Let’s talk about discarded and abandoned animals. I’d choose those animals all day every day even when their behavior looks like a deterrent or a problem. Why?
These animals have been handed more burdens and traumas than they can count.
They have experienced trauma in some way (abuse, neglect, abandonment) and they haven’t given up. This shows they are resilient.
They have tolerated shelters, the streets, humans that have let them down. And they are still holding it together (despite some minor behaviors, barking, needing to learn house manners, etc..). This shows they have HIGHER thresholds than most animals coming from breeders. They have been forced to developed higher thresholds to discomfort, fear, and sometimes even pain.
They are survivors, they haven’t given up. This is the kind of animal I want by my side because that means they won’t give up on me. They are optimistic. To experience what they have and still have hope someone will come for them? That’s true optimism. That’s pure heart.
They have endured so much hardship they are SO appreciative once they settle in. They KNOW what life is like when things are hard. This makes them appreciate the good life even more.
And though they have endured so much they are willing to forgive and give humans yet another chance, even though it is not deserved. They are so forgiving.
They feel they have let humans down when in reality it has been the opposite. Humans letting them down. But because of this they try SO hard to be the best version of themselves every day so they don’t let humans down…. Again.
The animal you see in a shelter, on the streets, or newly in a foster home is NOT who the animal is, it is a reflection of the human they had. Or thier experiences with humans until this point. Our animals reflect us, we know that! So why don’t more people consider this when looking at shelter pets?
Once you give that animal time to reflect you (months), if you have a beautiful heart and you are kind, your animal will change and reflect that back to you.
So what is why I would choose a discarded animal every time without hesitation.
People look at the impression they make in a cage, in a shelter, on the streets. But that is NOT who those animals are. Those animals have so many desirable qualities.
- Resilience
- Higher than average thresholds
- Optimism
- Pure, Loyal, Appreciative heart
- Forgiveness
- Unmatched effort to being the best boy/girl they can be
This is how society needs to view discarded and abandon animals. As beautiful souls that bless our lives and teach US how to be better humans.
