The life of an animal rescuer
by Carmen Dodi
May 12, 2014 - Among the crowds, thronging the busy streets of Romania, if you look ever so closely and attentively... you will see them!
Their clothes are dishevelled but clean, nipped here and there by little sharp teeth, their hair is a mess, they have a haunted look in their darting eyes! They have a keen detector for abandoned/hurt dogs and 99% of them are not aware of what is going on around them, a car crash, a fire, or any other disaster that wakes up other people from their stupor and gets them to gather together around the disaster... not to help, but to look!
But it takes only the slightest sign of a dog in distress and the attention of these ‘others’ is seized!
Their eyes are drawn to any animal in need... no matter where they are: in traffic, in a bus, in a fast moving car, walking on a busy street! No matter where, they are alert and observant and can spot a ''victim'' even if only the tip of the tail is showing from under a pile of garbage!
If there is a car stopped in the middle of a busy cross road and the other drivers are cursing, it must be a dog rescuer in action!
Their houses, if they still own a house, that is if they did not have to sell it in order to support the rescued dogs, is a complete mess, turned into a big dog house with bits of furniture, all electrical wires chewed to the point of extreme danger!
They have debts to all, vets, banks, loan sharks, pawn shops!
If they drop their bags you will see an amazing sight: dog collars, dog leashes, dog/cat treats, bandages, de-worming tablets, de-fleeing vials, rubber gloves! You can look for a comb or a lipstick or a mascara but you will not find it! But you will find a small bottle with disinfectant for wounds!
Their social life: non existent!
Their friends: only among other dog rescuers, the normal people gave up on them long time ago. They could not understand why and how you turned into that complete nutcase rescuing dogs!
Their hobbies: long forgotten and abandoned!
Their health: a total mess!
The last time they saw a doctor for humans, they also brought the dog along with them and could not understand why the gate keeper would not let them in !!!???
They are cursed by their neighbours, verbally abused by total strangers, shunned by family! ...and not to forget to mention that they are accused of getting rich from the dogs !!!
They have debts to all, vets, banks, loan sharks, pawn shops!
If they drop their bags you will see an amazing sight: dog collars, dog leashes, dog/cat treats, bandages, de-worming tablets, de-fleeing vials, rubber gloves! You can look for a comb or a lipstick or a mascara but you will not find it! But you will find a small bottle with disinfectant for wounds!
Their social life: non existent!
Their friends: only among other dog rescuers, the normal people gave up on them long time ago. They could not understand why and how you turned into that complete nutcase rescuing dogs!
Their hobbies: long forgotten and abandoned!
Their health: a total mess!
The last time they saw a doctor for humans, they also brought the dog along with them and could not understand why the gate keeper would not let them in !!!???
They are cursed by their neighbours, verbally abused by total strangers, shunned by family! ...and not to forget to mention that they are accused of getting rich from the dogs !!!
Why we are all doing these rescuing acts? Because we care!
We cared for people in need. We helped with the broken... the rejected... the neglected. We gave compassion where before there was none. We gave love in such dark places where the light of love had never shone. We lit candles of hope in the darkness... for people and for animals.... But we were rejected by the majority who found such things strange... who found compassion and caring... unusual.
We do it for the look in so many eyes that meet us every time we open the door, for the little furry bodies crowding around us and begging for a pat or a cuddle, for the feel of a little frail body of a puppy climbing in your lap so trustingly and falling asleep feeling safe and protected just hours away from being rescued from a deserted field!
We do it for the mail from a person you have never met and never will meet but who is thanking you for the dog that you rescued and who has brought such joy to them!
We do it because it is who we are... our lives are uncontrollably dedicated to giving and receiving love and compassion.
And in this amazing world, we recognize one simple truth. From that little bundle of animate fur which we have just taken from a busy road junction or abandoned on a garbage heap, that ALL he wants... all he craves, is the possibility to love and be loved.
Is this not the simplicity in life that all of us crave?
There is no difference. Sentience is one thing but there is a higher level... the ability to love. By rescuing ... we keep alive those who can love... we keep alive... ‘Love’.
This is the life of an animal rescuer.
And in this amazing world, we recognize one simple truth. From that little bundle of animate fur which we have just taken from a busy road junction or abandoned on a garbage heap, that ALL he wants... all he craves, is the possibility to love and be loved.
