Tales & Tails of New York

(Picture Above:  "Emma" -- Adopted earlier today to an excellent home. Already her foster people are preparing for a soon-to-be, newly rescued dog).

Cheri Writes: I know you have this blog to remind you but if I may I would like to suggest that you make sure and take a photo of each and every animal you find a home for. Collect these photos in an album or cover a wall with them. I believe that if you see all of them together you will be overwhelmed by the amount of animals you DID save. Maybe then the burden will seem less and perhaps you will even feel those moments of pure joy more often.

Reply:  One of my cat fosters has done exactly what you suggest:  Her refrigerator is covered in photos of cats she has fostered over the years for us.  There is not an empty space on it -- though perhaps that is just as well as Elizabeth's current foster cat ("Fluffy") has been with her now for about 4 months.

As far as me posting pictures of rescued animals on walls or fridges, well, I would need a pretty big house at this point.

I've probably rescued almost 5,000 animals over the years, though obviously, I didn't personally foster all of those. (Approximately, 1500 cats were adopted though Petco during the almost 4 years we did adoptions out of the Upper East Side location in Manhattan).

As noted in a previous entry tonight, I am not doing so many rescues now as I once did.  We don't now have an "offsite adoptions" location and it seems Internet advertising of animals for adoption (particularly cats) is not what it once was.

I think, with so many new rescue groups that many more animals are available for adoption any time than what used to be.

The decrease in euthanasia for dogs in shelters does result in many rescue groups filling to capacities and in essence, "competing" with each other.

When I first got into rescue, we were one of only a very small handful of groups advertising animals on the Internet or showing cats publicly for adoption. In a way it was much easier to get adoptions then -- though the pressure to rescue was extremely intense and demanding.

Its still "intense and demanding," but now the ease in finding responsible, adoptive homes is a lot harder.

I also worry that in being older and living alone, I wouldn't want to be one of those people who suddenly becomes ill or incapacitated and has a house full of cats who suddenly end up back in the pound.

There are actually many things to worry about when in rescue:  Taking on more animals than what one group can handle, taking on "unadoptables," money problems, unanticipated illnesses or behavior problems of animals in foster care, unanticipated lawsuits should a foster or adoptive animal bite someone.  (I am actually lucky to have never been successfully sued, but one woman tried to sue Petco years ago when one of our cats for adoption scratched her -- the lawsuit failed as the woman had provoked the cat).

These days I try to focus on providing excellent care for the animals this organization already has responsibility for and doing very high quality, lasting adoptions.

"Quantity" doesn't interest me so much as "quality."  I figure with all the newer rescue groups, (most of whom have cars and other resources we don't have) they can take on the "quantity" sides of rescue -- or, at least I hope so.

I also try and focus on the EDUCATION sides of rescue and sheltering work -- one of the primary reasons for this blog, as well as offering advice and guidance to those who call this organization with either problems or questions.

I do believe that rescue -- important as it is --is only one small part in the ultimate solutions to pet overpopulation, abandonment and killing in shelters.

Prevention is, in the end, far more powerful than cure.

It is easier to spay one cat than try to "find homes" for the hundred or so kittens that cat could produce over a lifetime.

A popular television show (like the one Oprah did this past Friday) will ultimately "save" more animals in one hour than what I've done over a lifetime.

It saves through education.

In fact, a woman I spoke to yesterday made an appointment to have her two-year-old Cocker Spaniel neutered next week due to watching the Oprah show.  The woman HAD planned to mate her dog prior to seeing the "wake up call" show!

But, most of all, as appealing as your suggestion is (one, by the way, I have suggested to other fosters for this organization), I don't personally keep pictures of all the animals this organization has rescued since the early 90's, because I simply feel it is more important to be focused on the "todays" and the "tomorrows" rather than the yesterdays.

I don't believe there is ever a time in rescue we can sit back and congratulate ourselves for what has been accomplished when there is always so much that needs to be achieved.

Oscars may be given out for great movies or performances and Grammys for great records.

But, rescue is the book -- and the movie never completed. -- PCA

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