Received from a public list, Stormy - CLArctos@msn.com
Are All Rescue Groups/Rescuers What They Claim?
Copyright 2002, The Dog Lady Barks, all rights reserved
This article is dedicated to the memory of "Codie" a heartbreaking rescue
If you think all rescue groups, individual rescuers and foster people, have the best interests of the animals at heart, you are dead wrong. Sadly today, many of those who have become involved with rescue, formed a group, or act as foster homes, do not have the interests of the animals as their number one priority. Their priority is much more self-serving i.e., their need to be wanted, and looked upon by others as angels and heroes, raking in the back pats and recognition of others, who do not see them for what they really are. They are attention seekers, with the "save 'em all" mentality, at the expense of the animals and those who adopt them.
Who are these save 'em alls? They are often the newbie rescuers and fosters, who wanted to be part of the rescue cliques that congregate on various internet pet bulletin boards. They boast ad nauseam about the number of pets they have "saved," or currently foster in their homes. This is now considered the in thing to do and talk about, in an effort to gain the admiration of others, thus pumping one's self up. Want to be part of the clique? That's easy. Simply post, HELP!! URGENT!! DOG IN KILL SHELTER...GOING TO BE PTS TODAY!! (or sold for laboratory research) on an internet pet bulletin board. This is almost guaranteed to bring you the atta boy/girl, while a contingent of fluffs fall all over themselves to save an animal they know nothing about healthwise, or it's suitability for rehoming. Sometimes the animals are parked with fosters who have little knowledge, are up to their necks with the saved, and have living conditions that would put some of the mills they yap about, to shame.
What's wrong with this picture? A lot, and here's why. Originally, rescue was done mainly by responsible breeders who were individual or small breed rescues, as well as those formed by breed clubs. Their purpose was to pull pure breds of their chosen breed (and occasionally mixes of) that found their way into shelters or those that had to be given up due to owner's death/illness, rehoming only those that should be. It was not a competition of who could outdo the other, in terms of saving and rehoming, were knowledgeable about their breed, capable of a proper evaluation of the rescues they took in, and in a position to get an expert opinion, if needed. They also knew how to screen potential adopters, would not knowingly rehome dogs with serious health or temperament issues, and understood the word euthanasia, when in the best interest of the animal, and appropriate. Simply put, it was about the animals, not self-gratification.
Are there responsible rescue groups today? Yes, and they deserve all the support that can be given for their efforts. However, many have become involved in rescue/foster that should not have. Their irresponsible actions have hurt the cause, giving all rescues a bad name in the eyes of others....a bad thing for all rescues, the animals, and adopters.
What are these irresponsible actions? Rescue/foster is a serious matter, as those pets taken in, are going to be rehomed to the public...a HUGE responsibility, which also carries LIABILITY. It should NEVER be entered into without the necessary knowledge, proper foster homes, have someone knowledgeable in temperament testing, as well as funding in place for veterinary, housing, transport and other costs. Rescue cannot be done properly on a shoestring budget. Foster homes should be chosen with care, rather than park the rescued pets with anyone, because they own animals themselves. Owning animals does NOT mean that person is qualified as an appropriate foster home. There are a lot of clueless pet owners, who can do more harm than good in their handling of a rescued pet, not to mention their inability to evaluate the pet in their foster care, as to its suitability for rehoming.
Rescue groups, individual rescuers, and fosters who take on more animals than they can handle, because they can't say no, are the worst...it is truly a sickness. On any given day, all I have to do is visit various internet pet bulletin boards, and will find the same I can't say no's who had to save an animal from a shelter, but have no room themselves, and are frantically calling for help to transport, if someone will offer to either foster or take the animal in for themselves. NO mention is made of the overall condition of that animal, their only concern is to save it.
Unfortunately, some of the animals they saved were seriously or terminally ill, or had contagious illnesses, putting the pets of those who were sincere in offering their help in jeopardy. In some cases those who helped, incurred veterinary expenses for their own pets who became ill. You can bet, those who were burned by the irresponsible rescuers who were less than truthful, will NEVER offer their help again. What about the person who agreed to adopt the pet, was given a statement of health signed by a veterinarian the rescuer claims they had examine the pet? The adopter realizes the pet does not look well, but assumes the problem is treatable, gives the rescuer additional money for their rescue efforts, but finds out differently when taking the pet to their vet immediately. Their vet informs them that the illness is terminal. In a matter of a few weeks, the pet must be PTS.....a terrible heartbreak for them.
