 Barked: Sat Feb 11, '12 4:24pm PST |
 | |  | | Not to be a debbie downer, but many people who start successful animal rescues have an independent source of income, such as an inheritance, spouse to support them, lifetime of savings, etc. If you don't, you're always living on the brink of financial collapse (because you have to rely on donations... what if no one donates that month, or a major donor you thought you could count on pulls out?) I've heard about and read SO many cases of people who started out with good intentions, but end up in bad situations because of money trouble. Animal rescue is about so much more than loving animals- you need to have a a good business acumen and deep pockets as well.
Because of money troubles, I've heard of animals starving, animals not getting needed medical treatment (or substituting botched home treatments that leave them worse off) animals breeding because they couldn't afford neutering, animals getting out because they couldn't afford fence repair... (Those last two work together.  ) It pains me to see rescues begging for food donations for their animals... why did they take in animals they couldn't afford to feed? Is that really better than wherever they were before?
While some high-profile rescue groups are indeed started by people with little capital and big dreams, if they are successful they usually also have a strong social network and good luck/skills at attracting donors.
Other people who rescue on a small budget "fly under the radar" and only take in a handful of dogs at a time, keep them in their own home until they're adopted, and avoid dogs with costly medical issues or serious behavior problems. But then you have to learn iron control of your emotions (and finances) in picking the most "saveable" dogs to take in, and turning others away. It's hard. I couldn't do it. |  |  | |  |
|
| my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals | [notify] |
1
, Then Hurricane Rita 