Is this not the simplicity in life that all of us crave?
There is no difference. Sentience is one thing but there is a higher level... the ability to love. By rescuing ... we keep alive those who can love... we keep alive... ‘Love’.
This is the life of an animal rescuer.
A note from OFA:
Carmen is but one of the many Romanian animal rescuers who struggle daily to feed the many animals in their care and to find good homes for them. Because of constant changes in legislation, which are punitive to a culture with endemic poverty, rather than comply with ill considered legislation, many puppies are now being abandoned... in the fields, in the woods, by the roadside. Last week, Carmen found 21 abandoned next to a busy road. All are now safe inside the haven which she provides. Inside safety and security... outside... death awaits!
But she stands alone! And now overwhelmed, seeks help. Homes are needed for the pups. Virtual adoptions would allow her to provide the life saving vaccinations. Donations will provide food. As a true light of hope in the darkness which surrounds her, Carmen needs friends. She needs support. It is those such as Carmen who carry the torch of hope for humanity. A little lady alone providing the contrast of love and compassion in one place whilst in the other lies death and greed.
Does she not deserve to not feel alone?
Humanity should be proud of those such as Carmen... Romania should be ashamed that she is needed to sacrifice herself for its animals and its people.
If you want to find out more about Carmen's work, please visit her dedicated Facebook-page.
Thank you.
Carmen is but one of the many Romanian animal rescuers who struggle daily to feed the many animals in their care and to find good homes for them. Because of constant changes in legislation, which are punitive to a culture with endemic poverty, rather than comply with ill considered legislation, many puppies are now being abandoned... in the fields, in the woods, by the roadside. Last week, Carmen found 21 abandoned next to a busy road. All are now safe inside the haven which she provides. Inside safety and security... outside... death awaits!
But she stands alone! And now overwhelmed, seeks help. Homes are needed for the pups. Virtual adoptions would allow her to provide the life saving vaccinations. Donations will provide food. As a true light of hope in the darkness which surrounds her, Carmen needs friends. She needs support. It is those such as Carmen who carry the torch of hope for humanity. A little lady alone providing the contrast of love and compassion in one place whilst in the other lies death and greed.
Does she not deserve to not feel alone?
Humanity should be proud of those such as Carmen... Romania should be ashamed that she is needed to sacrifice herself for its animals and its people.
If you want to find out more about Carmen's work, please visit her dedicated Facebook-page.
Thank you.
You are not alone!
The posts presented here are to represent and inform of the typical life of an animal rescuer and the many challenges that these good people face, be it in Romania or elsewhere.
They are NOT intended as an endorsement of any individual rescuer, nor do we perform background checks to verify the validity of any stories or photos presented to us.
Anyone interested in offering support should please contact the rescuer directly. OFA will take no responsibility for any negative activity which may result from this contact.
In the interests of fairness and equality, we invite other rescuers to 'tell their story' and we are hoping that by publishing them on our website, it will increase their visibility outside of Facebook and hopefully attract more support for them and the many animals in their care. These should be accompanied by relevant photographs and send to us using FB-mail.
However, because OFA always seeks to present current information and events, it is therefore impossible to continue with this theme indefinitely. We will therefore continue to invite stories from rescuers up to midnight on Sunday 31st of May, 2014 after which we will concentrate on new campaigns and actions, the quality of which our readers have come to expect from OFA.
Thank you for caring!
They are NOT intended as an endorsement of any individual rescuer, nor do we perform background checks to verify the validity of any stories or photos presented to us.
Anyone interested in offering support should please contact the rescuer directly. OFA will take no responsibility for any negative activity which may result from this contact.
In the interests of fairness and equality, we invite other rescuers to 'tell their story' and we are hoping that by publishing them on our website, it will increase their visibility outside of Facebook and hopefully attract more support for them and the many animals in their care. These should be accompanied by relevant photographs and send to us using FB-mail.
However, because OFA always seeks to present current information and events, it is therefore impossible to continue with this theme indefinitely. We will therefore continue to invite stories from rescuers up to midnight on Sunday 31st of May, 2014 after which we will concentrate on new campaigns and actions, the quality of which our readers have come to expect from OFA.
Thank you for caring!