There are the people who get it, and the people who don't. Sure, that is politically incorrect and unfair to generalize, but it seems to be that way.
When the Foffarm family acquires a new animal, the outside world conversational responses are either:
"Tell me! (Gender, age, condition circumstances... etc.)" That person gets it.
OR
"How many animals do you have now?" This person doesn't.
We are the unwanted animal cleanup crew. They come to us, and those are the lucky ones. We don't go shopping for a pet, although we have gone to the humane society or a rescue in the past. (This is always followed by more animals falling into our laps, so the rescued creatures actually seem indulgent.) There is an undeniable misunderstanding about this entire practice when a new human hears.
Friendly teasing involves phrases like, "crazy cat people," or "collectors." Sure we are crazy cat people. It makes us crazy when someone ties a kitten in a plastic bag and drops it on the road with one goal in mind. Sure we are collectors. When a puppy wanders to our front step with a dangling broken leg, we will make room.
What sort of comfort is it supposed to be when a friend sympathetically pats my shoulder saying, "you can't save them all." Why are you soothing my failure? Why don't we ask why the creatures need saving the first place? Why is it implied that I am fully responsible when I am just cleaning up after my despicable species?
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