The Road of Life Is Paved With Good Intentions

A couple of months ago I decided to take a shelter leave of absence.  During that time I was supposed to spend time with my animals, relax, and enjoy not having any responsibility.

bottom: Harley    top: Sassy

Instead, I decided to help a friend with a start up rescue.  I did the Facebook posting, worked adoption events, attempted to help with paperwork (once), attended meetings, and even took on a role where I was all up in the adoption process (even though I didn't really want to have much to do with that part). 

I also took in a couple of beagle mix foster puppies.  Young ones.  Ones I knew would drive me batshit, but they were cute, and I adopted one out to my boss, so I kept a pair (his and the tiny female) at my house until they were spayed/neutered and ready to go.  Big. Mistake.

My cats have not been downstairs in about three weeks.  My dogs have hidden upstairs most of the time because those puppies were LOUD, and they had energy, and Jezzy and Admiral just did not have the patience for them.  The big dogs were also kind of afraid of the puppies, because those two  little creatures sounded like a flock of seagulls getting ready to dive on beach tourists who have French fries. It was kind of nerve-racking for everyone at my house.

Harley

That rescue endeavor was short-lived for me.  I just quit on my friend yesterday, and while I know I'm kind of leaving her in the lurch, I felt it was the best thing to do for my sanity as well as everyone else's.  I was feeling frustrated, and, since I am someone who doesn't mask her irritation very well, it's really for the best.

The puppies left me today.  Harley has been handed over to his new dad, and Sassy is at a better foster home with one of her brothers.  Her new foster mom is retired and has much more time to spend doing fun things like playing in the yard.  Plus, the resident dog over there is REALLY good with puppies.  She's helped raise dozens of them.

I really want my friend's rescue to succeed.  She's trying to run programs that will help the community, not just with making families complete, but educating the public.  My intentions were good, even though I knew from the beginning that it probably wasn't the org for me.  I'm a Pit Bull person, and I just don't get the same satisfaction finding homes for cattle dogs and Beagles that I do when I place Pit Bulls.  Maybe that's wrong of me, but I can't help the way I feel.

Sassy, in one of her quieter moments.

Now I'm going to do what I originally planned.  I'm going to enjoy doing nothing.  I'm going to spend quality time with my animals, especially Jezebel, since I'm pretty sure her tumor is coming back (that's a post for another day).  I'm going to regroup, and then I'm going to go back to all Pit Bulls, All the Time.
When Jezebel is no long with me, probably in a year or two, I will dive back into fostering for a Pit Bull rescue.  Until then I have to keep my wits about me.  I have to resist the urge to do too much, because that's the trap I always fall into.  I take it all on, and then I get burned out.  This time it happened much faster than it usually does. 

For now, Admiral and I will go to APBA events and he will work his magic with the public, a job he loves and is good at. A job I'm proud to let him do. 

The road of life is paved with good intentions.  It's too bad good intentions can only get me so far.