How do you visit a shelter without feeling personally responible

Wow, I know where you are comming from. I just recently resigned a staff position at a local shelter. I always said that the only reason I could work there was because it was a no kill shelter, so I knew the animals would be cared for until the got a home. I am still involved as a volunteer, but leaving my position was very emotional for me. I felt like I was in a way abandoning the animals. Long story short, the only way to deal with it is to do what you can, and know in your heart there are other people like you out there. Time is often the thing that at least our organization was missing. Volunteers that come in and say 'I can be here at these times every week, how can I best help' are like gold. Those are the people that staff utilizes to help do some of the little things, like socializing, and grooming that the staff is unable to keep up with when they are trying to tread water feeding, cleaning, medicating, and trying to find room for the new animals that outnumber the outgoing ones more often than not. A regular volunteer is always a welcome sight. After that, someone that calls and says 'I have 25 dollars I would like to donate, what do you need right now' I always wonderful. There is almost always something! Monetary donations and donations of supplies are always important too... If the staff doesn't seem thankful, it's probably because they're swamped. Just know you made someones day! I thank anyone for anything they give to a shelter... just in case the staff doesn't have time. You make the world go round by donating anything to a shelter!

I thought about this for a while because my first response was - Whoa, if you're having a breakdown just by going to a shelter you may want to consider seeing a therapist. It may be that you do need to see someone but I think the biggest thing is to know that you can't change the entire world, so just work on changing the part that you can handle. Shelters don't really bother me because I know the animals are getting help.

It does bother me how people treat other people so I made a point of getting involve numerous organizations. At one point I was spending a couple hundred dollars a month on these things. I had to step back and say - this is not helping me either financially or mentally. What is it that I can do that makes me feel like I made a difference without hurting myself. I recruted my friends - I'm doing this with this group and would greatly appreciate it if everyone could pick me up a roll of papertowels to donate to them. My friends feel good, I feel good, nobody goes broke, and the non-profit gets help. It's not saving the world but it does change my world. If it is really hard for you to go to the shelters then try something like that. Try getting a 4-H or FFA club to do a donation drive. Do things to help the animals that doesn't mean putting yourself into a situation that hurts you.

Im' with you I get very depressed when I visit a shelter. Mostly its the ones I know will have a hard time being adopted. That's why I get so angry with people who get dogs or cats and then come up with some lame excuse to get rid of it.Or the ones who insist it should have "at least one litter" before they spay it. Stupid!

It must be the Alaskan part of me that abhors seeing an animal in a cage. Now don't get me wrong, I love zoos that utilize 'habitats' and are large enough for the animal to move and exercise and play.

I like you see these homeless animals and some I just don't have the capacity to take care of but there is usually a dozen or so that look at me and tell me with their eyes how miserable they are and would really like a home. That's when I loose it.

First off... *HUGS* for you because you and I are a lot alike. I can't stand to go to a pet store, shelter, even see an animal on the side of the road without wanting to help the poor thing. I know EXACTLY how you feel. It's people like us that have the ability to change things so I say to you, VOLUNTEER. Get out there, walk dogs, foster cats, work in a shelter, get the word out... there are SO many things you can do... and with your big heart, you'd succeed. Much luck to you.