THE ULTIMATE GOAL

Well some of you know that I (Allie) am generally off in July which is wonderful. With it being already half-way over, I am starting to panic a little (lol). My enormous "To Do List" seems to keep growing. I did paint 2 rooms of our home, go on a mini vacation, and took pictures of some pups in need at an animal shelter - HA (hardly crossed anything off of my list)!

Being off, I have had more time to read Facebook posts. I have learned some wonderful things and I have also realized how many pups are still in need and it is truly heartbreaking. The heat wave across the US has been horrendous and all I can do is think about the poor animals living outside with no one to properly care for them. Facebook has been an amazing tool to help in the search/networking for fur-ever homes for these babies.

I am, however saddened by some of the negativity, bickering and name bashing, etc. that sometimes goes on in rescue as well (either on Facebook, email, or phone conversations). I try very hard to stay out of all that. I don't pretend to know all there is to know about "rescue". I am so busy with full-time work, taking care of my own pets, children, and general life that I do not have the time to scrutinize all of my rescue "friends" (nor would I want to). I truly believe that ALL of these animals deserve to find wonderful homes. That may mean that I share albums of pets in need. Just because I share an album for a particular rescue, etc. does NOT mean that I agree 100% with every little thing that that rescue does.

What it means is they have precious lives that need saving and if I can just get their picture out there or share information, then maybe SOMEONE will see them and want them. All of this "unfriending" and "note writing" on Facebook just hurts the animals. Again..I do NOT always agree with the way some rescues choose to do things, but the ultimate goal is to get them OUT of rescue and into loving homes. Heck, Kevin and I wish we had room in our house for every single foster dog to experience a home- like atmosphere instead of living in air-conditioned/heated large pens. We wish that one of us was home more to give them more 1:1 training and attention. We wish many things, but the reality is (at least for this area) that we could fill up an SUV just by driving around the streets here. There are strays everywhere and if they aren't strays, they might as well be because they are chained to something or just loose in the yard not even getting basic care. So it is clearly not perfect. WE are not perfect.

There are rescues that I would not send my pups to due to personal reasons (i.e., dogs live outside or the rescue may not screen applicants the way that I prefer, etc.). However, people are entitled to run their rescues they way they see fit and most of us in rescue are truly doing the best we can based upon the situation. I think there is a need for all of us. There are rescuers that literally see a dog on the street and go above and beyond to catch him/her, regardless of what the dog looks like and what that animal may cost them in the long run. Some of us can't or won't do that. There are those of us who will take them off the "kill list" at city shelters and basically provide temporary refuge for them which may entail boarding them in cages or kenneling them at their homes. There are those who relentlessly network animals in need on social networking sites and email and set up "Chip-Ins" or other fundraising campaigns to help "bail the animal out of jail" or help make them more attractive to potential adopters and rescuers. There are those who actually donate funds to get them out of "jail" or pay for their medical treatments. There are those who take in the ones with medical issues and treat them (i.e., heartworm, mange, etc.). There are those who can hand pick which dog they can take (breed specific rescues, mommies and babies, etc.). There are those who take the time to photograph desperate animals in shelters and/or foster homes to give them a greater chance of being adopted. There are those who take the time to post the animals on Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet and other animal-related sites so people can search for their next companion. Guess what... they are ALL helping to save lives and it's ok if you can only do a specific part of this whole "rescue" thing. In my mind, it is amazing when I can meet a fellow human that actually cares enough to do SOMETHING.

Now having said that, if someone has factual evidence that a rescue is mistreating the animals or keeping them in poor conditions, etc. then of course it is their duty to let people know. If it is a minor disagreement, etc. then PLEASE work it out amongst yourselves or perhaps even take the higher road and work to help that rescue.

Remember the ultimate goal is to place homeless animals in loving homes...until there are none!