From a Dog Rescuer: I want to quit! (But so inspirational to keep going!)

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Kristina Bowman for sharing this beautiful piece; not sure who wrote it. I think I would call it "A Day in the Life of a Dog Rescuer", but I think it applies to anyone who advocates for animals in most all their spare time.

I want to quit!My health is bad. There are days I feel so terrible that I can barely move. Myphone bills are outrageous, and I could have replaced my van with the funds Ihave spent these last 3 years---on animals that were not my own. I want to quit!I spend hours and hours emailing about dogs. There may be 500 messages when Istart---and at 4 AM, when I finally shut down the computer, there are still 500emails to be20read. I want to quit!Gosh, I haven't the time left to email my friends. I can't remember the last bookI read, and I gave up my subscription to my local newspaper---I used to enjoyreading it, cover to cover, but now it often ends up in the bottom of thesquirrel's cage---unread. I want to quit!I've spent days emailing what seems like everyone---trying to find a fosterhome, help for a dog languishing in a shelter---but his time has run

out, andthe shelter has had to euthanize to make room for the next sad soul. I want to quit!I swear, I walk away from my computer to stretch my legs---let the dogs out---andcome back to find another dog in desperate need. There are times I really dreadchecking my email. How will I find the funds, the help, to save yet anotherdog? I want to quit!I save one dog, and two more take its place. Now an owner who doesn't want hisdog---it won't stay in his unfenced yard. An intact male wanders... This bitchgot pregnant by a stray... This 3-month-old pup killed baby chicks... The doggot too big... This person's moving and needs to give up his pet. I ask you,friends---what town, what city, what state doesn't allow you to own a pet? I want to quit!I just received another picture, another sad soul with tormented eyes that peerout of a malnourished body. I hear whimpering in my sleep, have

nightmares fordays... Manny of the "Breed People" don't seem to want to hearabout these dogs. Breeders either don't realize, or just don't care, how manydogs of their breed are dying in shelters. I want to quit!I just got off the phone. "Are you Pyr Rescue? We want to adopt a male tobreed to our female." How many times do I have to explain? I have tried toexplain about genetics, about health and pedigrees. I explain that rescueNEUTERS! I usually end up sobbing, as I explain about the vast numbers ofanimals dying in shelters across the country, as I describe the condition manyof these animals are found in. I wonder if they really heard me... I want to quit!It is not like I don't have enough rescues of my own to worry about---butothers have placed dogs improperly and aren't there to advise the new owners. I want to quit!There ARE some unscrupulous rescues out

there---hoarders, collectors, and folkswho will short change the care of the animals to make a dollar. They save the mall, regardless of temperament, putting fellow rescuer's and adopters at riskby not being truthful. I want to quit!I have trusted the wrong people--- had faith and heart broken... I want to quit!AND THEN...My dog, lays his head in my lap, he comforts me with his gentle presence---andthe thought of his cousins suffering stirs my heart. I want to quit!AND THEN...One of those 500 emails is from an adopter. They are thanking me for the mostwonderful dog on earth---they cannot imagine life with out their friend---theirlife is changed, and they are so grateful. I want to quit!AND THEN...One of my adopted Rescues has visited a nursing home. A patient that has spentthe last few years unable to communicate, not connecting---Lifts his hand topat

the huge head in his lap, softly speaks his first words in ages--- to thisgentle furchild. I want to quit!AND THEN...A Good Samaritan has found and vetted a lost baby, "I can't keep him, butI'll take care of him until you find his forever home." I want to quit!AND THEN..."Jamie took his first steps holding on to our Pyr..Joan, youshould see this dog nursing this hurt kitten!I was so sick, Joan,and he never left my side..." I want to quit!AND THEN...I get an email from a fellow rescuer, "Haven't heard from you in awhile---you OK? You know I think of you..." AND THEN...A dozen rescuers step up to help, to transport, to pull, and tooffer encouragement. I have friends I have never seen, but we share tears,joys, and everything in between. I am not alone. I am blest with family of theheart, my fellow Rescuers. Just days ago it was a friend

who shared her wit and wisdom, whoselate night email lifted my heart. Sometimes it is friends who only have time toforward you a smile. Often, it is my friends who forward me the notices of dogsin need. There are Rescuers who see a flailing transport and do everythingthey can do find folks to pull it together for you. Rescuers who'll overnightor foster your Dog while you seek transport. There are Rescuers not used to orcomfortable with your breed, but who put aside their discomfort to help. Thereare Rescuers whose words play the music of our hearts. Fost er homes that loveyour Rescue, and help to make them whole again---body and spirit. Foster homesthat fit your baby in, though it may not be their breed. Rescuers whose talentsand determination give us tools to help us. Rescuers we call on for help in athousand ways, who answer us, who hear our pleas. Rescuers who are our family,our strength, our

comrades in battle. I know I cannot save every dog in need. I know my efforts area mere drop in a sea. I know that if I take on just one more---those I havewill suffer.I want to quit!But I won't. When I feel overwhelmed, I'll stroke my dogs head whilereading my fellow Rescuers emails. I'll cry with them, I'll laugh withthem---and they will help me find the strength to go on. I want to quit!But not today.There's another email, another dog needing Rescue.