The Truth About Well-Known Rescue Organisations
When people think of animal rescue, they imagine large organisations that are well-funded and resourced, with multiple positions taken up by experienced people, where the animals are taken care of in the best possible way and where their every need is provided for.
Sadly, in most cases, nothing could be further from the truth, and for large organisations, animal welfare is big business, paying large salaries to those at the top with low-skilled and low paid individuals at the bottom, with no passion or purpose other than getting paid.
Animals are kept in cages or kennels scared and alone, devoid of interaction and intimacy and glossy branding is empty words touted by faceless organisations who hide behind a name that deliberately disguises the truth.
Most select those they deem worthy, saleable and easy to re-home, whilst challenging animals, such as those with behavioural issues, fear aggression, expensive medical conditions and those in need of serious long-term care, are euthanised, with far more animals euthanised than re-homed.
They are lawfully provided with an easy out, enabling them to take the lives of innocent souls who want to live, controlling the population in a manner that benefits no-one, least of all those who have to do the killing, under the guise of what's best, which begs the question, best for who?
The Truth About Real Rescuers
Real rescuers are easy to spot, they give everything to the cause from every available source they have, often at great expense to themselves and they wear their heart on their sleeve.
Their efforts are rewarded by the immense amount of love they are surrounded by and the powerful support systems they have in place, despite the fact that they often fight against the world as their values are idealistic in nature and cannot be understood by most people.
Their role in rescue is invaluable, they wear many hats and undertake, manage and oversee every aspect themselves and they carry themselves with dignity and grace in the face of overwhelming opposition, as humanity no longer believes that good people exist.
Real rescuers are rare and they deserve to be supported, championed, upheld, funded and respected, as they offer everything up at the altar of life giving all of themselves, all of the time, to anyone who needs, at no cost, other than the joy of saving a life and helping in any way they can.
Discernment is always essential and by their fruits you shall know them, for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Truth About Funding
Well-known and well-funded rescues are funded primarily as tax saving outlets, with no real care for how the money is spent and no real accountability or value for life.
Real rescue however is reserved for the passionate few and is a labour of love and an act of service, as opposed to a job, but even they have limitations which cause them to make decisions that take lives in addition to saving them, in a paradigm that doesn't fit with rescue.
Funding is only part of the problem with lack of faith at the root, which is required in abundance for the supernatural assistance that is needed when operating at such high levels, where miracles and blessings are the currency that keep the ship afloat and well-maintained.
Nonetheless, funding is essential and seriously lacking, due to a myriad of factors including lack of business experience, lack of resources, lack of belief that support is even possible and a lack of understanding of the gargantuan effort involved and what is required to facilitate optimum care.
The purpose of my blogs is to educate, motivate and inspire and to cause people to sponsor, donate and support worthy causes, that make a real difference, to be a light in the dark, giving hope, holding and a heartfelt hug to all those in need.
The Truth About Housing
A large part of rescue is housing, which can take many forms from cages, to kennels, to camps where animals are grouped together, to boarding facilities, sanctuaries including in people's actual homes, to foster homes and ultimately, to forever homes.
Here on Amanda's Ark, the animals live in my home, with access to nice couches and beds, snuggy blankets and boxes, warmth and cool, sun and shade, human interaction and companionship, tasty home-cooked food, long mountain walks, a large area to play and their every need taken care of.
The dogs are out the front and have free range to my home and the cats are out the back with limited safe access to my home via a catio and full access to the whole farm and surrounding mountain, with great care taken to keep everyone separate and protected.
This is the optimum way to keep animals for maximum freedom, comfort and happiness, but it requires competent staff who are able to walk, feed, clean, provide basic healthcare, build things and handle all situations, for the smooth-running of a happy home.
Housing animals is expensive and costs include rent, utilities for water, washing facilities, heat, cooling, internet, phone, staff, food, supplements, healthcare, vaccines, sterilisations, microchips, building materials and boarding facilities for the overflow, everything costs money.
The Truth About Challenges
When it comes to rescue, there should be no bounds, no limitations and no obstacles, but the reality is that escalating costs play a huge part in how far people are willing to go to save a life, often choosing between who gets what and when and prioritising where to divert funds to first.
I personally don't have this mentality, believing that God will make a way for everyone as needed, and my walk in faith is ever deeper as more is required of me, but to whom much is required, much is given, and I live by this principle.
Many rescuers are forced to use their own personal money, max out their credit cards, exhaust their families resources, drain their life savings and divert money from other sources to fund their rescues and every month they wonder how they will make ends meet.
We rightly prioritise life over everything else, only to find ourselves in a constantly challenging financial position, that is mentally and emotionally draining, and which can only be navigated and triumphed with real faith.
As steward's of creation, it is everyone's responsibility and obligation to pitch in and help, for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. (Romans 8:19)
The Truth About Vet Costs
It's so wrong and sad to have to put a cost on a life, but this is the cold, cruel, harsh and heartless world we live in, where money largely determines success or failure, winning or losing and ultimately, life or death and where vets literally won't see you unless you can pay.
Vet costs are staggering and often stretch into the thousands and even tens of thousands for one animal, with money needing to be immediately available as treatment can't usually wait.
Rescuers are always at the vet, with barely a week that goes by when we don't have to pop in for something or someone, to the point where our frequent visits and high level of care, knowledge and need for understanding, can become annoying!
Money has to be available freely and frequently as there is always a fire to put out and always something that needs to be looked at and checked on, and if fundraising is needed, it has to be immediately forthcoming for treatment to be made possible.
So when you adopt a dog, understand that even the adoption fee, if one is charged, doesn't even scrape the surface of what it took to bring that little soul to you, and consider choosing a cause you resonate with to champion on a regular basis.
The True Cost of A Life
The true cost of a life is priceless.
The true cost of faith is the giving over of everything.
The true cost of stewardship over God's creation is responsibility, righteousness, reverence and respect.
The true cost of service is a life well-lived.
And the true cost of saving a life is the responsibility of everyone, and together, we can save them all.
Subscribe & Share!
If you enjoyed reading, please subscribe to my mailing list by entering your email address at the bottom of the page.
You can also follow me on Facebook.
If you would like to donate, please WhatsApp me on +27 084 287 5050 for funding options, including direct to suppliers, whilst I await a bank account following registration which takes time.
Thank you so much for reading.
Please share!
