It would be too depressing…..
I’d want to bring all the animals home…
I could never work or volunteer in an animal shelter… except… I do, and I love it!
Let me tell you how it all started for me, and why you might enjoy it as well!
2020 was a strange year. I was teaching in a university with a regular schedule and a feeling of stability. I taught English to international students, and I enjoyed it. I had students from Wuhan, and they had arrived just prior to the Covid outbreak. Even after witnessing the situation in China through my students, I had no idea what was about to happen… When my school announced that it would close due to Covid, I happily envisioned a short break. In my mind, we would have a nice two-week vacation! For my department, that two weeks turned into two years. The first year, we successfully moved our classes online, and I was lucky enough to keep my salary; I even sort of enjoyed working from home. Towards the end of that year, the insecurity began to creep in. My job was to teach English to international students, and with no end to the pandemic in sight, those students could not get to the US. Colleagues started leaving the job, and my position became a part-time position; with a sharp decrease in pay, and feelings of insecurity, I continued to work online with the remote classes. I didn’t know what to do, and my emotions were magnified by also feeling like I had forgotten how to be around humans- the social anxiety started creeping in along with feeling a bit stir-crazy.
I decided that I needed two things: to get out of the house, and to supplement my income—I needed a part-time job. I considered a few options, but none of them were exactly right. Then one day I came upon an ad for a job that spoke to me- to care for cats in an animal shelter… I LOVE cats… I, in fact, aspire to be the crazy cat lady. Animal shelter it was! I convinced the manager that I wasn’t afraid of scrubbing litter boxes and cleaning up cat vomit- lol, yes shelter work is very glamorous.. Working in the shelter got me out of the house, and the best part was that I was working for cats- I was a full-fledged cat-servant- truly living the dream! My duties included cleaning, feeding, and providing amusement for the feline residents. I really did enjoy it very much. It was more physical than I expected, but while there, I couldn’t worry about any of my typical concerns- I was focused on cats.
What about those reasons I stated at the beginning to NOT work in a shelter? Well, I did want to take all the kitties home. I felt a little sad when they were adopted because I would miss them. However, I knew from the start that I would not be taking any kitties home. Setting rules before starting does help! I also knew that as much care as they received in the shelter, it was nothing like living in a home. It’s easier not to be sad when you know the adoption is in the best interest of the cats. It’s really surprisingly easy when you go into it knowing that it is not your pet.
I started taking pictures of the kitties, and in time, I started working on the social media for the shelter. I found that I enjoyed promoting the kitties that I loved; it was particularly fun to promote the long-timers and the harder to place animals. I made friends with the other people involved in rescue- both cat and dog team members! I built friendships- true friendships.
Animal rescue is very emotional. You see the best in people and the absolute worst. You cry happy tears when your long-term residents get adopted, and you cry in sadness when a beloved furry friend doesn’t make it. You love welcoming the new fur-babies that arrive in the shelter, but soon you realize that they keep coming. When there is no room, they are turned away—it’s awful. What will become of them? This is the problem animal rescuers have to face- there are not sufficient animal welfare laws and the need never ends….
With all the emotions involved in animal rescue, why do I say that I enjoy it? Well, let me tell you! There is nothing so rewarding as helping a sweet, scared animal who has been failed by humans. There is a sense of fulfilment when you see that sweet baby relax and feel safe and loved. There is a particular emotion on the day that someone comes in for a companion, and the perfect pet for them is the one that you have been helping. The best way I can describe it is to say that it’s like a child’s graduation. You hope that the child you’ve cared for will be safe forever. It’s satisfaction and optimism; it’s letting go. It’s a reminder that we can make a difference.
I worked in that animal shelter for a little over a year. My full-time position returned this year, and I resigned my position at the animal shelter. I lasted approximately one week of not working for an animal shelter before I chose to do it again. The difference is that I am now a volunteer- I don’t have a requirement to keep specific hours, and this is what works best for me. I now volunteer with friends that I made in rescue- they continue to inspire me every day. I think animal rescue is very special- there is a sincerity in the animals, but that sincerity is also present in so many people involved in rescue. Those are the people that I choose as my influencers- the role models who will shape me as I continue on my life’s path. I recommend animal rescue- I’m positive there is a shelter near you that would love to welcome you into the family!
