How Strong is a Rescuer's Heart?

(This was originally published on January 16, 2015 on the website for my former rescue.  I am republishing this here since that site is no longer operational.  Sadly, God has led me away from full-time rescue for now, but I have faith that I will return to it again in the future, in some capacity.  The words below remain as true as the day I wrote them.  There is nothing that makes my soul smile like snuggles with a tiny kitten. - 3/30/17)

Like many rescuers, I believe I was born to rescue. I remember countless stops with my mom to save wayward turtles in the road from their "untimely death." I was always on the hunt for animals to save, and even talked my mom into keeping a few. My rescuer's heart grew as I grew and, as an adult, I found myself trying to rescue people, too. Friends, significant others, acquaintances, or even complete strangers in need....I thought I had to save them all. However, I quickly realized that animals were much easier to save than people, and sometimes more grateful in the end. As my mind reflected on how I got involved in rescue, I pondered....just how strong IS a rescuer's heart?

Strong Enough to Say "Yes"

Any rescuer will tell you that what they do is far from easy. There is an acclimation period to get acquainted with a new foster, young or old. Foster animals can be anxious or emotionally scarred from neglect or abuse. They may need behavioral or elimination training. Exposure and wounds can be a concern, or require extensive and costly treatment. Rescuers have to accept that a lot of money, time, and emotions go into rescue.

On average, it always takes my kittens 24-48 hours to accept that I am now their new "mom" and get used to our routine. While fostering an older cat or dog can be as simple as opening your door to them, neonatal kittens are different. They require 24-hour care, including feedings every 2-3 hours until they are 2 weeks old. For me, saying "yes" means running out in the middle of dinner to pick up kittens or having to schedule appointments around a feeding schedule. It sometimes means agreeing to take a kitten that I know will not make it, just so it can pass quietly in my hands, knowing love instead of cold and alone in the rain or cold.

Strong Enough to Say "No"

Every rescuer needs to learn their limits...and then stick to them! One person can only take care of so many animals before rescue burnout and fatigue set in. Personally, my limit is 4-5 neonates (under 4 weeks) or 9 kittens over 5 weeks. Regardless of how many heart-breaking calls I get, I know that I can only properly care for that many kittens at one time. Less if they are needy or have expensive medical issues. Rescuers are always tempted to take "just one more," but what if that one more is carrying a disease that could wipe out all the fosters in your care? To be completely honest, if I have a bunch of healthy kittens and get a call about a "just one" kitten with diarrhea or an upper respiratory infection, I have to refer them to other rescues. I have to choose the needs of the many over the needs of the few.

Strong Enough to Pick the Right Homes

While a rescuer's ultimate goal is to get fosters into a home, their heart must be able to discern between good and bad placements. Each foster animal has a very unique personality and history. Not every animal is a good match for every home and vice versa. Too many people want to adopt a pet based solely on looks and not consider the behavior or temperament. That is a huge mistake and leads to unhappy animals, unhappy adopters, and higher return rates. If it is not a good fit, even if it is a much needed home, rescuer's have to have the heart to let the adopter know and suggest another foster or even another rescue.

Strong Enough to Let Go

Rescuer's hearts also have to be strong enough to know fosters are not ours to keep (unless it is a foster-to-adopt situation). Fosters are only ours to care for until their forever home finds them or until they cross the Rainbow Bridge. Our hearts have to know when it is time to stop supportive care and just love them while we can.

I know many rescuers who cry for days when fosters are adopted or orphaned kittens have to go back to the shelter to be placed in homes. I am grateful that God has blessed me with a rescuer's heart that is overjoyed when my foster kitties are adopted, not crushed with grief. I am too happy to see them find a good home and know that I could not take more fosters if they had not been adopted.

Strong Enough to Keep Going

Rescuing orphaned kittens has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences in my life, but I will never say it is easy. In May 2014, we lost one of the most special little kittens we have ever had the pleasure of fostering, Walter. He was about 5 days old when he came and wrapped our hearts around his little paws immediately. Losing him 3 weeks later almost cause me to stop rescuing...or so I thought. I was in the midst of grieving, looking at my husband and seeing his heart shattered into a million pieces, and my then 8-year-old son asking, "Can't you just stop Furry Friends?" I prayed and prayed for days, in one of the deepest depressions I'd had in a long time. I didn't know how I would ever be able to do it again, knowing that neonatal kittens only have such a high mortality rate.

Less than two weeks later, I got a call about six kittens who were less than 48 hours old. From that litter, we ended up with one survivor, our feisty little calico named Allie Bug. She is 9 months old now, a permanent resident, and the inspiring mascot for our rescue.  She has survived panleukopenia, toxoplasmosis, and will always be a tiny cat, but one look at her and I remember why I put my heart on the line for these tiny souls. Sure, I could quit, but then what would I do? Rescuing is the only thing that has ever made my heart feel so full. It is not something I do, but who I am. If you are blessed enough to know a rescuer, please keep them in your prayers. What they do is not always as easy as they may make it look.