Bless the Shelter Workers for they shall inherit the earth

[CavySpirit]

Just some of my thoughts for the day...

Where to start. Let's see, as usual, we continue to take heat (here and elsewhere) from the breeders and showers that we are mean, too radical, not 'accepting' of other points of view, etc.

I wish it was easier and safer to identify young kids and teenagers on the forum. If I was face-to-face with these kids, there is no way I would tolerate (nor would they dare to dish out) the disrespect and stupidity that spews forth from some of them while they hide behind the anonymity of the internet.

Too often, we get sucked into to trying to argue 'grown-up' concepts that require serious experience of the world at large with kids who have no clue. It's no wonder all they can do is resort to name-calling, cursing and swearing when they quickly run out of logic and facts to support their extremely weak positions.

I am sorely tempted to make an 'adults only -- must be 21 or over' section to our forum. I think I'd let anyone read it, but you have to be 21 to post. So, it would be clean and still follow all forum rules, but assume a certain level of intelligence and experience. I'm all too well aware that we have a lot of members here who are under 21 with a high degree of maturity, but I would like to know that a debate about breeding is not being undertaken by a bunch of teenage backyard breeders who have absolutely no clue on how to carry on an intelligent discussion or debate.

Talk about peers. Trust me, a teenage breeder is not the peer of a 50-year old college degreed, software executive who also does rescue. The teens seem to have their peer group in spades on the other forums. Why should they have all the fun? And by the by, for those who think I'm being derogatory about peer groups, I'm not. Peer groups are defined as a social group consisting of people who are equal in such respects as age, education or social class (per the MS Encarta College dictionary). The peer group of teenagers is pretty easy to define.

So, after a little chat war today, where all the tired old, worn out arguments about extinction and what not were quickly dusted off and put to bed with the subsequent cursing and name calling by the breeders, they had to password protect the cheap chat software to lock us big, bad meanies out of their little chat, where we were once again being bad-mouthed. Fine by me. Keep your poison private. I'm all for that.

So, after checking on all my rescue sanctuary pigs today--one girl is dying, just had to make sure she is warm and comfortable and has food and water available--at the request of one of the Animal Control officers at a nearby city shelter, I made a visit to go do a pregnancy check on a female guinea pig.

They weren't technically open today, so I was able to spend some time with her and a couple workers there. The sweet pig and Dad, who they neutered, was definitely pregnant. The babies were kicking--a blue-eyed white abby--very talkative and a licker. The self-black Dad is a crested American. Very cute and inquisitive.

After I get my current mite pig (who we pulled from the San Francisco shelter) cured of mites (it's been slow going) -- he's lost 75% of all of his hair, I'll move him in with the other girls, since I lost Sammie a couple of months ago, and pull the pregnant girl and hubby. I need some updated sexing photos of babies, so I've been on the watch for a pregnant shelter pig.

Anyway, the shelter worker who called and I am friends with, wanted me to look at a donated cage to see if I wanted it. I didn't, but of course we had to walk by quite a few rabbits in hutches and passed the dog room on the way back.

I rarely go to the shelters anymore, because I simply do not have the personal fortitude. I used to, but it's ebbed away. Now Susan, Leah and Sharon do the shelter pulls when we can take them. Anyway, I glanced in at the dogs. I couldn't help but stop. There was one guy with a funky front leg--probably an old injury that never healed properly. So, so friendly looking, barking so desperately for attention and any kind of love. Another guy in the kennel next to him. The poor thing was shaking and vibrating with his barking in his desperation for love and attention. They were sweet and beautiful. I swear if I had stayed there 10 more minutes, I would have come home with two dogs.

I asked them both, the shelter workers, how do you do it? I already knew the answer, but they said it anyway. It's extremely hard. The guy there (sidebar: young and totally handsome ) said he has a one-bedroom apartment and he listed off his pet count. Big heart. Gives as much of himself as he can. Same with my friend. Menagerie at home. I was choked up and had to leave asap. I hope to pull the two pigs within the week.

Anyway, got home, checked my sick girl again, gave my mite guy some new entertainment for his cage. Now, I have to go put away the groceries that this great couple that adopted from Cavy Spirit picks up for me at the farmer's market every weekend when they go to buy for their own pigs.

I don't know what points I'm trying to make, I've just felt like rambling and venting a little. I think I'm allowed once in a while. I know some people think I'm this harsh old radical bitch. Well, perhaps if I start blogging more often on the days in the life of a rescuer, some people will start to get it. Who knows.

I can tell you this. The breeders who say they also rescue, are so kidding themselves. They have no clue. If they did, they wouldn't. It's that simple. Yeah, they may take in or take back the occassional pig. Big deal. But really rescue? Honestly, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Shows happen how often? A couple of times a year for the average joe-schmoe breeder? Rescue happens every hour of every day.

[Jennicat]

I agree quite a bit with you. It would be so nice to have an over 21 forum. Having talked to the child breeders, it's clear that most of them can't grasp the concepts of long-term damage in terms of breeding. But then again, as a 13-18 year old, I really couldn't either.

