How do you deal with people that do not understand?

I do not fit in most places. I'm a lot like the character Temperence Brennan on the hit show bones, I'm socially challenged. It's funny, because I'm very shy...but bad because I do not make friends as easily as you all when not online. The only good thing I can do is rescue. Oh, I'm so good at rescuing its almost criminal. Even the meanest most neglected animals flock to me, its freakish.
The only downfall to rescuing is when you come upon that one group of people that think you are insane for having more animals in your home than people..and a vet bill every other month. They are the same people that say that a neglected animal has a home somewhere or that the baby raccoon that fell from her nest should be left alone because nature needs to take over.
People may think I'm insane, but there is nothing too big or too small for rescuing and often I risk my life to save them.
It does get to me when I tell someone I saved an animal and they reply with a crappy look that speaks volumes. And when you point out their obivous objection they reply "well, don't you think you need to stop? I mean you have a lot..can you take care of them all?" I've happily rehomed numerous animals, took four wild babies to rehabs so they could be set free, and kept those no one wanted. I find it very rewarding when a sickly kitten gets better and finds that special family that will never let her down, but incredibly sad when the thrown away senior dies because my help came too late.
I often do not know how to answer these people and it makes me cry.
How should I handle them?

I do not ask for handouts, ever. I go without in order to help more, and Im very happy about that choice. I work tirelessly to help because no one else does. My home is always full, but if that one more is in dire need there is no question about helping. In the end when they go to families or rescues my heart is so full and happy, I smile for weeks. There is a darkside though, and I still weep for those lost. But still, I do not ask for others to help, or complain. Three years ago I took in a kitten abandoned by his mom. He did not appear sick so the vet agreed to waiting out the weekend before being seen. He died that Sunday because he had an internal deformity. He set off a string of losses that included two poisoned kittens, a senior cat found at mcdonalds, a cat that was affected by the catfood recall, a kitten found at shop n save, and a kitten thrown from a car that I fell in love with and kept for 6 months before finding out her inital leukemia test read incorrectly resulting in liver failure.

I'm proud of what I do. I feel that I was put here to do this, but how can I make others see I'm not insane?

They call me an animal horder. They don't like cats and don't see the importance in saving so many. Eight is not too many. I can love that much. I want to save more. But becasue of them, I have drawn the line. I can't live forever. Then what they do(the cats) Still, the thought of the pound killing and sending cats to be tested on, is an over whelming one. I must save them.

I can understand your fight Elizabeth. Have to save the animals. We are their care givers

I have 9 cats, all rescues I took in (I'm a lousy fosterer--I can't give them away, and end up adopting them!).

We have a 13-room, decent-sized house, and no kids--just 2 adults. We have turned the attached garage into a cat room/litterbox room/storage room, also.  And yet people, when they hear we have several cats, usually think our house is teeming with felines over every surface. Even though they've never been in our house, they often wrinkle their noses, and have even told us, "Oooh! Your house must SMELL!" (It doesn't. I keep it very clean; I spend most of my free time cleaning it every day--to the point I have no outside life.) I get so sick of the "crazy cat lady" accusations.  I have limited it to 10 cats, though, to be fair to the animals. When I refuse a foster (which breaks my heart), I make sure I provide contact info for the no-kill shelter I work for.  I feel that I'm doing a very important job.  I'm giving a good life to a cat that someone else couldn't be bothered to accept responsibilty for and/or has abused. Yet, I'm a weirdo, a freak, to many people.  Granted, there are "crazy cat ladies" out there, who, mena well, but perhaps do have a mental issue with hoarding. I've never met one personally, but have met many other rescuers with even more cats than me, whose homes are spotless, and the cats are their life, and very well cared-for and loved.  I think the real sickos are not us, but the jerks who abuse/neglect the cats we take in.

Now, when people ask me how many cats I have, I reply, "Several."

I am right here with you, having 10 of our own and also fostering. I get the comments, the looks, the eye rolls, etc.all the time. Do you know what though? I don't WANT people like that in my life. They're not worth it. I've become pretty antisocial. I DO however keep in constant contact with other foster moms who think exactly like I do. We support each other through everything. They're the only people who get it.

First of all, welcome to TCS, your new home while at home! :lol3: You've certainly come to the right place. :heart3:

And how absolutely wonderful of you to care for and rescue so many! :heart3:

I think you'll find there are plenty of shy people here. Forums are really good for social interaction, especially for people that are uncomfortable dealing with people. :nod:

Personally, I'm not shy. I'm just picky. :lol3: I've always preferred having just a few close friends. And my best friends, at this stage in life, are people I've never met in real life (apart from my DH). In fact, they're people I know from TCS. :nod:

As for dealing with the naysayers in life, I feel sorry for them. I was raised to "walk to the beat of my own drummer," so to speak, and for the most part, I really don't care what others think of me. I like me (usually LOL), and that's what matters.

My advice to you in dealing with people like this in the future is to realize their questions come from a place of ignorance. They would never question someone rushing to the scene of an accident, endangering their own life to rescue that of a child, right? (And use that as an example!) Well, someone needs to care for those that others don't care about, and that's your calling. Be proud of it! And say so! They give you a crappy look? Be surprised - "WOW. I'm proud of what I do. I find myself wondering how people don't feel a need to do something," like there's something wrong with them for NOT caring. :nod:

Tell them you wouldn't take the animals in if you couldn't properly care for that many. It's not always easy, yes, it can stretch the resources, but it's just a question of priorities, and yours are different than most people's. You find fullfilment in loving and caring about those that most people don't. !!!! Let them know, if need be, that you feel sorry for them, not having a selfless passion. I hope you'll be able to summon up the courage, look them right in the eye and say, "I hope you're able to find something as rewarding in life." :heart3:

After all, that is how you feel, isn't it?

Let's face it - compassion is a lifestyle choice you've made. Sadly, most people aren't familiar with it, and are quick to judge.

Of course, the alternative is simply to not waste your time on people like that. :lol3:


P.S. My DH and I chose a very different path in life. We gave up pretty much everything we own and quit our jobs back in the 1990s to hit the road in an RV. We ended up finding work together, and work that was most effectively done on the road - we loved living in the RV! In our business world, people thought we were crazy - perhaps we are. It's not something I would expect most anyone to want to do or enjoy.

When we started rescuing cats, well, that was just over the top for most people. We've rescued quite a few over the years (though we focused more on TNR), and have 8 - mostly special needs kitties - living in the RV with us now. We have an FIV+ stray living outside full time that we care for, and there are three other regulars in the TNR colony. Now that winter's coming, it will likely head back up (hopefully) to around 10 (hopefully all the kitties we TNRd last spring will be back :cross: ). But we've completely adapted the RV for the kitties, and we don't like company over anyway. We rarely had anyone over when we lived in the house. We're friendly - but not into entertaining. :dk: