11/18/2025
*Sigh. I'm going to expound a bit more regarding this post. I did not know the dog, was not aware of what happened, but have since found out he's in the care of the HS in Hobart, and that is wonderful news for this poor guy. I wish they were all so lucky.
I posted this as an example, so people can understand the reality facing pets in our community. If you aren't in rescue, if you aren't an animal person, if you aren't following pages like our, chances are you don't know. I talk to people ALL THE TIME who have no idea that ACs and shelters and rescues are at the breaking point. I spoke to people just this past weekend at the event we were at and the looks of shock on their faces as I explained the crisis we are facing were sincere. So maybe one of our followers shares a post like this and someone who DIDN'T know, now has a small clue. Or maybe someone who has been on the fence about fostering sees a post like this and finally decides now is the time to take the plunge and save a life.
That being said, the comments sort of went off the rails, some of which have been deleted (not by me, I try not to censor without a really good reason). I initially responded and typically try not to engage but I don't now what it was about today. I was 5 minutes from home after being gone for almost 12 hours (I commute downtown everyday for work), in a rush to get home to my pets and my fosters and all the rescue work that awaits me, but I was stuck in traffic - literally at a standstill due to an accident. Close to home but unable to get there, my CGM going off because my blood sugar was going dangerously low, tired and cranky and I was just in a horrible mood. So I had time to look at my phone, and a baseless comment just set really set me off.
We've been around a while. We do things the way we are comfortable doing them. With years of experience comes a tiny bit of wisdom. A few rescues that were around when we started are still around, too. Many are gone. Others have come AND gone in that time. We all do things differently but we are never going to post criticism about how another rescue operates. It's not our rescue, it's not our business. Now if we have direct knowledge of a rescue abusing or neglecting their animals, then all bets are off. And yes, more than once over the years we've had to rescue dogs and cats from other "rescues." But most are doing their best with good intentions.
It's such a huge problem. Lack of funding, cities and towns that cry poor and put zero money/resources into animal control, irresponsible people, the list is never ending.
We need better laws, we need local municipalities to ENFORCE laws, harsher punishments, more accountability. And you know what would be great? Fines for people who allow their dogs and cats to reproduce. We used to pull cats/kittens from ACs and shelters all the time. I can't remember the last time we did, and yet we constantly have dozens of them in the rescue. They are all coming from the streets. These days, the majority of our adoptable bebes were strays that found their way to us (some of us are magnets).
Anyway, if you read this far, that's impressive. Attention spans aren't what they used to be (and I think that's also part of the problem). Liking, sharing, commenting all helps. And if/when you decide to foster, we'll be here.*
This is every day. Every single day. Dogs and cats, endlessly in need of help - and not nearly enough helpers 💔😭
