In a message dated 00-03-09 15:18:38 EST, you write:
<< Ok, folks, I have read the newsletter and I must say I'm very very
upset.
What kind of rescue work is it that you are in for?
I appreciate your enthusiasm but this big scale "rescue" scheme ist
quite impossible!
You write:
"Basically if and when you go to a petstore and you see that the gerbils
there are being neglected you would buy all of them and ship them to
Kristen who will pay for it."
How can you encourage people all over the USA to buy *ill* animals and
then let them undergo shipping, which, as Kristen herself at least once
experienced, is far from being safe???
Besides if I'm informed correctly Kristen is still dependant on her
granny and doesn't have any regular income as yet to make her
independant.
The ill animals your organisation will collect will most likely need
medical treatment (if they arrive alive at all.) Do you really think
such a big venture can be financed over a long time by a bit of web wide
fund raising? You'll need a very secure financial basis to ensure you
can afford keeping all the gerbils, let alone nurse them back to health.
I'm sorry that I have to say this, but your plan is doing things the
wrong way around. In every bigger city there are a lot of small pets in
need of being rescued. At our shelter we get in such animals every day.
No, we DON'T buy them at pet shops. We DON'T have them shipped in from
all over Europe. I know a few private small pet rescues as well as
bigger ones here in Germany, so I think I have quite a bit of insight
into the matter.
You are making a big fuss about your organisation before you even have
the means to care for any animals in need. If I got it right we won't
see before summertime what exactly your work will look like.
Real rescuers do thigs the other way around. When they hear of animals
in need of help they take them in and they find them new homes. They
also help rehome shelter animals. Because of their expertise people
contact them all by themselves and ask for help in emergency situations.
Their homes mysteriously fill with cages till they can't get inside
their house any longer... Then, maybe they find other - local - people
to help them care for all the unwanted animals.
An example: Jackie and Julian rescue gerbils whenever they can. They
have everything organised in a sensible way, have all the necessary
contacts etc. But even though they are DOING something already they
don't go about ask everybody for help or make public what splendid
people they are. Something to think over, isn't it?
So I urgently want to warn everybody to follow the advice of the GR
newsletter. If pets in a pet shop aren't cared for properly DON'T BUY
THEM!!!
You should much better have a serious word with the shop manager, do
everything you can to improve the situation. If you don't get on: call
in your local SPCA or Humane Society. It's their job to help you, i.e,
the animals.
By simply buying animals from a bad source you SUPPORT the bad
practices. The shop manager will see no need to change anything about
the way he keeps the animals.
If you really wish to rescue animals go to the shelters. Volunteer there
for a longer period and learn how you can help and where help is really
necessary.
I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but like I said before: I am upset.
I fear for the animals if you really go about your "rescue work" in that
fashion.
There are many people on this list who have rescued gerbils before by
simply doing what was in their power. And I do admire their work a lot.
I hate to see what they did compared to the scheme you are planning.
Sorry, folks, I had to get this off my chest otherwise my husband would
find me unbearable all day ;-) >>
Looks like your the one that has things turned around. Like I said, i'm not
rescuing any gerbils untill June when I can properly care for the animals.
And I will only allow to take in a certian amount of gerbils, untill some are
adopted out. Some of the older gerbils that have been through alot, will stay
with me. You've made me sound like some kinda criminal or something.
Geez...
