and hornblower brings up an interesting point (even if the actual sentence again brings personalities into the discussion)
Carol · Apr. 2, 2010
i will ignore the arrogant comment...whether i am or not has nothing to do with anything.
but what she is correct in saying is that i am not the arbitrator of bc rescue. but i am a member who is affected by the behaviors of other members. i am tired of getting painted with the same brush as folks who publically function in rescue a lot differently than i do.
the perception of other professionals that we routinely come in contact with regarding rescuers is largely unflattering. we are viewed as bossy, pushy, rude, stupid, demanding, bitter, angry and somewhat crazy. this bugs me both personally and professionally and it takes a lot of careful work on my part to ensure that saints is not lumped into that mix. there are great rescues out there, those that practice their craft with intelligence and good manners. but it takes time for those bitten twice or three times before, to trust that not all rescuers behave in the exact same ways.
the bc rescue community has passively remained uninvolved at best in their members whose behaviors reflect badly on the whole. we as a group have allowed them to continue to bully and push others around because no one wants to get into an argument with them, to a large degree because it seems so pointless. no one ever seems to change, no one ever seems to grow up and learn to behave like the professionals we all should strive to be....we as rescuers just get written off, tarred with the very same lunatic brush.
there are ways professionally, respectfully and with integrity to address issues and concerns. and there are counter productive ways which cause more problems and eliminate any chance of solutions because they are designed to slam the door on any further communication. we do not communicate effectively, we do not as a group communicate professionally..we just spew out anger and accusations while jumping into attack mode without thinking things thru...if we were dogs in a shelter, we would be euthanized for this kind of behavior.
i may not be the arbitrator of bc rescue, but i do have a right without personally directed name calling, sneering, and other pointess and negative behaviors to point out as often as i feel the need ...that rescue and rescuers need to pull up their socks and learn to practice more professionally.
i work hard in rescue, i should not have to be ashamed to say i am in rescue because the pounds, the vets, the spca, the municipalities and even the public, have somehow/from somewhere, gotten the impression that rescuers are not only truly insane but uncooperative and untrustworthy as well.
i have a right and a duty to try to promote positive change in this perception...and i do it the only way i know how..i talk about it, i bring it out in the open..i say up front exactly what i have been told about how we are preceived by others because pretending that perception is not there does not help us to work towards improving how we are viewed.
and before anyone starts to jump down my throat as the bearer of bad news...start asking around..in fact those that read this blog who know exactly what i am speaking about...come forth and share your views on this issue. those who disagree are free to comment too but please leave out the personal attacks and only talk about the issue...how you believe rescuers as a whole are really perceived.)
I typed out a whole big response at home last night but I was having trouble with internet connectiion. I think that was a good idea.
A code of conduct would be wonderful if we could agree on simple things. Things like how a dog/cat/pig/rat should live, what kinds of medical care should be provided and maybe even what the process of adoption would look like. But because we don't agree on any of that, or we do agree but don't follow thru, a code of conduct is pretty useless. And who is without blemish. Who is so pure that they could oversee it.
Its funny how people forget that sometimes things have to be said to protect animals. Its funny how few remember who thru the first shots. Its funny how lies and deciept can come from all angles but no one wants to remember facts.