On 28 Sep 2006 10:15:43 -0700, "Lynne"
wrote:

As an aside, I have been looking at many, many rescue dogs. I am in
awe of the amount of time, energy, money and LOVE that goes into
rescuing, fostering and adopting out dogs to forever homes. It's got
to be so heartbreaking, infuriating and yet satisfying--all at once. I
don't think I could do it. I would cry all the damn time.

I don't do active rescue any more. The top two reasons for that are
that I don't have as much time as I used to and it was so hard on
myself and my kids to work with the dogs and train them to make them
more adoptable, just to send them off with new families as we got to
know them, love them, and not have the same issues to make it easier
if they had to leave. Shelter walks were the absolute worst, though,
and the calls from the shelters who had my name telling me about the
most wonderful dog who was going to be put down if I couldn't come
pick it up but I had absolutely no room for another dog or two or
three or ten when all the calls added up.

But I do still support rescue. I adopt my dogs from rescues, tell my
neighbors and friends who want well-behaved dogs like mine to start by
looking into dogs from good rescue organizations despite what many of
them think, which is that shelter dogs were abandoned because they
have tons of issues and aren't good dogs. I also donate to rescue
organizations I have worked with.

I don't blame you for not being able to do the hands on work, but you
can help a lot of dogs without having to deal with the teary part. Get
involved with reputable rescue organizations in any way you can and
you are saving dogs. Even if it's just donating old crates or buying
extra dog food for them when you buy for your own dogs or sending a
check for even a small amount. They need support in those ways as
much as they need foster homes because without financial support, they
can't operate. Obviously the adoption process isn't a money maker for
them. Help out and feel good! It really does make you feel good.

--
Paula
"Anyway, other people are weird, but sometimes they have candy,
so it's best to try to get along with them." Joe Bay