my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)

melmac86 · February 2012

How many times do I have to see a stray animal before I can't take it anymore?! Some people might not care about this at all, but I'm one of the biggest animal lovers you'll meet and it seriously puts me in the worst mood after witnessing this crap. It's 15° here with a wind chill of -10. Without exaggeration, I see probably at least 1-2 cats on a weekly basis. Last week, it was a stray and a dead cat all in the same day.

This has happened more frequently in the last several years and my boyfriend says I just have really bad timing. Really though? How much bad timing can one person have. We had left for Target and I had JUST said how sad it makes me to think about homeless animals and people in this cold weather. 45 minutes later when pulling into our apartment parking lot, a cat darts in front of my car and down the road. Not to sound BSC, but I'm at the point where I feel like it has some deeper meaning for as often as I've been seeing this. I'm very close to considering quitting my job as an RN to persue work in animal rescue. Maybe I can just volunteer. I do my best to help when I can, but most of the time they're too scared and run off. The more skiddish ones are most likely feral and had been born outside, so it makes it more difficult. Often times, shelters won't take them in anyway, because they aren't usually able to be socialized.

Idk. I'm sorry for the depressing post on a Saturday night. My BF doesn't love to hear me rant about it, probably because it just makes him sad too. The first thing I'd do if I ever won the lottery is build an animal shelter. Too bad I don't actually play; maybe I should start.

HULU · February 2012

Most of all the animals our family has had are either adopted strays or adopted from an animal shelter. Me and my mom both have a VERY soft spot for animals (particularly strays), and we have a habit of bringing them home.

They're just so loveable.

melmac86 · February 2012

Yeah, both of our kitties were rescues from a shelter. I don't think I'd ever get an animal without adopting it from the humane society or similar place. One of my parent's dogs was rescued from a high-kill shelter. He was set to be euthanized a few days before they adopted him. Wish I could save all the forgotten about and uncared for animals

zipis1 · February 2012

Just a thought, but some of those cats may not be strays. Lots of people let their cats out to roam, but they have homes to return to. It's not something I do with mine, and I'd prefer if no one did, but it's not so bad.

But I do know what you mean. It ruins my day to see a dead animal on the road. And since I work at a shelter I come to really dislike people more and more each week...

BrittneyRN · February 2012

I don't ever post on this board, but I can completely empathize with you. I love animals so much. We got our lab from a family who was taking him to the animal shelter. My parents have 7 animals, all were strays. So were my sister's cats. Every time I realize how lucky I am I life, I get a little sad thinking about how much animals suffer. It really breaks my heart every day. I know most people aren't as sensitive to the topic as I am. I am also an RN btw. I couldn't work with animals, because it would be too sad.

Elle1036 · February 2012

One Saturday night when I was in high school, I went out to eat with my friend and her parents (at that classiest of establishments: Red Lobster). Anyway, there was a little stray kitten hanging around outside the restaurant. Super friendly, tiny little thing.

So there was a pretty long wait time and a lot of people were milling around outside the restaurant. I started asking everyone I saw if they would give the kitten a home. We got called for our table, but I refused to go inside until I'd found somebody to take the cat. Eventually, I succeeded, but I missed out on those cheddar biscuits.

Point being, I'm an animal lover, too. If I didn't have my FI to hold me back, I would bring home every stray I found. I actually got my dog from a breeder and I still feel guilty about it to this day. I didn't intend to do it that way; I just saw him and fell in love with him. Had I meant to get a dog, I would have gone straight to the shelter.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I don't really have a purpose for this post, I just wanted to let you know that I'm right there with you. Seeing stray or dead animals kills me.

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi):
[QUOTE]Just a thought, but some of those cats may not be strays. Lots of people let their cats out to roam, but they have homes to return to. It's not something I do with mine, and I'd prefer if no one did, but it's not so bad. But I do know what you mean. It ruins my day to see a dead animal on the road. And since I work at a shelter I come to really dislike people more and more each week...
Posted by zipis1[/QUOTE]

I know a lot of people tend to do this, but I can't quite comprehend it in a big city in below freezing temperatures. I had a cat when I was little (for 14 years actually)...we used to let him outside in the backyard, but he was always supervised. He was also trained to come to the sound of our whistling if he got too far. Some people are just different. My cats are like my babies and just like I wouldn't let my future toddlers run outside unattended, I certainly wouldn't let my animals do it. I can't imangine how difficult some days must be at the shelter.

