the struggles of animal rescue

I never knew running and keeping running a shelter would be so hard. there is never enough money, there are too many sick dogs and cats needing help, there are too many stray dogs and cats needing rescue and not many people who seem to care enough to help.

currently, I have more than 15 dogs in vet clinics needing to be somewhere not costing us $15 to $20 per day per animal. had we not taken them they would have been left out in sub freezing temps, sick and wounded. 3 of the vet boarded dogs are the puppies left on a roof in a box to die. they had sarcoptic mange, we are not allowed to bring them in to the shelter because it is highly contagious and we, and the shelter from whom we rent, can not afford to put the other dogs in danger of catching it.

we owe vets multiple thousands of dollars for treatment of the rescues in our care. i get calls daily from people who want us to take in a rescue they have had and can't keep anymore, and then they get angry with us for not being able to help.

I have too many dogs in my shelter already, I have no room for more. there is no money. when someone calls us and wants us to take the stray that they had picked up and can't keep anymore, I usually ask for them to make a donation if we take it, I have been yelled at for the audicity of such a request. to take in a stray with no known medical care it can cost as little as $500 or as much as $1500. to ask for a $100 donation is apparently rude and unacceptable.

there is no room and I have one employee with no volunteers. Dog food runs us about $25o per month.

there are many needs in the world for people to be pulled toward to help. unfortunately, not many are pulled to help ARF.

posted by Elizabeth @ 5:18 PM