My problem isn’t that I have no one to talk to, it’s that I don’t want to talk at all in the conventional sense. At some point, I’m no longer interested in exchanging information because I have enough of my own. I want my interlocutor to continue my thought from where I left off, but to do that, I first have to explain it to him. And before I finish, he’ll throw two hundred idiotic objections at me for every word. I don’t want to argue, because any argument just means that we have different experiences and perhaps we don’t like each other. And that happens, too.

So I narrowed the circle of people for conversation as much as possible. A couple of people, and that’s it.

It really infuriates me when people, without knowing the real issue, try to impose their point of view and get into my head. Especially when it comes to animals. This topic is very sensitive for me. People are different, everyone admits that. But every shelter should have common standards. I think everyone would agree with that.

Why do they even create shelters, in your opinion? Probably so that those who are rescued have somewhere to eat, somewhere to receive outpatient treatment, or, if they’re elderly, somewhere to live. So, it’s a kind of temporary refuge, right? Where there’s food, water, someone will clean up after you, and they’ll LOOK FOR A HOME!

Has anyone ever considered the criteria for a pet to be adopted into a shelter? I don’t think so. That’s why I’ve been reading about the incredible numbers of pets in shelters lately. What guides you when you bring in all of them? They need to be fed, treated, vaccinated annually, monitored for how they eat, whether they drink water, cleaned up after them, and know, excuse me, who went to the toilet and how.

The human brain can’t process more information than it’s designed to handle. And then comes the stupor. It’s a conveyor belt. Today there’s food, but what about tomorrow? What will you do tomorrow? For example, I have a full staff today, but tomorrow someone might get sick. What should I do? Then I start working myself! Despite all my ailments, after a week I can barely walk. Even the wheelbarrow with the waste can fall out of my hands. Meanwhile, photos and posts. And the dogs, who aren’t in the shelter but also depend on me.

There are people who help shelters on a regular basis. And believe me, the help comes in many forms. There’s help for day-to-day survival, and that’s very valuable! There is assistance for development and improvement of maintenance standards, there is assistance for improvements, there is assistance for emergency rescue (emergency veterinary care), and there is assistance for the formation of the shelter facility into a holistic rescue organization. Different types of assistance require different physical and emotional commitments from the shelter owner. But we don’t forget about the shelter, right? So, this adds to the already existing responsibilities.

In pursuit of this help, the owner, with good intentions, becomes a hostage. The trap has slammed shut! There are more responsibilities, not enough help, more animals, and the status and standard must be maintained.

That’s how it is…

If you don’t know how much your shelter costs you monthly, what additional expenses there might be, where you’ll get the money for basic food, utilities, staff salaries, medications, vaccines, treatments, garbage removal, not to mention development—then don’t start at all! Relying on people is foolish and short-sighted. You have living animals behind you, with their own troubles and misfortunes!

If you were once able to cope on your own, don’t take on new ones—it’s dangerous! I’m not saying “pass them by,” no. But for God’s sake, filter out those who definitely can’t survive without you. And find a home for them all. Yes, times are very tough now, but keep looking!

The best indicator of a shelter’s success is in the empty cages. In open, empty cages, where the names on the signs are supplemented by the words ” At Home!”

No sponsor or patron is forever! Remember that! Each of them has their own purpose, believe me.

Sorry for the frank monologue, but I’m sharing this from the heart.

Regarding shelter expenses, here’s a quick example.

Water and electricity.

And a gas cylinder: 2,000 hryvnia.

Total: 12,500 hryvnia.

And this is just one aspect…

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For those wishing to help the shelter:

Help Card – 4149 6293 6889 3954

PayPal : mlnkvl911@gmail.com