing cages, changing litters, setting traps etc. It is hard work and there are so many rewards but I was more behind the scenes the one stuck doing the "dirty" work while nice well dressed luncheon ladies like to show up to sit at the shows and pet stores and adopt them out( but they never had time to empty a litter box or even haul thousands of pounds of litter in their cars from feed store to storage rooms), anyway I also worked at a vet office long time ago and would cry in the bathroom when the animals were put down. I was told time and time again you will get use to it and I couldnt make them understand I didnt want to become "used" to it and not cry for them. Oh well it was hard and I was mentally and emotionally worn out. Yesterday I got a knock on my door about helping a new cat group beginning on the spay and release.The neighbor who is branching off on the new one saw a stack of kennels in my garage when I moved in and knows I am an animal person. I think I will be strict enough to limit my time donated but will try again. I don't know if this is right or not but it's the stories and knowing it is really never ending sadly and someone has to help makes me believe I have to get back in the again. Seeing that dogs pic makes me cry, it also makes me nervous as I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders when I shouldn't and these shoulders are bent and over and worn.
 
I worked with a cat rescue group and I think I burnt out. I spent many nights pulling shifts for feeding and medicine, etc. I bandaged, ointment, pills, liquids, washing cages, changing litters, setting traps etc. It is hard work and there are so many rewards but I was more behind the scenes the one stuck doing the "dirty" work while nice well dressed luncheon ladies like to show up to sit at the shows and pet stores and adopt them out( but they never had time to empty a litter box or even haul thousands of pounds of litter in their cars from feed store to storage rooms), anyway I also worked at a vet office long time ago and would cry in the bathroom when the animals were put down. I was told time and time again you will get use to it and I couldnt make them understand I didnt want to become "used" to it and not cry for them. Oh well it was hard and I was mentally and emotionally worn out. Yesterday I got a knock on my door about helping a new cat group beginning on the spay and release.The neighbor who is branching off on the new one saw a stack of kennels in my garage when I moved in and knows I am an animal person. I think I will be strict enough to limit my time donated but will try again. I don't know if this is right or not but it's the stories and knowing it is really never ending sadly and someone has to help makes me believe I have to get back in the again. Seeing that dogs pic makes me cry, it also makes me nervous as I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders when I shouldn't and these shoulders are bent and over and worn.

TNR (Trap Neuter Release) programs are excellent but if you've found rescue involvement tough in the past, you may want to consider a different way to contribute. It is easy to want to rescue/foster/adopt cats in the TNR programs, even though the programs specifically are designed to release cats back to a feral population, not into private homes.

Consider fostering for a rescue. Before you foster, choose the maximum number of fosters you'd be willing to take on (ever) and what health problems you would be willing to work with. Leave complicated cases, day-to-day rescue work like transports, etc, up to the other rescue volunteers. Tell this info to the rescue up front and do not ever make "exceptions". It is so much better to help a little bit for the long haul, than give more than you have time/energy for and burn out.
 
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