Drowning in commitment?

Was he just born bad? I doubt it.

Did he always intend to use his dog rescue operation as a cover so he could shoot, kill, and bury a bunch of dogs, then hide them in mass graves, away from public view? I doubt it.

A heart-breaking story is still developing in Northern California, where officials continue their sweeping investigation of a rescue—ironically listed as a no-kill rescue—and its owner. Incidentally, when I started this blog entry the rescue and its owner were named. My guess is, conditions became volatile, and safety became a concern, so now officials are dealing with it anonymously.

I’ll admit that the mistreatment of animals is something I can only read about sideways. It’s too painful for a square-on look.

So, I have to leave the story, the case, to braver people, investigators, who have their hands full with the many  avenues of abuse that allegedly were rooted at this rescue.

***

What’s left for me, then? For you?

Let’s look at this as a cautionary tale. Call it, “When love is not enough.”

God knows, and we do, too, that any form of animal welfare work is heartbreaking. It wears people down. Eventually cuts off how much their hearts can feel. Relentlessly. One horrifying case after another. Abandonment after neglect. Dumping. Starvation. Untreated illness.

In the dog and cat rescue world, even the good guys and gals can fall apart when their network of support dwindles.

Most likely we’ve read about dog and cat hoarding situations. An old man, an old woman, cooped up with too many animals. Things got away from them. They can no longer manage the endless repetition. The weight of the work carries on, but they no longer can. Animals die. Neighbors eventually call authorities.

Love has become a burden. Money is in short supply. Outside help dries up. The need is endless. And, then, there you are, the very picture of what you gave your life to prevent.

It’s a common enough trajectory for us to notice. And there are things we can do to help.

If you’re in this work and nearing the overwhelmed point, please reach out.

Comment on this blog and I will follow through.

Also, please check out the article, When Love is Not Enough. Resources are mentioned there. Link here.

Mary Patricia Trainor