Judgement

I just think people should exhaust all options before giving up their pets and its generally clear when they haven’t, so I have no sympathy for those people. I’ve had enough animals surrendered to me personally that I’ve heard all the excuses.

When I was in my early twenties, I was a caregiver to my younger brother who was battling schizophrenia. If anyone has been in that position, you’ll know how how stressful, draining and all consuming it can be.

Balancing life, work and supporting a dependant when you don’t have a lot of resources, leaves you pretty much at the mercy of Lady Luck. If I had needed to upend my life at a moments notice, if I’d lost my job or my house, then I have no doubt my pets would have been candidates for an animal shelter.

I’d have presented as a irresponsible pet owner; young, renting without a stable job history. But I’ve always loved my pets and cared for them to the best I was able.

As it happened, luck was on my side. We worked through some of my bro’s issues, I went on to have a career, a happy life and I now consider myself privileged to be able to afford to give my pets little luxuries like good food and big ones like pet insurance. But it has also left me with an appreciation that you’re only ever a couple of disasters away from serious hardship; less if you’re poor or disadvantaged.

The problem with dishing out judgement is that even when you’re right, it doesn’t actually change anything for the better.

Empathy is a powerful tool. If you’re seeing someone on the worst day of their life – remember that it is likely that their past has been better.

And with any luck, their future will be too.