Animal Rescue Advice

I came across this post from someone who works for an animal rescue, and asked if I could share what she had written. This is sound advice that I hope everyone will take to heart.

If you choose to rescue animals, I am going to give you some sound advice – Grow thick skin and don’t care what people think of you. I have known people to lose the battle with their minds and we just lost a kind, caring individual in my rescue network. Compassion fatigue is real, but nothing is worth your life. No pet. No rescue. No person’s opinion. Nothing.

In rescue, that person that tells you what an angel you are and how wonderful you are every time you pick up a stray pet thrown at their door will also be the first person who tells people how your organization is worthless when you don’t have space to pick up the 30th pet thrown off on their property. It’s ok.

In rescue, the adopter that leaves you the five star review about how wonderful everyone has been will change that review quick when they return the pet even though you have spent hours trying to keep it in their home. One star reviews are ok.

In rescue, your friend will be your friend until you deny their application for a pet because they are a great friend but a terrible pet owner. That’s ok too.
In rescue, you will answer 143 calls in a day (yesterday to be exact). But if you miss 6 calls in a row while you are in the shower, you will be the one who “never answers their phone”. It’s ok.

In rescue, other rescuers and random trolls will judge everything you do but never have time to pitch in a hand to help when they see something needing more attention. They will, however, have lots of time to talk about how they’d do it better while they harass and judge you. It will be ok.

In rescue, you will have to involve animal control and the police department sometimes. The people who you take pets from will hate you – and I mean REALLY hate you. Trust me, it’s ok.

In rescue, pets will be put down and pets will die at the hands of abusers. We can’t save them all – and that’s ok. We save the ones that we can and pray for peace for the ones we can’t.

I have been in the animal rescue world since 2009. I have dealt with every problem and every situation imaginable. I used to take some things to heart, then I realized – I am doing this for the animals, not for any person in this world. I have found my joy and no person will take that. If you are in rescue, don’t let anyone or anything take your joy. Find peace that you will never please everyone. Find peace that you will never save them all. Never allow something you love to turn into something that ends your life.
By: Tiffany Rebecca

Moral of the story. Just be nice. A lot of rescue workers do end their lives at the hand of things they see and experience on top of how they are treated by people. Don’t be a dick.

–Christina Byrd

Always be kind to those who help the helpless. They deserve to receive the same kindness that they give.