Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Adios 2013 - Don't Let the Door Hit You On Your Way Out.....

December 31st.  I guess this is where I'm supposed to remember 2013 and post a bunch of stuff about the past year.  I love statistics.  In fact, I minored in Quantitative Analysis in University many decades ago.  I used to keep stats on lots of things and post them here.  Honestly? It's really just a bunch of numbers that says people STILL aren't getting their pets fixed and over burdened shelters are still killing the ones that nobody wants.

We had a beautifully successful year for the rescue.  As I type this, we are just a few adoptions short of 600 adoptions for 2013.  SIX HUNDRED souls now have homes that are Forever when they had no hope at all.
Just that stat alone is enough to keep me going for 2014.

I acknowledge that I'm often very critical of other rescues.  Maybe it's my own insecurities showing, but mainly it's because I'm terrified of making the same mistakes.  One "rescue" recently publicly threatened to euthanize a bunch of cats in her care unless another rescues helped her.  She didn't have any room for these cats.. Ironically, this woman is an advocate for CHANGE at the high-kill shelter, where they euthanize cats for time and space!   I think the most shocking part of this was that people were rallying to help this woman!  They were sending her money, etc.   Yes, this woman continues to run a local rescue despite (what I believe to be) extorting money from people on Facebook.

Have I been doing it wrong all this time?   I've always felt that being fiscally responsible is the ONLY  way that people will rally to help me and our rescue.  Who wants to give a "rescue" $20.00 for them to squander it away?  I watched in horror as the Facebook people were offering hundred's of $$'s to this woman who said she was going to kill her rescued cats in her care and it was going to "kill her to do so".  Did they realize they might be giving her hundred's of $$'s to kill the cats she promised to help?

I've banged my head against the wall a number of times over this and still can't figure it out.  

Regardless, I'm a happy and grateful rescuer that is blessed to have some of the best volunteers around.  We have a drama-free rescue with people who all like each other and support one another.  Even if we don't always agree,  or have moments of frustration, we are assured that we're all doing the very best we can for the cats.

I'll be happy to say goodbye to 2013 and welcome a new year with new hope and energy.

Yes....energy.  Emphasis on energy...please.




 


4 comments:

Debbie said...

Glad FHCR did almost 600 adoptions ! That is amazing. Says a lot for how the rescue is run and all the caring volunteers
Wishing you and all within FHCR a very happy and healthy new year. And here's hoping that we can rescue even more cats next year

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Beth. Keep up the good work.

Devon said...

We are pretty awesome volunteers, but we would be nothing without our fearless leader!

I'm so proud to work with a rescue that has saved as many lives as we have.

Tina said...

Wow! That is amazing Beth! So wonderful to hear how many kitties now have homes thanks to you all. You continue to inspire me. With regards to folks who beg for $$ on Facebook I run the other way. To me that's a red flag that these folks are either scamming people or should not be in rescue because they don't know what they are doing. Sending them money is not going to make their problem go away. I've seen the same person/group begging for help a few weeks later. I usually end up leaving their page. I wonder how the folks who give them $$ feel after the 5th plea for help. Here's wishing Forever Home Cat Rescue another banner year. Keep up the fantastic work! Tina