I just had a most unpleasant conversation with a rescuer who is asking for food subsidy. I cannot BELIEVE how unreasonable and demanding some people can be. When they ask for help, they dictate terms and it’s worse when they use the “I’ve done this for umpteen years and I know what I’m doing” line on you.
Since when, in our human culture, dare we dictate terms when we ask another for help?
We have a food subsidy but we also have very strict rules on who qualifies. The reason is, our main function is our Medical Fund. We had no intention of starting a food fund until needy rescuers like Meiji and Pak Din came along and the only way to help them was for us to start a food fund – their animals need food, too.
So for those applying to our food fund, we need to know their income level, their financial status, and also, they need to satisfy certain conditions:
1. They must spay-neuter their animals.
2. They must take their animals to the vet when the animals are sick.
3. They must NOT breed their animals.
4. They do not subscribe to euthanasia.
So, we have this applicant where none of the above is satisfied. To put in bluntly, we would call her a “hoarder”. She takes in stray animals from the street, but none are vaccinated, none are spayed-neutered, and even when the animals are sick, she’d wait until they are almost dead before she brings them to the vet.
We cannot “support” the activities of such a person because I believe her animals might well be better off on the streets than being confined in the house compound where none are spayed-neutered, vaccinated or treated for illnesses. Recently, a large number of her dogs died due to a distemper outbreak. And why so? All because none of her dogs were vaccinated. When animals are confined and there is one with a contagious disease, it is most likely many will contract the disease and die.
Is it fair to take a free-roaming animal off the streets to be subjected to life in such a “shelter”?
I could very well turn her down flat and say, “Sorry, we cannot help you” and be done with it. But instead, I thought education would be better, so I offered her to start off by taking her male animals to be neutered one by one and claiming the subsidy from us. Then, get them vaccinated, and claim from us. Only then would I be able to consider food subsidy for her.
You see, we have rules. Rules are meant to be kept, not broken. Our rules are meant to help the animals achieve better wellbeing. If I reject her and leave her alone, wouldn’t her animals continue to suffer?
The conversation turned ugly and she started accusing me of being unwilling to help another rescuer (her friend who applied earlier). But this friend intends to breed her animals for sale, and also supports breeders. I said we have rules, and we do not support any form of breeding at all since there are enough animals on the streets to be adopted as pets. I have actually told her friend that we would help her provided she stops breeding. The friend decided not to apply anymore. End of story.
Now, I’m accused of not helping. How can I help when the applicants do not abide by our rules? I need to break my own rules to cater to what they want?
Seriously??
You know, sometimes this is a thankless job.
But never mind them.
There are many others deserving of help and definitely worthy of help.
P.S. Despite the most unpleasant conversation where I was accused of being unhelpful and unwilling to bend my rules, our offer to this rescuer still stands.
Follow our rules, and we will still help, despite what they say behind my back.
Comments
10 responses to “A bed of thorns”
You are doing all these for the street animals Kah Yein and that is what makes running AnimalCare worthwhile. Despite such irritating people that makes our blood boil, I am very sure you will survive. I think the Universe sometimes send such irritating creatures to ‘test’ us and see how we handle pressure and problems. You may have heard of that saying: ‘Iron ore may think itself senselessly tortured when in the furnace, but when the finest blade of tempered steel looks back, it knows better.’ Om.
OMG this hoarder should be arrested! We need real laws here in Malaysia to protect the animals.
I dont know why you are so nice to these type of people. If they dont follow the rules set down by AnimalCare, then sorry la. There are more deserving cases. Dont bother what others say behind your back. We cannot tutup people’s big gap.
Do not get upset with people who do not appreciates what you have been doing. I have been following your blogs and was indeed glad to know that there are still human who realy cares for the furfriends. Who knows when I retire next year and migrate back to Ipoh, I may follow your foot steps? Our furfriends deserve love from us as they are very adorable creatures created by GOD. May GOD bless you and family.
Cheers
As a good friend always tell me, “to each their own”. We just do the best we can with what we believe in and what is right. Do not relent nor subscribe to what they want as that will be against your principles, as well as the rules that this wonderful organisation (animalcare) abides to. Yes, things will turn ugly and you will feel upset, angry, frustrated and even depressed … but take heart. Those are just one in a few deluded retards who are plain selfish and perhaps a spoilt brat as well that needs to be educated. Be thankful they came your way as they are now informed and we have planted the seed of awareness in them. Someday, who knows, they will become sober and walk back onto the right path and may well, one day, become an advocate for animals. All it takes it that one encounter.
Meanwhile, we must stay focused! It’s the wonderful animals we need to love, care, save / rescue … not some evil humans (hehehe).
God bless and Peace be with you Kah Yein!
I agree that sometimes this is a ‘test/trial’ sent to us from up above to let us learn how to cope with such matters so that when we come out of it, we are stronger and will be able to face/handle future matters better! KY, you know you have done your best so don’t worry about what these “small people” say.
What “they” think of you does it really matter? So what if they are unhappy about not getting help? What matters the most is what your furry kids think of you. They deserve the attention, love and care you give them and although they cant say it, they do show their appreciation. Everyone will have their own reason to be happy or be unhappy about something. If we were to ask, they will rationalise their reasons. Its best to focus on the end result in this case the animals instead the instruments. The 3 musketeers says ‘We Love You Dr.Chan,we don’t care what the humans may think of you, but we know we love you”
“I said we have rules, and we do not support any form of breeding at all since there are enough animals on the streets to be adopted as pets.”
GOLDEN WORDS
Please Don’t Give Up!!!:]
& I am thanking you for saving these animals.
I’m really grateful for what you did for the animals!
You SAVED tons of lives~
You are doing the right thing Dr Chan. Keep up the good work..it’s for the helpless animals who most of the time do not have a choice, humans do. AnimalCare does not support breeders & would not help them breed & jeorpadise the chances of those strays on the streets to be rehomed.