Thursday, October 04, 2012

Do I Need "Excitement"?

As I completed an agonizing 3 hours of bookeeping and updating for the rescue this afternoon, I realized that I've been really missing the more exciting parts of rescue.  I'm not sure exactly what constitutes "excitement" in cat rescue.

Dumpster diving for kittens?

Death row rescuing?

Crawling under porches to dig out little frightened cat families looking for warmth?

As I sat behind my desk this afternoon clicking "Enter" and hearing the familiar *ping pong* of the Quickbooks programme, I became vaguely aware that I've become more of a pencil pusher than a rescuer these days.  Don't get me wrong - I've been to the shelter twice this week already, so I *am* rescuing. 

No wonder so many rescues are in a state of financial and emotional disaster.  We all get into this for the animals, and many of us end up feeling resentful for doing nothing else but glorified bookkeeping.  Those of us who AREN'T doing proper bookkeeping and administrative duties find that their rescue is in a constant state of financial turmoil and disorganization.  

Everytime I think I've found a balance, I find the otherside is tipping a little more than the other. 

One element of my rescue mentality has changed over the years:  "I no longer need to be the biggest and best rescue." 

I want to make a difference in people's lives.  I want adopters to feel like they got a fair shake and that they dealt with a professional organization that cares about the animals AND the people.  I want our volunteers to have FUN and know they're making a difference in this world. 

As I keep mentally reciting that mantra:  "Have fun.  Rescue Cats.  Have Fun. Rescue Cats..."  I went over our Adopted Cats list and realize that by early next month....

....we will be at our 

1000th Adoption!

  NOW I'm excited!

7 comments:

Caroline said...

Yahoo! 1000 adoptions! Congratulations! This really equals over 1000 rescues because there's the cat that got adopted, there's the one that took it's place in foster care and the one that got the cage space from the one that went to foster care and was saved another day at the shelter!

Bravo!

House of the Discarded said...

Caroline: Don't congratulate us yet! It hasn't happened yet!! :)

B

Debbie said...

That is awesome!!Almost 1000 !!!
I think having a smaller more personal rescue works for most.
Well at least for me :)
And the book keeping is a major part of rescue and someone has to do it!! And thank you for that !

Anonymous said...

WOW! How long has it been? Doesn't seem lie very long. Congrats!!

Sparkle said...

Wow! Who cares if you are the "biggest and best" rescue? You were certainly THAT to (soon to be) 1,000 kitties! And that is what counts.

Random Felines said...

wow - that is amazing. ok - so paperwork may not be interesting, but it part of every job....and I would take yours over mine most days :)

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Congratulations! May you run in the black for a long long time.