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  #1  
Old Feb 06, 2013, 04:22 PM
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doggiedo doggiedo is offline
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I am a huge animal lover and I have found that I cringe even when I hear the faintest story of an animal being injured or hurt. I volunteer at a shelter and work with the cats...I saw a note on the desk about a dog that was going to be put down and it broke my heart. It makes me so terribly sad, it's incredible. Even when I see a dead animal on the side of the road...I physically cringe. It's an emotional reaction that I have and it's just normal for me. I mean we all cringe when it's a deer or a squirrel but I mean even if its a snake or a poor chipmunk. I just feel so bad for any of the animals. Many people could brush that off and just say, it's the law of nature...but I simply can't.

I am a member of some networking sites for animal rescue leagues and one posted a really sad story about an owl dying because it ate a poisoned mouse.i feel obligated to tell people and warn them not to do this. I literally could almost cry bc I feel so bad for these animals. It's just so senseless. They aren't harming anyone or anything and the poor dog has to be put down bc his owner was an idiot and didn't want him anymore, or let him loose and he got hit by a car, etc. it's just so stupid.

How do I avoid being so sensitive about this stuff? Animals are one of my passions and I can't stop volunteering. I just can't hold all the emotions inside that I have for these poor creatures.
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  #2  
Old Feb 06, 2013, 04:32 PM
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unaluna unaluna is offline
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A previous T told me I was identifying with the animals and that I needed to work more on resolving my issues. Yeah she was not very helpful. I am pretty attached to my current T and feel like I can handle stuff better now. How did you feel about the super bowl Clydesdale ad? Seems like you can see where people are based on their reaction to it. I forget, are you in therapy now?
  #3  
Old Feb 06, 2013, 04:33 PM
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doggiedo doggiedo is offline
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NA, I didn't see the advertisement. Nope, I'm not currently in therapy, but I see a Doc for my meds. I think my T things I am fine, lol.
  #4  
Old Feb 06, 2013, 05:13 PM
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Thunder Bow Thunder Bow is offline
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To what you are experiencing is perfectly normal. Please don't surpress your feelings!
  #5  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 09:50 AM
Anonymous32451
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i've no advice, but you arn't alone in this... i can't stand watching the adverts for the animal rescue shelters for that exact reason

we've quite a few really disturbing ones
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  #6  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 11:00 AM
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Vibe Vibe is offline
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Perhaps empathy could actually be helpful in this. Animals generally do not dwell on things which happened in the past. A dead animal is not suffering and an animal which has suffered in the past is certainly not thinking about it. They are living in the present. This is one of many lessons which we learn from spending time with them. The emotional upheaval you're suffering isn't really about the animal. It's you and your outlook.

Situations which are truly bad for animals are not usually not helpless. An animal who is suffering in the present can be assisted so that suffering ends. This may be through euthanasia or other more positive methods like rescue and veterinary care. You can and do have an effect in these animals' lives. There are positive sides to everything. Finding these can assist you in training and enriching their lives. Dwelling on the negative doesn't help you or them. In fact, animals often pick up on negative vibes and feel more uncertain as a result.

Unfortunately, shelters are often sad places. I commend those who can deal with their emotions and continue on in this environment. If you find that you can't deal with these feelings as they crop up and move on, then perhaps this kind of work is just too much for you. There are other ways to help animals, which are often more positive. Rescue work doesn't always have a happy ending, but it is a much happier and more proactive environment. No matter where you end up, the feeling that you're making a difference is often what gets people through the rough days. Work with this concept and your own outlook, then decide what's best for you and where you can truly do the most good.
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  #7  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 05:48 PM
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studentofthegame studentofthegame is offline
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i know how you feel OP.

stories of abuse or animals suffering in some way affects me too much.

i guess over time you will gain desensitisation to the feelings you get when you are volunteering. people gain this desensitisation in other areas - hospitals, paramedics, police etc.

you could be especially sensitive to these things because of other existing anxiety issues, or hangups, or whatever. take me as an example, i would take a guess that i am especially sensitive to abandoned animals because i have abandonment issues of my own since i was a kid. the way i'm tackling this is by getting full-on into self development, reading a lot and trying to improve my situation with what i'm learning.

