Sad part of working in Rescue

Sorry for using this as a personal diary but I have to work through this JoJo thing today.

When you work in rescue you know from the door that you can't save all the animals. It is something that you tell yourself everyday with the Euth list comes out. You also try really hard to not get super attached and to work through the ones that are put to sleep. What you don't account for are the ones that you do grow attached to. JoJo was that one that I allowed myself to get attached to because the odds were against him. He was sick with heart worm and had kennel rage. I looked at him and saw a dog that wanted love and to be accepted. This is familiar to me. Growing up in a home where my mother was very sick and died when I was 13 and a father that was a heavy drinker with both physical and emotional abuse I related to JoJo. I know when I was being abused and feeling lonely all I wanted was someone to rescue me. That is how I looked at JoJo. I wanted so badly to rescue him and make sure he no longer felt alone and unaccepted. Things looked ok at first and I thought I found him a forever home to live out his years. Due to circumstances the adopter didn't have a place for him to go until he moved. This left JoJo alone still and sicker by the day.

Today the director called me and he is very sweet and kind and let him live longer because of me. When he called and told me that JoJo couldn't stay there any longer because he was sicker and the kennel rage had gotten out of control I knew what his next words were. He told me that it would be best to put him down. It was a dagger to the heart. I felt like all the promises I made for JoJo were lies and I failed him. He died lonely and sick two things I didn't want for him.

I only want to save the animals from abuse and neglect. I want to one day have shelters close because there are no longer needed. My goal I thought would be easy enough when I started the twitter 1 million follower goal against abuse and for tougher laws. I have been blessed with over 1200 followers since April and growing. I hope to one day reach that goal to show the world that there are at least a million people out there that care and want the abuse stopped.

So where does that leave me today? SAD and feeling like a failure. I know I have saved many animals before and will save many more and yes that is rewarding but I feel like should do more and save more. I will get through this.

This part is directed to JoJo from me........

The animals that you see running with no kennel are your new friends. They will love you and play with you. You will notice you are not feeling sick anymore and that is because you have crossed over the rainbow bridge. Love them back and show them that you are a good boy. Please know that one day I will come there and I will nuzzle you and hold you and kiss your pretty face. Love you from the bottom of my heart and I will continue to work to save your friends here. Run free, cruelty free...Play like the good boy you are... xoxoxoxo

JoJo

Hey guys sorry but 140 characters isn't cutting it for this one. Most of you have been following our quest to save JoJo a pit bull that was brought in a few months ago to the local ACC. He has been in a cage for at least two months. He does have kennel aggression and only wants to be near humans. Sadly at the ACC they treat him as though he is a vicious dog. Yes he did lunge at someone and tore her shirt because he was excited and wanted out. Once out JoJo is a good boy. Good enough that I have had him around my 4 and 15 year old.

Once we found an adopter for him it was time for neuter and heart worm treatment. The director of our ACC who is awesome and trying to work for the animals helped us find a great doctor to volunteer service for neuter and heart worm. Of course he is a pit and was warned prior to coming in for his procedure that he was unpredictable and so they muzzled him. When he came to he was in a smaller kennel and lunging and snipping at people. Again I say a kennel. The dog hates kennels and just wants to be with people. He did have some problems breathing on the table probably due to the heart worms. He will be treated for that in a few weeks.

Here is where the problem is and all I can do is feel deeply sad. Here is a dog that was just given the bare minimum because he is at the ACC and they do have a limited budget and few staff members to work with the animals. He longs for human touch and love. When they muzzled him today and then he woke up in a kennel it made him angry. The adopter home is suppose to be ready on Wed. with his kids. It amazes me that I see a few dogs at the adoption events that can't be around dogs or food aggressive but yet still adoptable. I along with someone else have fought tooth and nail for this dog. WHY? He has had all odds against him from the door. I can't get over breed profiling that happens not just here but everywhere. My God these are creatures that need the affection and love to learn to trust again.

I am hoping that he is healthy enough and allowed to go to his new home. I am sorry that I am so upset by this. It is a dog that really deserves a chance to live but has only a few people fighting for him. I will fight for him as long as they allow me to. Yes he is a Pit. Yes he has kennel rage. I doubt being in a muzzle and waking up in a smaller kennel helped. I just want this breed to not have so many strikes against them before they even have a chance.

I hope to report good things to you guys. I really do...