"I already have the crazy, now I just need the cats"

Rockin' a lovely 82.5 hours at the shelter. I spent45 minutes of my time in Sky's kennel. We were just hanging out and bonding. You know, dog stuff. :p

    For the first time in my life, the dogs broke me. I've dealt with all of their behavior issues before, but this morning was just too much for me to handle. I don't think it was the dogs so much as it was.... well, me.
    I was the only volunteer there this morning until about 10am, and even then there were only two of us. 2 volunteers, 50 dogs and many more cats. Do the math.
    I was stressed out because it was difficult to get all the dogs out that needed to be out and give them a sufficient amount of time out. The most difficult dogs gave me the hardest time as usual, but I couldn't help and remember how they were when they first got there. None of these problems existed. Kennel stress. The root of all their problems.
    It breaks my heart. These dogs deserved to be loved. The longer they're in those kennels, the smaller the chance that we send them home. Any behavioral problems they may have had before grow and new ones form. Most of the volunteers avoid them because they're scared. All of these things just amount to more time in the kennels. That time in the kennels makes the problems worse. It's never ending.
    I just couldn't handle it. I broke down right there in the run with the dogs. I had no control over myself. I didn't try to fight it though. This was a pain I was ready to face. I hope it will make that passion burn stronger and my fight to save their lives will be stronger.
    I've dedicated my life thus far to them, and I plan on dedicating the rest of it as well. They have my heart.

Speaking of having my heart...... ;)

    Even with those tears, with that pain, seeing him made me smile. Seeing him made me melt. I forgot how to speak, how to breathe.
    I don't know if there's another person on this planet that can do what he does. For me to be so upset, so distraught, and without him even saying.... I know that he understands. He saw the tears. My nose was still pink, my voice still shaky... but he just knew. I could see it in his eyes that he understood. It made everything better.
 

Yeah..... so that's my life!