05/28/2026
POV: A Week In Rescue Right Now 🖤
Three days ago I saw kittens overheating outside in a cage with a cardboard sign that said:
“Free.”
They were sick.
Covered in fleas.
Crying.
I tried to walk away.
Our rescue is full.
Our fosters are full.
The shelters are full.
But rescue changes you.
You stop seeing “just kittens.”
You see the fleas.
The dehydration.
The medical bills.
The decreased donations.
The lack of fosters.
The fact that every “yes” means stretching yourself even thinner.
Most people see the happy adoption photos.
The success stories.
And we do love sharing them.
Honestly, those moments are what keep many of us going.
But this is the reality behind the scenes right now.
The messages keep coming all day long.
“Can you help me rehome my cat(s)?”
“I found a litter of kittens.”
“I’ve tried everywhere.”
“No one will help.”
“The shelter said they’re full.”
And the worst part is… they are telling the truth.
Everyone is full.
Yesterday another litter was found stuffed inside a Jersey Mike’s bag.
Two weeks old.
Sick.
Covered in fleas.
Covered in diarrhea.
And people get angry when rescues say no.
But what many do not see is that rescues have very little left to give right now.
No open fosters.
No space.
Decreased donations.
No time to process one emergency before the next one comes in.
We know people are struggling too.
Expenses are rising, low-cost resources are disappearing, and more animals keep needing help every day.
We do not have all the answers.
We just know something has to change.
We are so overwhelmed we cannot even pull from shelters the way we used to.
And still, we keep showing up.
Answering the messages.
Trying to save the ones we can.
Fighting for the animals that need us.
Because even exhausted, burned out, and emotionally drained…
we still care too much to stop.
This year feels different.
Heavier.
Like the entire system is buckling under the weight of too many animals and not enough support.
We need our community now more than ever.
We need fosters.
We need donations.
And honestly, we just need people willing to stand beside rescues while so many are struggling to stay afloat right now.
Please be patient with rescuers.
Please spay and neuter.
Please understand that when rescues say no, it is rarely because they do not want to help.
Most of the time, it is because they are barely holding themselves together already.
If you have ever wanted to help rescues, now is the time.
Donations, fostering, adopting, sharing posts, and supporting local rescues truly do make a difference right now. 🖤
For those asking how they can help, we will attach our Amazon wishlist in the comments along with the donation button on this post. Every foster, donation, adoption, and share truly helps more than people realize right now. 🖤
