Not all people suck. But the vast majority can be really disappointing at times.

When I volunteer at the local shelter, I walk people through the lost/surrendered animal kennels to see if they can find their lost animal. It's not a rough job. I get to hear some really, really weird stories about what people think happened to their animals. People get strange, negative, obsessive ideas when their animals get lost. I'm not making fun of the trauma that one goes through - and I'm not trying to be insensitive or unfeeling. I recognize the stress. But wow, I get some far-fetched ideas.

Anyway, back on topic. My job isn't rough. But I work at the customer service counter with the people who process all of the incoming animals, alive and dead, process the reclaiming & paying of fees for lost animals, and handle all the psycho people who want their animals back so that they can do sick, disgusting things to them. (Because people suck). And that job is rough. Not always, but at least 70% of the time. I sit there 3 hours a week and absorb what they do - watch, pitch in where I can by fetching this or that, and try not to stare at the level of humanity that passes through those doors. (This isn't the "good" side of the CS counter, where they do adoptions).

Sometimes, people surrender their animals for valid, very sad reasons. I really do not think that people who surrender animals are bad. I really believe that the shelter is there to help those people who need to surrender their animals. Really. But sometimes, people surrender their animals because they are lazy. Sometimes they surrender their animals because 2 years ago, or 6 months ago, or 1 month ago, or last week (seriously) when they got the animal from the puppy mill they forgot to think about whether or not they had enough money/time/brain power/human emotion to "deal" with the animal.

Those are the people that suck.

Those are the people that visit the shelter every Monday night. At least over the last month.

In January, I got to walk a whole lot of people through the kennels to look for their pets. We didn't find one. People cried. I got to know them - I had regulars. They'd cry every time. It'd make me cry. It was rough. I wanted it to stop.

It did.

It'll come again...phases. I hope next time that I remember I'd rather cry with people who love their pets and are devastated by their loss than watch emotionless, horrid, non-caring people dump their animals at the shelter door.

If you ever find yourself in a pet store, or a shelter, or other...please remember that you are looking at someting that's alive. You may be "buying" it, but it's alive. It's a commitment. It's work. It's going to annoy you. It's going to shed. You're going to have to let it out, clean up after it, teach it the rules. It's not always going to be 100% adoration for you...there is give and take. And please don't commit until you've really thought about that.

If in the end it doesn't work out, bring it to the shelter. But please, already - make an effort to actually care. It's not an ipod. It's not a car. It's probably cheaper than both. But it's alive. If you can't care or value it, don't get it! Animals aren't impulse buys. Please - stop "American-izing" the "industry."

The picture is Jack. He's an insanely smart. 90% of the time he's the most annoying cat ever. 10% he's perfect. 9% of the 10% I'm sleeping or at work. I live for the 1%. I'm not saying I'll NEVER, EVER be in a situation to have to surrender him. I don't deal in absolutes. But I love him, and I made a commitment. He cost $75. He's 1/2 a car payment. He's 1/8 of a rent payment. Right now he's sleeping on the couch. If I say "Jack-Jack!" he'll wake up, look at me, and give me a cat-bark. That will mean "Shut up stupid, don't you see me sleeping here? Shouldn't you be at work earning money to support my lifestyle?" He's alive, and I love him.

I'll never understand how people can dimiss the connection. How is it that something as arbitrary as opposable thumbs creates value?