[fourbwabbys]

Very well put. I couldn't have said it any better. Just a suggestion, if you do end up doing the 21+ forum, maybe you can include people under 21 that have proved their maturity over a long time on the board?

[hydrohoki]

I agree. I don't think I have the emotional strength to work at a shelter. I wish I did. I'm thankful to all that do (and rescues).

I'm looking forward to adopting from some of these wonderful people sometime in the near future.

[fashion victim]

I absolutely agree with your idea. Even though I'm only 18 and would be excluded from posting my opinion, I think it's best. I've been reading all those breeder threads and I agree with you: they make no sense, add no useful input and often if not always end up with inmature offensive talk. These people just don't get it and they come here to disrupt everyone's peace and try to force-feed their wrong ways to everyone. I honestly think age and maturity has a lot to do with their behaviour, and your solution seems like a reasonable one.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

But how do you guys determine the age of the members? Isn't it just based on what they say their birthday is? Seems like the type of person who likes to go around stirring the pot might also be the type of person who would have no problem putting a fake birthday on their registration.

[nonamian_girl]

I enjoyed that . If there was an age restriction, I would perhaps suggest 18, or like someone else suggested, make exceptions for certain members.

[emoxrobot]

Originally Posted by fourbwabbys

Very well put. I couldn't have said it any better. Just a suggestion, if you do end up doing the 21+ forum, maybe you can include people under 21 that have proved their maturity over a long time on the board?

I agree that maybe a few people should be allowed in even if they are under 21 because I am only 20 and I want to be part of the crowd. *whines*

T, I really enjoyed your post. It kind of made me sad though and the urge to give you a hug. You are a good person and I hope you know that there are a lot of us here that respect and admire you.

Lots of love to you!

[CavySpirit]

I was thinking more like 25. I definitely wouldn't go to 18. For me, 21 is a compromise. As far as exceptions go, I'm not sure. I prefer an objective measure. Otherwise, it gets into personality and popularity. But, I'm not decided yet. And how do you make an exception for some people here without indirectly telling someone else, no sorry, we don't believe you are mature enough? Think about their feelings. I'm really leaning towards no exceptions. Bottomline, everyone thinks they are mature enough in their own mind. I know I always did.

I would definitely take the approach that if we don't think you are an adult, you lose your privilege to post at the adult table. Sorry, but I'm having images of the 'grown-up table' because of Thanksgiving looming.

T, I really enjoyed your post. It kind of made me sad though and the urge to give you a hug.

Thanks. I'm feeling like I need hug at the moment. I think I'm sick. I definitely don't feel well. At least my bf is here doing dishes and stuff.

[nonamian_girl]

25? Aww but when you're 21 you feel so grown up, you're gonna make us feel like youngins again, haha.

I think it's cold season, everyone seems to be fighting something.

[this_lil_piggy]

I think an over 21 forum would be a great idea, but then again I would hate to think that current members that are under 21 who have proved themselves respectable would be discluded.
I think a good idea would be to make certain area's where you know the trolls come to, can be read, but cant be posted on until A) your are over 21 and have been a member for 30+ days, or B) under 21 and have been a member 6 + months. I dont know how easy it would be to keep up with memberships to allow doing something like that though. :-|

[CavySpirit]

I really think it should be adults-only. That is the point. As great and wonderful -- respectable and mature as some of the teens and young people on this forum are, I would really like to have a place where I know I am speaking with other adults. That's just the simple point of it. I personally want to be able to hold a conversation with other adults sometimes. The vast majority of the time, we are having great conversations with everyone--from 11 or 12 or 13 to 103 (okay, well, not 103).

Also, I don't mind at all if some adult breeder/shower person wants to come and debate the issues and they are a new member. I don't want to discourage newcomers until they 'prove' themselves. That's not the idea. Bring it on!

And I don't want to restrict this forum--The Kitchen. Let the teens come and try to make their case. Let anyone. I won't be like them. I won't shut them down just because they disagree. They end up shutting themselves down with their inability to write legible posts or remain civil.

Anyway, I suppose this is why I haven't created such a forum yet. I don't want to offend the young people. But, again, the idea is growing on me.

[emoxrobot]

Well I understand what you are saying T. It would be kind of hard to tell some people yes and others no. I guess I am going to have to wait until August. Bummer.

I'm sorry to hear that you are sick. Take that Nyquil and get some rest. I am sending you a million hugs!

[Sabriel]

I think 25 is a bit old. 21 is good. They've had a few chances to vote, possibly been fending for themselves for a year or two and maybe had some post secondary or work under their belts.

Then again I'm 22 so that might be why I want a lower age.

I think you should start a blog. It might help those breeders/"rescuers" see what a real rescue is like, and the real heart ache you must go though everyday.

I hope you feel better soon.

[fairysari]

I really like the idea of an adults only forum. I think that the VIP forum sort of covers that "in crowd" thing (it's for dedicated members who are willing to pay, I knoe I feel sort of "in" by being able to read it!), and the adults only should be just that - adults only, with no exceptions. I don't think it matters too much if you choose 21 or 25, except that I think there are a lot of members from 21 to 24 who are mature and would be valuable to have posting on the anti-breeding side. I'm 24 myself, but I think I could handle waiting a few months.