Compassion fatigue comes from the day in, day out struggle to function in care giving environments that constantly present heart wrenching, emotional challenges. The first-hand knowledge that workers in animal shelters, humane societies and animal rescue organizations deal with daily in trying to affect positive change in society can cause chronic stress. It is a painful reality for some who have a strong identification with helpless, suffering, or traumatized people or animals.
Here are a few of the many incidents that our SPCA staff and director deal with:
Not long ago a puppy was found in a dumpster. The puppy was about 6 months old, very lethargic and covered in bite wounds and what appeared to be cigarette burns and she was diagnosed with parvovirus which was treated. As the puppy became stronger she began to display extrordinarily aggressive behavior towards dogs and most people. When all of the facts were put together, tt became apparent that this poor puppy had been used as “bait” in a dog fighting operation and when she became so ill that she could not fight back she was dumped liked yesterday’s garbage into a dumpster. She lost her life - not from illness or injury - but because of ignorance and greed.
Some years ago a beautiful white Turkish Angora cat was surrendered to the Shelter. Allergies was the reason. She was a very senior cat and deaf . She was stunning looking and understandably cranky having lost her home and everything she had known in her life. But a woman fell in love with her picture on the website and came all the way from Alabama to adopt her.
In January 2008 the shelter took in, on a cruelty complaint, a yellow lab mix who they named Simone. Simone was found outside, shivering, starving and attempting desperately to care for 6 puppies. They were all brought into the Shelter where it was found that Simone had advanced heartworm disease. She was treated successfully ( it is an expensive treatment) and eventually Simone found a wonderful home as did all six of her puppies.
The SPCA responded to a cruelty complaint in the northern part of Cayuga County where their volunteer investigators found four Rottweilers and a beagle puppy at a residence with no shelter and no food or water on a frigid day. The investigators seized the dogs. The four Rottweilers were diagnosed with heartworm disease and the beagle puppy was diagnosed with parvovirus.
Before one of the Rotties could be treated on the way to the vet’s office he died in their arms. They were able to successfully treat the other dogs but at considerable expense to the Shelter
A small portion of these costs are defrayed by requesting an intake donation from people who bring in animals they no longer want or no longer can keep. The donation is not mandatory. The public is also asked to keep and help an animal in need if the animal is discovered after 10 p.m.
Several years ago the Shelter took in two cats at the request of a local veterinarian. The cats were in danger of being euthanized. Both of the cats became very depressed upon entering the Shelter, stopped eating and were in danger of starving themselves. One of the cats was fostered and subsequently adopted by an individual who worked very hard with her. However, the other cat continued downhill. Shelter staff fed him small bits of food and it took many weeks before he finally came around. He was at the Shelter (and was the staff’s office companion) for several years and has finally been adopted by a caring person.
And finally the heart wrenching stories of those faithful dogs that are brought in and…here’s one example:
A man brought in a dog that he had had for 5 years. His reason (excuse) was that he was moving. The shelter took the dog and the man walked out without a backward glance. For many weeks that dog watched constantly every time the gate was opened for this guy to come back to get her. It was very hard for shelter staff to watch this incrediable loyalty from a dog to the person she loved who didn’t care at all about her. She finally gave up. According to shelter staff this kind of thing happens every day of the week .
The shelter has three peace officers who answer as many cruelty/neglect calls as they are able to, They are trained volunteers. They have arrest powers and can issue appearance tickets
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