random thoughtlets

We've had a member of the education department shadowing us for the past few days. Her work primarily involves speaking with groups of kids and showing the happier side of what an animal shelter can do. Our work involves educating the public too, but often it comes in unhappier climes. Her reactions to some of the things we had to tell people about their animals and the legalities of running a shelter were pretty interesting. I remember starting out and being amazed/shocked at the same things. Have I grown callous? No, I still feel the same emotion at having to tell someone that we have to put their aggressive pet down if they have no other option than leaving it with us. I feel helpless. I am the one typing in the euthanasia request and processing the payment and doing the interview to ultimately come to that decision with the owner. My heart aches that we cannot help every being that walks through our doors by keeping them alive. The sad part is that not every being is happy and healthy living in the world their "masters" have created for them. A world of fear, anxiety, and aggression towards other animals and people. Nobody deserves to live that way and sadly most often cannot be re-conditioned to trust and love. At this I feel intense anger at the incompetent part of the pet-owning public. "Why does my dog eat his own stool and spin in circles chasing his tail?" Because you leave him locked in the backyard half the time and the other half crated in the garage. "Why can't you train my dog-aggressive pet to be part of society again?" Because thanks to you and your years of neglect and lack of socialization, your dog has reverted back to its animal hunting days, and everything that moves is now its prey. "Well, all he really needs is a good family with a huge farm" If only every person that walked through the door owned a farm instead of a breed restrictive condo that they can barely afford. Oh, by the way, would you like to make a donation.....