You know how sometimes you struggle with making a decision you know is right for you because it's wrong for someone else? And you know how when you come to the realization that sometimes you have to put yourself first and actually do it, you feel an eensy bit bad about it? Because someone was counting on you and you didn't want to let that person down?
Yeah, I'm not doing that any more.
Yesterday I wrote about how I quit a rescue that wasn't right for me. What I didn't write about was how I was ASKED for my help. I walked away once in the very early stages, and I was ASKED to come back, so I did. I worked hard, gave it everything I have, and some things I don't, just to help someone I didn't even know for very long. Because I believed in her mission. I believed in her ability to work with others and get the job done.
Once again, I prove to be a superiorly craptacular judge of character.
I don't know if it's lucky or unlucky that I have an amazing ability to cut toxic people out of my life on a dime. I've had enough practice, that's for sure. I wish I knew why I keep meeting these people and investing time and effort into them.
Saving animals takes a lot of work. It takes an ability to match people with animals that compliment their lifestyle. And over the last few days I actually steered a couple who thought they wanted a puppy in the direction of a young dog that has been in that rescue for over four months. I listened to them, and they listened to me, and now a dog who has been waiting and watching while dogs who haven't been homeless for as long as she has get new families, was chosen over some really stinkin cute puppies! The couple met her, and the puppies, and from what I understand, they clicked with the adolecent dog right away. Adoption counseling at its best!
And then on Facebook I see the founder of that rescue acting like a juvenile, and taking credit for it as though she didn't turn up her nose at the suggestion of those people for that dog because they live in an apartment.
Am I irrationally angry? Hell yes I am! Because I have been TRYING to get this person to stop judging potential adopters so harshly. I have been TRYING to work applications faster. I have been TRYING to work within a process that is flawed. And because I stepped outside of the box, a deserving adolecent dog has a home, when she wouldn't have even been considered had I not taken a chance. Because I know no one else would have.
It shouldn't matter to me this much. It's not about me. It's about not being so rigid in your requirements. It's about treating potential adopters like people who deserve to have a pet to love instead of people who need to prove they're worthy of adopting. It's about helping people see that animals who are not babies are every bit as deserving of a new home as those cute puppies. THAT'S what has me so angry. Maybe a little part of me wants the credit for putting that in motion. Stupid, but I'm human, and sometimes humans feel stupid things.
Mostly, what I want, is for one certain person to admit that her placement process doesn't leave room for anyone else besides her to match people with dogs. None of us always gets it right, but only some of us treat them as though they actually know how to take care of a dog. Too many of us look for things to be wrong when what we should do is assume that they have the ability to treat a dog right.
I see her true colors, and they make me sad. And I'm kicking myself for getting involved when my gut told me not to.
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