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:3cd79edb-be17-42a8-8e4e-4c169cc8ac54">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't ever post on this board, but I can completely empathize with you. I love animals so much. We got our lab from a family who was taking him to the animal shelter. My parents have 7 animals, all were strays. So were my sister's cats. Every time I realize how lucky I am I life, I get a little sad thinking about how much animals suffer. It really breaks my heart every day. I know most people aren't as sensitive to the topic as I am. I am also an RN btw. I couldn't work with animals, because it would be too sad.
Posted by BrittneyRN[/QUOTE]

I had every intention from the time I was 5 years old pretty much right up until high school graduation to become a veterinarian, but decided last minute that I wasn't sure I could handle seeing animals sick, hurt, and in pain. People often ask me why I have so much compassion for animals when they're <em>just</em> animals, but they have feelings too. Maybe not the complete range of human emotions, but they have the capability to love and be loved, to feel pain, happiness, fear, etc... About a month ago, there was a mom cat and babies near our apartment and of course it was freezing. I tried to carefully get close to see if they would allow me to be near, but they ran off and were too scared. I ended up going back and putting out this cat bed thing that mine don't use and a whole bag of cat food. I don't think they ever came back though and the bed was gone a few days later :(

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:3739876f-5e35-42bc-a814-3d3bd3494cff">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]One Saturday night when I was in high school, I went out to eat with my friend and her parents (at that classiest of establishments: Red Lobster). Anyway, there was a little stray kitten hanging around outside the restaurant. Super friendly, tiny little thing. So there was a pretty long wait time and a lot of people were milling around outside the restaurant. I started asking everyone I saw if they would give the kitten a home. We got called for our table, but I refused to go inside until I'd found somebody to take the cat. Eventually, I succeeded, but I missed out on those cheddar biscuits. Point being, I'm an animal lover, too. If I didn't have my FI to hold me back, I would bring home every stray I found. I actually got my dog from a breeder and I still feel guilty about it to this day. I didn't intend to do it that way; I just saw him and fell in love with him. Had I meant to get a dog, I would have gone straight to the shelter. Anyway, I'm rambling. I don't really have a purpose for this post, I just wanted to let you know that I'm right there with you. Seeing stray or dead animals kills me.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

This makes me so happy to know I'm not the only one to do things like this. I would've done the exact same thing. I don't think it's the worst thing to buy a dog from a breeder since these animals need loving homes too. Just wished more people were animal lovers and adopted from shelters when they could; the problem is that the number of unwanted animals in shelters is way higher than the amount of people willing or able to adopt.

Anyway, like I said it's nice to know that other people feel the same way I do when seeing strays, because I don't feel so crazy now.

leia1979 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:0f0b53ed-c7bc-4ceb-a132-4fec998d724b">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : I had every intention from the time I was 5 years old pretty much right up until high school graduation to become a veterinarian, but decided last minute that I wasn't sure I could handle seeing animals sick, hurt, and in pain. People often ask me why I have so much compassion for animals when they're just animals, but they have feelings too. Maybe not the complete range of human emotions, but they have the capability to love and be loved, to feel pain, happiness, fear, etc... About a month ago, there was a mom cat and babies near our apartment and of course it was freezing. I tried to carefully get close to see if they would allow me to be near, but they ran off and were too scared. I ended up going back and putting out this cat bed thing that mine don't use and a whole bag of cat food. I don't think they ever came back though and the bed was gone a few days later :(
Posted by melmac86[/QUOTE]

I can understand this. I also wanted to be a vet but decided I would not be able to handle losing a patient.

Do you have strays/ferals you can help in your neighborhood? I built a little feeding shelter on my front porch and feed at least two feral cats. Fortunately, it doesn't get that cold here, but I lined my feeding shelter in case anyone wants to hang out inside.

Elle1036 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:0f0b53ed-c7bc-4ceb-a132-4fec998d724b">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : I had every intention from the time I was 5 years old pretty much right up until high school graduation to become a veterinarian, but decided last minute that I wasn't sure I could handle seeing animals sick, hurt, and in pain. People often ask me why I have so much compassion for animals when they're just animals, but they have feelings too. Maybe not the complete range of human emotions, but they have the capability to love and be loved, to feel pain, happiness, fear, etc... About a month ago, there was a mom cat and babies near our apartment and of course it was freezing. I tried to carefully get close to see if they would allow me to be near, but they ran off and were too scared. I ended up going back and putting out this cat bed thing that mine don't use and a whole bag of cat food. I don't think they ever came back though and the bed was gone a few days later :(
Posted by melmac86[/QUOTE]

Honestly, sometimes I think that the reason I've had so much trouble figuring out what career I want is that I'm not passionate about anything else the way I am about animals. My problem is that my allergies are so bad, a veterinary career could literally kill me. But there's just nothing else in the world that I would rather do than help animals.

