Fur The Love of Fostering

Animal rescue is built on compassion. We show up for the voiceless, the discarded, and the vulnerable—often at great personal cost. But somewhere along the way, many organizations have absorbed a dangerous tolerance for a myth:

If someone does good work for animals, their bad behavior toward people should be tolerated.

This myth is quietly damaging rescue organizations, burning out volunteers, driving away donors, and ultimately hurting the very animals we’re trying to protect.

It’s time we talk about it.

The Pattern We Don’t Want to Name

Most of us have seen it.

The volunteer who is “just blunt” but consistently rude. The rescuer who is “passionate” but regularly humiliates others. The foster that “always shows up” but passive aggressively shames others who can’t. The leader who is “vision-driven” but silences dissent and centralizes power. The advocate who is “loud because lives are at stake” but normalizes harassment and hostility.

The well-known figure who “gets results” but leaves a trail of fear, anger, or emotional harm behind them.

They are often excused because:
– “They mean well.”
– “That’s just their personality.”
– “They bring in money / animals / attention.”
– “We can’t afford to lose them.”

So the behavior continues.

And the cost keeps rising.

The Real Damage of Tolerated Toxicity

When negative behavior is allowed to persist—especially when it’s framed as acceptable because of someone’s contributions—it sends a clear message to everyone else:

Your dignity matters less than their output.

That message has consequences:
– Volunteers leave. Good, kind, capable people walk away rather than endure disrespect.
– Donors disengage. People don’t want to support organizations associated with bullying, public outbursts, or abusive conduct.
– Partnerships dissolve. Other shelters and rescues choose not to collaborate, quietly or publicly.
– Leadership credibility erodes. When bad behavior is tolerated, trust in leadership weakens.
– The mission suffers. Fewer hands, fewer resources, fewer allies—more animals lose.

Ironically, the attempt to “protect the mission” by keeping a problematic person or relationship often ends up harming it.

Passion Is Not an Excuse for Abuse

Rescue work is emotional. It’s intense. It’s heartbreaking. Anger and frustration happen. But emotional intensity does not justify cruelty, verbal abuse, or intimidation.

Being under pressure does not give anyone the right to:
– Insult or demean others
– Use fear or aggression to control situations
– Create hostile environments
– Damage relationships between organizations

If anything, the higher someone’s visibility or influence, the greater their responsibility to model respectful behavior.

Animals Need Healthy People to Advocate for Them

This is the part we don’t say often enough:
Animal rescue is a people-driven mission.

Animals are saved because humans collaborate, communicate, fundraise, foster, transport, donate, and advocate. When people are harmed in the process, the entire system weakens.

Choosing not to tolerate harmful behavior is not a betrayal of animals—it is an act of protection for them.

Leadership Means Making Uncomfortable Decisions

Removing a volunteer, ending a partnership, or declining future collaboration with someone who behaves abusively is never easy—especially when they’ve done visible good in the past.

But leadership is not about avoiding conflict. It’s about stewardship.

Stewardship of:
– Your organization’s values
– Your volunteers’ well-being
– Your donors’ trust
– Your community relationships
– Your long-term mission

Sometimes the most ethical choice is also the most uncomfortable one.

A Healthier Standard for Rescue Culture

Imagine a rescue community where:
– Kindness and accountability coexist
– Impact does not override integrity
– People feel safe speaking up
– Respect is non-negotiable, regardless of status
– Doing good for animals never requires harming humans

That culture doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when organizations are willing to say, clearly and consistently:

“We care deeply about animals—and we care how we treat each other while we do this work.”

Moving Forward

Setting boundaries is not about punishment. It’s about alignment.

It’s about deciding who you are as an organization, what you stand for, and what behavior you are willing—or unwilling—to tolerate in the name of your mission.

The rescue world doesn’t need more heroes who hurt people. It needs communities that are strong, ethical, and humane in every direction.

Because compassion should never be selective.