i personally couldn't do what you do right now, it would stress me out way too much. so you are doing really well. the world needs more people like you. i'm all for harsher punishment for animal abusers. they are living things, the same as humans. you kill a dog? that's murder in my book.
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  #8  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 06:29 PM
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Hellion Hellion is offline
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I am sensative about that to, I think I could probably only volunteer or work in an animal shelter that doesn't put the animals down...it would bother me too much and I totally disagree with it.
  #9  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 06:38 PM
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doggiedo doggiedo is offline
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Yea. I agree- this place is a no kill shelter but this one was so sick they had to. I wouldn't work at a place that does that.
  #10  
Old Feb 07, 2013, 11:32 PM
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Hellion Hellion is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doggiedo View Post
Yea. I agree- this place is a no kill shelter but this one was so sick they had to. I wouldn't work at a place that does that.
Oh I see that is a bit different, it would still make me really sad though.
  #11  
Old Feb 08, 2013, 04:56 AM
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Voltin Voltin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doggiedo View Post
I am a huge animal lover and I have found that I cringe even when I hear the faintest story of an animal being injured or hurt. I volunteer at a shelter and work with the cats...I saw a note on the desk about a dog that was going to be put down and it broke my heart. It makes me so terribly sad, it's incredible. Even when I see a dead animal on the side of the road...I physically cringe. It's an emotional reaction that I have and it's just normal for me. I mean we all cringe when it's a deer or a squirrel but I mean even if its a snake or a poor chipmunk. I just feel so bad for any of the animals. Many people could brush that off and just say, it's the law of nature...but I simply can't.

I am a member of some networking sites for animal rescue leagues and one posted a really sad story about an owl dying because it ate a poisoned mouse.i feel obligated to tell people and warn them not to do this. I literally could almost cry bc I feel so bad for these animals. It's just so senseless. They aren't harming anyone or anything and the poor dog has to be put down bc his owner was an idiot and didn't want him anymore, or let him loose and he got hit by a car, etc. it's just so stupid.

How do I avoid being so sensitive about this stuff? Animals are one of my passions and I can't stop volunteering. I just can't hold all the emotions inside that I have for these poor creatures.

Every person is not going to value life in whatever form , the same way that you do. When people forget how to care or never learned how to care or respect life, that's when problems occur in the way we as humans behave. What you are doing at the shelter is reflection of who you are as a caring person. Doing what you can makes the world a better place. Sometimes mercy comes in the form of death, you know it, but that doesn't make it right when you also know that things should/could have been different for the animal. Feeling the same as you on the matter, seeing animals along side the road , and animals just put out on the streets breaks the heart. Abuse and neglect is the worse. Previous words on checking if this working situation is creating a feeling of helping or helplessness is good advice. I personally couldn't emotionally do what you are doing , I have always adopted animals ,even helped some to find homes. But the best I can do now is to work to fund raise and spread the word. By the way, I posted that very same picture of the owl on FB and it gave an awareness of the things we tend to not think of when we humans act on a situations. I'll always be emotional about animals and critical of humans and it's okay with me.
  #12  
Old Feb 08, 2013, 08:02 AM
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Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
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For me attachment to animals happens very easily. I have to sort of decide not to attach. It sounds weird but I can actually do that if I decide it from the start. It takes me a long time to form nearly a strong bond with a human. For me, part of it is that I have no ideas what humans feel, but I can see feelings in animals very clearly.

I have my set of rules what I can feel and not. I had a bit of a struggle with beef if I should eat it or not. But I decided for it. Else I am a meat eater. Also I don't think you should if you cannot kill, so done that too.

But especially some animals' fate bother me, mostly cats, dogs and horses. Maybe double standards but I don't feel the same for a deer or a rabbit.

So guess I'm both overly and under sensitive compared to the norm when it comes to animals. But I just do what I feel is right for me.

Missing cat's notes almost tear my heart out.
  #13  
Old Feb 08, 2013, 11:12 AM
Anonymous32451
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doggiedo View Post
Yea. I agree- this place is a no kill shelter but this one was so sick they had to. I wouldn't work at a place that does that.


i've been lucky enough never to have to see an animal being put down.

not sure i could face it either
  #14  
Old Feb 14, 2013, 04:49 PM
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Newlisalife Newlisalife is offline
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Member Since: Feb 2013
Location: UK England
Posts: 10
I have the same problem OP and think Jay took the words out of my mouth.
I adore all animals but could not have any and admire you for the support that you give to them.
I'm the first port of call for my friends, they know how much love, time and care I give to their pets, that they ask me to take care of them whilst they are away. I used to love dog walking in the forest but last year the golden retriever I was take care of was attacked by another dog. I was in a terrible state. The doggie who I love dearly walked away and forgot all about it. But little old me has been traumatised by it ever since that now I don't go dog walking anymore.
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