RE: adoption frustration

[Danielle]

Oh Melissa!!   I am so sorry this family did not work out.  First let me tell you how much I have appreciated you helping me out from the very beginning with my pos kitties.  You have been a selfless and generous resource for me as I struggled with the realization I would have to educate myself re: yet another disability/disease.   Perhaps because I did wildlife rescue (with a focus on the animals noone else would/could deal with (bats and skunks) or because I adopted tripod cats and dogs years ago, then a tripod cat with heartworms (when folks still thought cats couldn't get heartworms) now breed rescue with a breed that is often misunderstood and deaf dogs of that breed and deaf blind homozygous dogs of another herding breed....  My expectations re: adopters and even rescues have become very gentle.  Special needs pets are not for everyone.  Special needs adopters are often looking for a heart connection that will allow them to justify the $$ and potential heartbreak.  Special needs adopters are often contrary and neurotic.  Special needs adopters may even be a bit loopy.    In a society that so often values purebred, non-shedding, hypoallergenic and declawed, debarked and $$ making animals...  in a society that euthanizes the old, infirm, disabled and ill as well as just unwanted...  well...  I must be gentle, otherwise, I would go insane.    I guess what I am saying is that I believe that these guys find our doorsteps, our patios, our hearts to seek safety in not by accident.  Ultimately, I believe it is our willingness to do what it takes to the best of our ability to show these creatures kindness and love that they may never have experienced that make us blessed.  I may wish compassion on others, I may treat others with compassion, but I cannot force it upon them.    I get frightened and overwhelmed sometimes.....  how am I going to find the time to educate myself, to do what needs to be done, to clean and provide a safe and social enviroment.  How will I find the $$ to vet and feed all these critters?  But I do and although I wonder how I ended up with a husband who does not mind a muddy pawprint on the sheets or stray hair in his dinner...  by the grace of some higher power, I did.   Your kitts may find the perfect forever home....  or they may have already found it!  Just as mine may have :-)    That family may have missed a life altering experience, or they may have just found another.  Who knows?  But I hope you can find some gratitude for the fact that they even considered a special needs pet.  Sometimes that is all we get to walk away with for our time and effort.  That and the fact we may have helped educate someone.  I know personally that you do that beautifully!!   Many hugs for your efforts!! Danielle     When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of creation is completed, Inside us, the doors of our souls fly open and love steps forth to heal everything in sight." -Michael Bridge Do you want to foster or adopt a Border Collie? http://bcrescue.dogsaver.org/ -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 7:15 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: adoption frustration     I am so frustrated with rescue and this disease. I'm so frustrated with people who have the means to care for animals and don't. I'm just...I'm just frustrated tonight. I got my hopes up and now I have to write these people back and basically do the one thing I don't want to have to do and turn down a family who would, under different circumstances, have made a great home for one of my kittens. I only wish their timing had been different.   Am I making the right choice?   Melissa, who needs a big bowl of ice cream and some motrin   ���,��,������,��,������,��,��� Adopt a special needs pet! ���,��,������,��,������,��,��� Kittens and cats with Feline Leukemia need caring homes; for more information, visit: http://www.luna-fish.com/blog/blogindex.html or http://www.marleyfund.com