Home Rescue Stories About Saving the Animals About Faeries News & Updates Diary Make a Donation Shoppe Romantic Fantasy Prints Books & Journals Jewelry Teas & Spices Bath & Beauty Contact Us Adoptions & Sponsorships F.A.Q.

	Autumn Hollow Sanctuary Animal & Earth Rescue
Saving Animals at Autumn Hollow and at Your House

We receive many inquiries about what it means to operate an animal rescue. Over the years we have mostly worked through answering those questions for ourselves through trial and error.

Many people have the idea that they too would like to rescue animals. I think that’s a noble and certainly needed idea. There are enough animals in need to go around. At the same time I have found it interesting that there seems to be a subtle (and often not so subtle) competition in the “rescue” world between different associations who take in animals in need. I try to stay as far out of that scenario as I possibly can. I find it disturbing and vaguely distasteful for one. As I said, there is no shortage of animals who are in need. Go to any SPCA or Humane Society and you can see that for yourself. It is heartbreaking. But we as humans seem to feel the need to be king of the castle in whatever endeavor we take on. It is silly and unnecessary. I have found that actions speak louder than anything else and too much energy goes into trying to discredit others who would like to help out. It is very sad.

There are some rescues whose policies I agree and identify strongly with and others whom I differ with. There are still others that are clearly not in it in a sensible manner and I help there if I can.
I do get many requests for advice so I thought I’d put that advice here for anyone who would like to help out in their own way, whether it is to rescue an animal themselves or to help out some of the very fine places that offer their homes to animals in need.
Most of the people that call looking for advice on how to do what I am doing are those who dream of having a rescue place themselves. They love animals, hate the cruelty that is out there and want to take action!

There are many fantastic things that go along with operating the sanctuary. We get to see animals get a second chance, we have made many friends and get to go to bed at night knowing we have done our best to contribute something fine to the world…that is when we get to go to bed at night!
The thing is you also have to look at yourself very carefully before you embark on this path. There are some very important questions that you have to ask yourself and I am going to try to give you the answers that you absolutely (in my experience) have to have:

Things to Consider

#1 – Do I have the money to do this?

Money is over and again going to be the deciding factor in many of the decisions that you make. If you are only going to take in one or two animals and that is all, you should have few problems unless there are health issues. If you plan on going into anything resembling large scale, you are literally looking at hundreds and more often thousands of dollars a month when it comes to feed, shelter, health, emergency and comfort care. And that is on top of your regular expenses for you and your family. I had quite a large savings put away when we began the Sanctuary. It disappeared very quickly after getting in some emergency medical cases. Can you afford this? If not, if money is any kind of an issue for you or others in your household, you must rethink your plans.

#2 Does everyone in my household want to do this and are they willing to roll up their sleeves and help?

This is perhaps equally as important as the money issue. Again, for one or two animals it is less an issue than if you want to do this large scale…ie. More than five animals. If you have the idea of being a rescue and you have people in your home who are indifferent at best or even resistant or hostile to the idea, you will have nothing but problems right from the get-go. The type of animal will be a factor…noise and smell can aggravate an already tense situation. If you want to rescue fish for instance (yes, there is a need!) you will likely not have too many difficulties as long as you want to do all the work yourself. If you like the idea of rescuing parrots though, you must make sure that everyone in your house is knowledgeable and tolerant of extreme noise, messes and often nasty and dangerous animals. I do not recommend that parrots be brought into any household with small children. They are expensive and wasteful as well as destructive and touchy. Cat rescue is desperately needed but the smells of one or two cats can be overwhelming to many people. You can easily have upwards of 40 cats deposited on your doorstep in the space of a week. What kind of kennel space are you willing to build? Do you have help? Dogs are similar. Do you plan to rehome the animals? Then you’d better have insurance because if an animal becomes aggressive and injures someone you will have some questions to answer. Facing that kind of financial question can send some spouses over the edge.

#3 – Do you like to travel?

This has been an issue for us. We (Twyla & I) have one day of holiday time per year! On Twyla’s birthday we spend a day in Jasper or some other nearby place. We are back by 9pm and that is it. Of course we have a large variety of very needy animals that cannot be left overnight alone. When this is the case you cannot simply ask someone else to come in. The chores are far too many. Many animals have special needs, are destructive and cannot just be locked in a cage and left for days at a time. At the same time, they are not easily handled by someone inexperienced. I have gotten some very nasty bites from parrots, dogs, and rabbits (yes…bunny bites have been some of the bloodiest I have experienced and long gashes from rabbit nails can become extremely infected!). I’ve had toes broken by stubborn horses, a cracked wrist from a frightened filly who decided coming out of the barn was a scary thing. Twyla has had fingers broken when a horse spooked and dragged her along. Animals can inflict a lot of damage when they are frightened or have been abused. I’ve seen Twyla’s fingers bitten through by a parrot who didn’t like the fact that there was a stranger in the house. You may be willing to put up with that kind of pain and damage but friends or family members may not be that agreeable to it. And children can be seriously injured or maimed. Think about this!