Then we have rescuers and fosters who proudly announce how they are over their limit (again)....MAXED OUT! I tell 'ya, with animals they have taken in, but took in more, making excuses for it. Bring on the cheerleaders who encourage them, because they do the same thing themselves, and their admirers, the wannabes, who WILL follow in their footsteps. As a matter of fact, some fosters who do this, have only been fostering for some rescue group/s for a short period of time. Some are so lacking in basic knowledge and common sense, that they allowed a foster and their own pets to be together when not in attendance. The tragic result was the death of their own pet by a foster. It's not that there were no warning signs, they were there, but either not recognized or ignored. The very same thing happened with a seasoned rescuer. To top it all off, some fosters continually taking in more pets than they can properly handle from rescues that hand 'em over, talk about opening their own rescue, and say they plan to do it right. Huh? They're already DOING IT WRONG! Do you see a pattern here?
There are also the holier than thou rescuers who take in very ill pets already stressed to the max. They subject them to all kinds of invasive, painful procedures and surgeries, requiring a lengthy and painful recovery, from which some never recovered. A few of these rescuers proudly post photos shortly after the surgery, along with the details on internet pet bulletin boards, in an effort to martyr themselves. They bask in the glory when their supporters line up telling them how "wonderful and caring" they are. This is done in the name of saving seriously ill animals, while healthy animals are PTS. In my opinion, this is cruel and they have saved nothing.
Equally disturbing are those rescuers who advise someone asking how to handle a neighborhood situation, or one involving an acquaintance, whose pet they do not feel is being cared for properly, to
see that it disappears. First off, all they have to go on is what the person stated on that internet pet bulletin board. They did not see the conditions first hand, which often are exaggerated, and the pet owner may very well be in compliance with their State regulations. It's all a matter of how one perceives cruelty. While one may not agree with the way the pet is cared for, it is NOT their right to steal that pet, which is considered under the law as personal property. There are legal means which should always be used when addressing problems like this. Yes, it may take longer than we would like to get action, but stealing should NEVER be an option.
ANY rescuer who suggests stealing, privately or publicly, is a DISGRACE. Interestingly enough, some who suggest this, have had the audacity to label someone else a dog thief. Their advice, when challenged by those with the guts to take a stand against them, were met with denials as to their intent, and their supporters rose to the occasion once again. Bottom line is, those who support them can do nothing about the public who view the internet pet bulletin boards, and were left with the impression that ALL rescuers are dog thieves. Further damage is done to all rescues, when they repeat what they read to friends, neighbors and relatives, who in turn repeat it to their's. Think this hasn't happened? It certainly has, and it IS being said many times.
In closing, this article is not intended to bash all rescues, as I respect those in rescue who are in it for the right reasons...not the glory. There is no glory when doing rescue, only the satisfaction from a job well done, and done properly. The only glory is that perceived by those wishing to martyr themselves, and we all, as well as the animals, would be better off without them....they do more harm than good for a worthy cause. The intent of this article is a wake-up call to those who support the actions of irresponsible rescuers and fosters, with the hope that they will re-examine their allegiances, and when doing so, support those rescuers and fosters who truly have the interests of the animals at heart, rather than themselves.
To those reputable and responsible rescue groups, rescuers and fosters, rather than sit in silence, you need to speak up when you see a wrong being done. The very worthy cause you champion, IS being hurt by the actions of the irresponsible. This also includes the backstabbing of members within their group, as well as other rescuers and groups, viciousness and politics, which has TURNED OFF former members of their groups, who dropped out and no longer want to be involved with ANY rescue. This alone makes it difficult for responsible rescues who do it right, to recruit volunteers and is NOT what rescue should be about.
http://dogladybarks.homestead.com/arerescuegroupswhattheyclaim.html