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:84d1fdef-e812-41ca-8b85-db8489226a96">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : I can understand this. I also wanted to be a vet but decided I would not be able to handle losing a patient. Do you have strays/ferals you can help in your neighborhood? I built a little feeding shelter on my front porch and feed at least two feral cats. Fortunately, it doesn't get that cold here, but I lined my feeding shelter in case anyone wants to hang out inside.
Posted by leia1979[/QUOTE]

There's a program in WI that allows you to care for feral cats. Basically, you can take them in and have them spayed/neutered for free and then return them to the location where they live outside. During the spay/neuter, they make a tiny incision in one of the ears so that when other people see them, they know they're feral and being cared for. Once you return them to the area, you basically feed/water them and provide shelter outside. I would LOVE to do this, but I live in an apartment complex, so it would be really difficult. Plus, the apartment managers put up signs back in summer asking people not to feed them (oops!), because they were working with the humane society to catch them and find them homes. I'm not sure this is actually true, since feral cats generally can't be adopted out. Anyway, I was certainly not going to NOT put food out for those little babies in the middle of winter. I guess one of the maintenance/grounds people saw the bed and blanket I had left and took it. Terrible. When I own my home some day, I would definitely do what you are doing if I realized there were cats around.

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:c4cba318-5037-47bc-a110-d61fb779a417">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : Honestly, sometimes I think that the reason I've had so much trouble figuring out what career I want is that I'm not passionate about anything else the way I am about animals. My problem is that my allergies are so bad, a veterinary career could literally kill me. But there's just nothing else in the world that I would rather do than help animals.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

So bad as in anaphylaxis? Do you have allergies to pretty much any animal? I always thought it would be cool to do wildlife rescue/rehabilitation. Maybe you wouldn't have problems with wildlife animals, since I think they typically have less dander? Then again, if I had severe allergies, it wouldn't be worth the risk to find out.

leia1979 · February 2012

Melmac, both of my ferals have their ears tipped. I wasn't sure about the newer one, but I saw him fairly up-close today, and he's tipped, too. I was contemplating trying to trap him to take him in to make sure he's neutered until I saw that.

I live in a condo complex, and fortunately no one seems to mind the ferals. Our new one is a bit of a meower, though, and I worry he'll draw attention. The other is shy and silent, so you hardly see her.

Here's my feeding station. It's a deck box with a hole cut in one end and a handy flip lid. I lined it with this metallic bubble wrap insulation I found at the hardware store. I deliberately made it not look like a feeding station.

Elle1036 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:dc930a94-bce7-4d8d-978e-5668e7fb20d9">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : <strong>So bad as in anaphylaxis?</strong> Do you have allergies to pretty much any animal? I always thought it would be cool to do wildlife rescue/rehabilitation. Maybe you wouldn't have problems with wildlife animals, since I think they typically have less dander? Then again, if I had severe allergies, it wouldn't be worth the risk to find out.
Posted by melmac86[/QUOTE]

Yep, that bad. I've been hospitalized a few times in the past. Most people don't believe me, because I have 4 pets of my own. I just don't have allergies to them because of the constant exposure. I can't even take them to the vet without having a reaction to the "strangers" though.

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:dbb43a7c-5056-42b9-9945-f7450b73e6f8">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]Melmac, both of my ferals have their ears tipped. I wasn't sure about the newer one, but I saw him fairly up-close today, and he's tipped, too. I was contemplating trying to trap him to take him in to make sure he's neutered until I saw that. I live in a condo complex, and fortunately no one seems to mind the ferals. Our new one is a bit of a meower, though, and I worry he'll draw attention. The other is shy and silent, so you hardly see her. Here's my feeding station. It's a deck box with a hole cut in one end and a handy flip lid. I lined it with this metallic bubble wrap insulation I found at the hardware store. I deliberately made it not look like a feeding station.
Posted by leia1979[/QUOTE]

That is really neat. I'll have to keep this in mind for future reference. What did you use to cut the hole in it as I'm guessing that's made of kind of thick plastic?

melmac86 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_my-heart-breaks-a-little-more-each-time-depressing-post-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:39740acd-6cc7-49f6-8734-e401fd195294Post:2c9c4315-0e7c-49da-96e6-c72a9be2754e">Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi) : Yep, that bad. I've been hospitalized a few times in the past. Most people don't believe me, because I have 4 pets of my own. I just don't have allergies to them because of the constant exposure. I can't even take them to the vet without having a reaction to the "strangers" though.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

Wow, that's really scary. :( It totally makes sense that you're used to your own animals.

my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)

Re: my heart breaks a little more each time (depressing post, fyi)

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