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Hey Kids, we have a great show for you today! Let's listen to a well-loved, deep-pocket celebrity sob on and on about the evil-doings of a hard-working non-profit group. Can you guess who will win? Stick around and we'll find out!
waa, waa, look at me, I'm special
Hi. My name is Ellen.
I don't read the papers that I sign, because I'm special.
I don't have to follow the rules of other organizations, because I'm special.
Watch me cry, look how much I care, look how sorry I am.
I was only trying to do the right thing.
Wait a minute, can we do another take on that? I don't think the camera adequately captured the glint of my tears.
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Hi, Ellen.
I fostered rescued animals in my home for about three years, and I screened all the applicants who wanted to adopt them. I interviewed them in my home and at adoption sites. I did this in accordance with the guidelines of the organization that invested their own assets (more than $3000 and more than a few months) to make it possible.
I fed the kittens, took them to the vet for appointments, and kept their living area clean and full of toys. I worked my buns off for those little animals. And one day when I called to check in with someone who had adopted one of the kittens, she said it wasn't working out and she was going to give the cat to someone else.
I reminded her that the documents she signed obligated her to return the cat to us. That changed her mind and she decided to work on things a little harder. (I guess, because as you so tearfully pointed out, a shelter isn't a home.)
That's kind of how it works. Even if you spent three grand "training" your animal to get along with other animals. Is it easier to throw in the towel when you didn't do the hard work yourself?
See, it doesn't matter what you think anymore, because you removed yourself from the situation the moment you gave yourself the authority to give away the dog.
You're out of the picture.
You decided it was too hard.
You decided you couldn't do it anymore.
And that's why there are groups like Mutts and Moms, because their mission never ends, and it's always the same.. because of people like you.
They find and rescue animals, and they bring consistency and standards to their lives. And then they work THEIR butts off, to make sure the process benefits every single animal in their system.
That's why they decide what constitutes the best family for a dog (no children under 14).
That's why they obligate you to return the dog to them (because they care about finding the best family for the animal).
That's why you're NOT qualified or even empowered to do the task—you gave up. You abandoned your animal, but veiled the act itself with words of good intentions.
And for some reason, you thought it was necessary to broadcast your plight. Put the rescue group on the stand! Shed some light and create a public outrage to RETURN THE DOG!
Because as everyone knows, it's fun to pit a non-profit animal group against a well-loved celebrity.
And now, a perfectly decent organization is getting death threats.
Well. Good for you, Ellen. You're changing the world after all.
I can't believe I even wasted blog space on this.
