A Day in the Life of a Chesed Volunteer

Why do we bother?How does our day go?

A call may come in from a local animal service. A dog has been hit by a car, it has a broken leg or hip. The owners were located, but don't want the pet back. After all, its broken. Easier to get a new pet. Less expensive too.

A volunteer goes and gets the pet. They change their day around, knowing some poor creature is probably in agony and will be put to sleep if a rescue doesn't step in. They give up their time to drive to the shelter, wait for the paperwork, load an injured, usually filthy and parasiteridden creature into their vehicle, and take it to a vet hospital. (The kind folks that refuse to claim their injured pets usually don't bother bathing them and protecting them from parasites). Once at the vet, the poor animal is examined, sedated, x-rayed, and its prognosis and future decided. Is it "fixable"? If the answer is yes, the process of rehabilitation begins. Recuperation can take weeks or months. The animal may have orthopaedic surgery. A lengthy stay at the vet hospital, followed by time in a foster home before it can even be put up for adoption. The time and resources of the volunteer(s) is freely given. Trips to the vet, training, everything needed to ensure this pet will have a second chance. And the hope that there is a home worthy of the suffering this creature has endured.

Multiply these scenarios over and over again and grasp what rescue means and the sacrifices our volunteers make. The sacrifices these "pets" make. In a perfect or even a more enlightened, "humane" world there would be no need for our services.

Puppies are not Presents

Think of the concept of buying and selling a living being. It reinforces the belief that we are superior to all creatures, that we control their fate.That profit can be made by selling voiceless creatures. It is truly a form of oppression that we've imposed on helpless creatures and even our fellow humans over the ages. And sadly, is totally acceptable in the society we live in. That does not make it right. Holiday time is especially perilous for all the puppies/kittens snatched up as "presents."

1. Living things should never be given as gifts. That implies ownership and a level of control over the living being. I-Pods are gifts. Animals are entitled to a higher level of dignity and respect.

2. Pets should become a part of their new family after making sure it fits in well with all people and other pets in the home. It is a careful process to make sure its a good match and the pet won't be returned. When given as a present, it is only a chance to hope it works out.

3. Holiday time is a bad time to introduce a pet to a household. Either too much attention goes to the pup because its new and adorable, or too little because there's a house full of activity, guests, etc.

But... what happens after the holiday is really unfair to the pet. Kids go back to school and mom and dad to work and here's little puppy, the former center of attention, all alone for 8 hours. No wonder the chewing, crying, peeing, etc. results. Puppies can't understand their new home situation is about to change in two weeks, they can only react to it. There's a reason shelters and rescues are inundated with calls to take animals after the holidays.

Resist that urge to wrap a little puppy and put in under the tree. Think outside the proverbial "box" or present in this case. You may get the reaction from your loved ones that you hoped for. But, living things deserve better.

Let's continue to educate people to a higher level of thinking- respect for living creatures, not superiority over them where they can be sold and traded at the marketplace. Remember, we did this once to our fellow man and that was o.k. too.

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