“Rescues are in It for the Money”

We hear this time to time.

We can’t help but think, “Here we go again,” as we ignore it and roll our eyes 9 out of 10 times.

There are more important things to do, after all.

We live in a society where so many people are sure they know

everything. But few take time to really be informed. Many feel as if their opinion, unfounded as it may be, should merit a status of “fact,” and these folks think nothing of the impact their baseless words may have to others, to things of value.

The truth is. . .In animal rescue, there is too little money, actually. There isn’t enough to go around. Donor dollars are finite, in case you were unaware.

Few rescues have paid staff, and while paid staff is an admirable goal, secures the future of an organization and makes everything work better for the animals, most groups are and will remain through their existence: volunteer only.

Beyond that, rescue costs a fortune, especially in poverty stricken areas where the neglect encountered is on a third world level. It costs more to rehab gross neglect than basic abandonment. Catch 22 there.

Small or large or somewhere in the middle in scale: Saving abandoned, abused and neglected animals is not cheap.

But. . .

Ask an online keyboard warrior. . .

“Rescues are in It for the Money.”

Sure.

When we wear our trucks out, our minds and bodies. . .

It will be okay because we will go home to stockpiles of money from all the hefty “adoption fees” we collect.

The fact that to be even moderately successful in rescue, the core volunteers must function as Renaissance humans with skills in Graphic Design, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Accounting, Data Management, Videography, Human Resources, Education, Photography, Program Coordination, Web Design, Political Reform, Business Management, Veterinary Medicine (at least at the tech level, folks) and far more. . . and may have found really exceptional, gainful employment. . . if they just had the time. . .

While the rehab of one horse costs at least $2,500 and the adoption fee, at $500, doesn’t actually touch the base of the actual bill for the animal’s care, real math doesn’t matter, it seems.

Further, it isn’t as if there aren’t 25 waiting, dying (literally) for the spot that adopted animal left behind. It isn’t as if they will have costs when they come in, either.

Nope.

Ask the indignant online typing tyrant. . .they know the truth. Why would we, doing the actual work, know, anyhow?

Never mind these types rarely give of their time or money to make a better world for man or horse or cat or mouse.

Never mind they haven’t spent years working toward something better, so that when they speak out into the universe, their words could fairly carry weight.

The world has a rather dire situation where everyone is an expert on all of the things, and all “opinions” should be given the same credit as actual facts.

It makes it hard to find the truth, unless you’re a thinker. We need more of those.

It is no wonder so many rescues fold up. It is no wonder the rates of suicide and depression is so high in the world of animal advocacy. It is no wonder why people trying to help get to point they say, “Enough. I am done.”

And when these things happen, the online wordsmiths extraordinaire have all of the answers as to why it took place, but in truth, the only honest answer would be a big sign in their own hands with a rather large finger in their hands flipped around pointing back at . . .well, you get the picture.

Heart of Phoenix has amazing supporters. We are tough. . .beyond tough, really, and we rarely even bother to acknowledge these “authorities.” But sometimes it is needed – you know. . .the truth . . . being put out there.

And it saddens us when any group has to deal with continual, combative people working against animal welfare. Everyone doesn’t have super thick skin. Everyone cannot over look the one bad apple for the ten good ones.

Support the good things out there, folks. Encourage it to grow. Ask sensible questions and ask the ones who really know when you have questions or do not understand something. Only answer or chime in when you really have the answers.