A post by A Rotta Love Plus’ Intake Coordinator Paula

This little girl is lucky – she will be going to a local rescue.

It isn’t too often that I can say it was a good day at animal control. But today most of the kennel runs are empty. Which means fewer dogs and cats will die. So even though I am unable to take anyone with me when I leave, it is a pretty good day.

There are a few pit bulls, of course, and a shepherdy-mix dog that barks warily as I walk by. There are also several cats that had been trapped. They are laying in the very backs of their cages their pupils dilated.

It isn’t a happy place, and I know had I the keen senses of a dog or cat I would smell only fear and death.

As part of A Rotta Love Plus’ intake team I am charged with the task of routinely walking past these kennels of hopeful dogs. It is a disheartening task. And I have to remind myself of the good that we are able to do. I focus on the dogs we CAN save and have saved. But it is difficult not to linger on the eyes of the dogs who are happy to see me, their eyes pleading, but I cannot take them out of this place.

As a foster-based rescue it is the number of available foster homes that determines how many dogs we can save. As soon as a foster home opens up, I can always find a dog to fill it.

Today, unfortunately, that is not the reason I am at animal control. We do not have any available foster homes. I give a treat to each of the dogs there and I say good-bye. Next time there will be different faces.

If you have ever considered fostering a dog or would like more information on what is involved, write us at foster@arottalove.org often we are able to select a dog to meet your fostering abilities, i.e. age, gender — please, for their sake. ~ Paula

Filed under: Observations & Reflection