Our Phones Are Ringing Off The Hook!

Lately, our phones have been ringing off the hook. And you’d think that would be a good thing – maybe it means more people are opening their hearts and homes to the animals who so desperately need them, right?

But the reality couldn’t be more disheartening.

Only about 2% of the calls we receive are from people inquiring about adoption. The rest? They’re from people wanting to surrender their animals. Some are desperate. Some are blunt. Some just want it over with. “Can I drop my dog off today?” “I can’t keep my cat anymore.” “If you don’t take them, I’ll have to euthanize them.”

It’s like a daily punch to the gut.

And I’ll be honest – I can’t take it anymore. It’s exhausting. It’s depressing. And more than anything, it makes me wonder:

What has happened to compassion?
Are we becoming numb?

In a world where everything is fast and disposable, have our relationships with animals become casualties of convenience?

We’re seeing it more and more – animals discarded like yesterday’s trash when life gets hard or circumstances shift. “I had a baby.” “I’m moving.” “My landlord changed the rules.” “I just don’t have time anymore.”

And while we know that life is unpredictable – believe me, we know – it’s staggering how often the solution becomes giving up the very beings who depend on us most. The ones who trust us without question. Who sit by the door waiting for us to come home. Who never ask for much, just love, food, and a sense of safety.

What message does it send to future generations when we treat animals this way?

Maybe it’s not just a lack of compassion – maybe it’s a lack of support.

We try to remind ourselves that sometimes it’s not cruelty. Sometimes it’s hopelessness. Lack of access to affordable vet care. Rising housing costs. Job losses. People are under immense pressure, and when they don’t see any other options, they turn to us. They hope we’ll be the soft place to land. And we try – oh, we try.

But we’re full. Overflowing.

And every “no” we say to a surrender is not because we don’t care. It’s because we physically, financially, emotionally cannot take another.

We stay awake at night thinking about the ones we couldn’t save.

And it’s burning us out.

So what can we do?

We can talk about it.

We can fight for more affordable vet care, pet-friendly housing, and better education around animal guardianship.

We can create stronger safety nets so guardians don’t feel like surrendering their companions is the only way out.

We can call for a cultural shift – one that sees animals as family, not as burdens.

And we can support rescues and shelters who are trying – desperately – to hold the line.

Here’s what you can do right now:

• Adopt. If you’ve been thinking about it, take the next step. That phone call makes all the difference.

• Donate. We can’t do this work without your help. Vet bills are sky high, and supplies disappear faster than we can stock them.

• Volunteer. Even a few hours a week can lighten our load.

• Speak up. Be an advocate for animals in your circle. Let people know there are always alternatives to abandonment or surrender.

Compassion isn’t dead – but it is in short supply.

We need to grow it again, water it, nurture it.

And we need you to help us do that.

Because if our phones are going to keep ringing, let them ring with hope.

Let them ring with possibility.

Let them ring with someone saying, “I’m ready to give a rescue animal a second chance.”

Until then… we keep picking up the phone. And praying for a different kind of call. If you’ve been thinking about adopting, please don’t wait. Visit https://famousfidorescue.org/adoption and meet the animals who are ready to love you – for life.

Let’s tip the scales back toward compassion.