#4 – Do you have a strong stomach?

By definition you are wanting to run a rescue and that means at some point you may come across animals that are truly a mess and need rescuing from something really horrific. I will be candid with you…bloody diarrhea, vomit, blood, festering wounds, are not unheard of. When this takes place in your house, it can be a lot of mess that…strangely…tends to happen in the middle of the night, when you have other plans, or when you are just about ready for bed. Animals can have an uncanny talent for displaying their tendencies for these emergencies and others where you want that sort of mess the least. Couches, beds and favourite clothes are all targets. Why? I suspect that these places represent comfort to the animal and when they are in pain, are sick or frightened, they seek comfort the same way a child would under similar circumstances. You cannot get mad at them for this nor can any other members of your household. This must be made imperatively clear from the beginning. If you open the fridge to a bad mystery smell and your stomach turns over, it’s time to have a rethink.

#5 – Can you handle the results of extreme cruelty or violence?

By handle, I mean can you turn off your outrage to get the job done? Can you keep your mouth shut until the animal is safe? Can you refrain from violence yourself when that is your first instinct? We have had to handle everything from animals being starved literally to death to those that have been shot for no reason whatsoever. You cannot afford to let your emotions get the best of you. If you have the tendency to fly off the handle then this isn’t really the best idea for you. That is not to say you should do nothing but get used to wading through bureaucratic red tape, seemingly insensible laws, slow reaction and utter indifference from those who should know better. You cannot afford to make bad choices when lives are on the line.

#6 – Can you say no?

There are several instances when this will become necessary. You may be full to the rafters with animals and one more comes along. You are allowed to send that animal to another rescue. You can say no. If you don’t you will quickly become overwhelmed.
Can you say no to someone who is interested in adopting but you know would not be ideal as caregivers to a particular animal? Even if they are a friend or family member? It will at some point become necessary.

#7-Do you have other animals in the house?

This is something to think about. Many people get into a sort of Dr. Doolittle – Noah’s Ark frame of mind and think that their animals will all get along in a sort of zoological Utopia. They couldn’t be more wrong. I have seen far too many tragedies, that could have been easily prevented, because of this mind set. Your cats will never get along with and “look after” your birds. Your dogs are about the same with very rare exceptions. Animals are still what their nature dictates. If you have cats, having birds that need to be outside of their cages at least part time is just plain foolish unless you have absolutely separate areas. Snakes and small rodents are also a bad combination. Nothing may every go wrong…until it does. Careful thought and common sense will avert most preventable horror stories!

#8-Can you make the decision to end an animal’s life?

You may be a no kill rescue, but there will come a time when the only thing that keeping an animal alive will do is perpetuate pain and suffering. It does not get easier with time. And sometimes you do not have the time to mull it over. After you have tried everything else reasonably and financially possible, this may be the only course of action.

#9- Do you have a support system?

If you are planning to do this on your own, then you may want to think again. It will become very clear that sometimes you need more than anything emotional support and backing. You will find that there are people who do the opposite for their own reasons. They will tell you that you are stupid. That this is a bad idea and that they would do things in a different way. They will complain that you are always busy now or they will just not bother being there any longer. Many people in your life will not be able to handle what you are doing. Animals in need either spur people to action or cause them to hide from something they do not want to have to face. These are not helpful people and they will cause more stress in your life than you need. You need people around you who will be supportive and compassionate. If you are surrounded by nay-sayers and negative “friends”, you may have some decision making to do.

Next Steps

If you got through the above and this still seems like a good idea to you and your family here is a basic game plan that I recommend:

• Pick one animal.
• Research it for a few weeks/months.
• Become an absolute expert. Health care, habitat in the wild if applicable, behavior, problem tendencies, emergency care, etc.
• Contact others who work with that animal and don’t be afraid to network and ask for help from an expert.
• Build the biggest and best habitat that you can for your budget.
• Lay in supplies. Everything you think you might need and then some extras.
• Learn animal first aid specific to the breed and species you have chosen (Chihuahuas are very different from goldies).
• Gatorade, Gatorade, Gatorade!
• Lots of first aid supplies for you and your animals.
• Start small with one or two. You will grow with time. Many people want it all and right now. -That is the fastest way I know of to get in trouble way over your head.
• Again, ask for help if you run into trouble. We are always here for starters.

If the answers to the above questions left you going “what was I thinking!”, then you can still help:

• Volunteer to help out an established rescue or organization even if all you do is cuddle kittens.
• Donate supplies or funds where needed.
• Help to educate others as to the needs that rescues and shelters are facing.
• Write an essay, a letter to the editor, a book!
• Become a vocal advocate for animal rights. You don’t have to become a member of PETA to be active.
• Refuse to patronize businesses or companies that support animal cruelty. Be loud! Be strident! Be out there!
• There are many, many things that you can do that do not necessarily require you to turn your home into a zoo and your family into a zoo keeping staff. Believe me, there are enough jobs to go around several times over.