Before writing this article, I contacted webmaster Michael about whether I could actually use the word ‘bitch’ in the title. It’s not meant to offend, but to offer insights into the world of animal rescue (especially cats and dogs), that requires a special ‘bitch mentality’ to get the job done. In other words, a bitch in the world of rescue is someone I’d appreciate having in my corner, should I find myself locked in a cage and being threatened with euthanasia.
I’ve been reporting on animal abuse, shelter pet rescue and other topics related to saving dogs and cats since 2010. I’m messaged several times daily now with one shelter or rescue or another needing help in saving lives. Thus, the angels and bitches title. A lot of animal lovers adopt from rescues, never realizing the time and effort that went into saving a life. Families go to an adoption event, pick out little Fluffy or Bandit, and go home.
I, on the other hand, study the different shelters in our country. Especially the ones who are being deceptive about what they’re doing and don’t want the general public to know. I can tell you that picking a few animals shelters on Facebook, then following the ladies and gentlemen who diligently work to save lives, is much better than any show on television. It’s live action drama, as money is raised to free an animal, transport arranged to get that animal to wherever it will be safe. Thus, the title, as these animal advocates tend to fall into one category or the other.
The Angels
I love sitting back and following the angels of rescue. These are the participants who ask politely where the rescues and foster are. Where the pledges and donations have gone. This is particularly true since Julianne Westberry damaged the credibility of many in the animal rescue world by claiming to love cats, then leaving them in and under her home to die of thirst and starvation.
The angels don’t have much negative to say. They’re basically polite, asking other angels whether a new temporary foster cat or dog would be welcome in their home. Some of the angels have an ‘edge’ to their personality, but not to the degree as the others involved in rescue-the bitches.
The Bitches
As I mentioned earlier, I’d love to have any of these ladies or gentlemen fighting to get me out of a cold shelter cell before time ran out. The personalities of these rescuers is an awesome thing to witness-even if it is on Facebook. I can literally sit for hours and watch the conversations go back and forth. Many times, it’s similar to an election, with arguments ensuing as to whether a particular rescue is deemed worthy to even save the cat or dog. Again-thanks Julianne. You’ve killed the desire for many who used to support the legitimate rescues with donations.
It’s really amazing to watch those who don’t mind saying what they mean and meaning what they say. Especially when a comment is directed toward a shelter that isn’t truthful in how their facility is managed. In other words, if a shelter kills without reason, meaning humane euthanasia, those with this brave bitch mentality are all over them. A lot of bad shelters have been exposed because of those who aren’t afraid to question, to speak up, to risk being thought of as an absolute bitch.
The only downside I’ve seen is when rescues are reported for situations that are outside of their control. I know of several who have been turned in to animal control in their area after rescuing cats (yes, it’s mostly cats) who are critically ill. The next thing you know, an individual who doesn’t know the whole story sees the sick cat on the rescues Facebook page and calls in the authorities, when it was the shelter that didn’t provide good care and the rescue is having to deal with the fallout. It’s amazing how people in other states, who have never met the rescue or rescue volunteers, to pass judgment from 1000 miles away.
The problem with calling animal control is that sometimes a rescue IS guilty of running what poses as a rescue, but is a hoarding situation in disguise. I’m following several cases this week alone where this is happening. Rescuers who have gotten in over their heads, and have more cats than they can care for. One person recently even asked the question about whether “must we all become hoarders to save the cats on the kill list.”
Join the world of animal rescue
I invite you all to join the world of shelter animal rescue. Pick a local shelter, or follow a shelter your friends on social media are keeping up with. You won’t be disappointed, and you may feel the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a cat or dog. Place a few $5 donations on shelter pets you’d like to see saved. Offer to be a temporary foster for a cat or dog who needs help for only a few weeks until a rescue can arrange transport. This will make you part of the solution, rather than part of the problem that’s created by standing by and doing nothing.
I hope none of you took the ‘bitch’ term literally. How many of you admit to being a bitch when it comes to saving a cat or dog? Are you a 5-foot, 100-pound weakling who can put the fear of God into someone threatening to harm an animal? You can put me at the top of the list, because I can be mean as well. You know when a cat or dog is about to be killed at the shelter and no one is doing a thing to stop it. Please leave a comment below, especially if you have a difference in opinion.
Those in animal rescue are amazing, regardless of personality conflicts, which happen often.
A trend indicates an increase or pattern, yes certainly they lack empathy and compassion. As far as fosters go they are not the issue or to blame for owner returns to a rescue. Every foster I know is empathetic or wouldn’t be fostering. When a cat is returned after adopted from a high kill shelter they are just killed, very different from being adopted from a reputanle rescue where they have a safe foster to go back to. My question was more in the increase in owner returns, which means more than what it used to be.
This trend seems to indicate that some people have a lack of genuine concern and empathy for the domestic cat but people who foster should be very concerned and empathetic.
Great article Elisa. I also am interested in understanding this “trend” where people are returning adoptive pets. I am seeing this mostly at the shelter level, but it is also happening more and more with animal rescue groups. In the past few months alone I’ve taken back 2 fosters who were adopted as kittens and then returned once they turned a year old. This also happened recently with two cats that were adopted. People feel like heroes when they “save” an animal, yet think nothing of returning them after a week or even a few days. Don’t they realize that with a shelter this can mean instant death? They may also have prevented a chance for a real committed adopter to come along.
Of course I helped with this colony, which was relocated to a woman’s house where they could remain outside since the abandoned house they lived in was demolished. The colony also happened to be in the median of a 6 lane-highway. You still did not answer my question as to what YOU do when you find feral cats in the shelters. Funny how one can AVOID a question while continuing to POINT fingers.
You have a feral colony near your house and you haven’t taken it upon yourself to TNR?
Please don’t say that it’s not your responsibility, because it is.
Knowledge makes you responsible.
I don’t work for a shelter. Go to my Facebook page & you can pictures of all the cats I’ve saved with a rescue that I volunteer for and that is not even half of them. I love them, but I am also realistic. I have seen a feral cat colony near my house live in horridic conditions & multipky due to not being TNR’d or moved. I have also personally cleaned up a hoarding condition, along w/ a friend, and I would not wish that on any animal. I’ve also spent a lot of my own money & treated some extremetly sick cats, who were slated to be euthanized. What do you do when you find a feral at in a shelter?