Being “entitled”
AnimalCare 
Nov 9, 2018 
AnimalCare, NGOs 
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For the past few weeks, I had been talking to present applicants, explaining to them our shortage of funds and asking if they would be willing to donate back RM10 a month to help us out during these dire times of need. After all, the money is all going to go back to them eventually.
If they can claim the maximum of RM300 per week, that amounts to RM1200 month, so would they be willing to give back just RM10 per month to our Fund?
No?
RM5 then? (15 sen per day)
Still no.
How about RM1 per month then?
No.
I was so sad, you know.
Here I am, doing my best to raise funds to help them and I have been doing this for 9.5 years now and all I was asking is just 33 sen per day, and yet…it’s a no. It’s like this: instead of getting the full RM1200 per month, you get RM1190. Isn’t that better than AnimalCare closing down and you getting nothing at all? I mean, come on…?
But no, while you still have money, they are going to rake maximum from you (korek, korek, korek…sampai kosong). And when you finally close down, well…they will then look elsewhere. Surely there will be elsewhere to look…
So I asked a friend – why are people like this?
And he said: Why am I not surprised?
That’s just the way people are. They feel entitled. It’s a mentality.
I know, I have encountered many of whom I later found out, were well-to-do. They drive luxury cars and go for overseas holidays often, but when it comes to helping street animals, it’s “I will help, but I’m not going to use my own money to do it. You are an organisation dedicated to help these animals, so I claim from you.” or “This is not my pet, it’s a stray. I’m already doing the work. You pay, not me.”
Can’t say they are wrong, I suppose. It’s where they are coming from. That’s their logic.
Right now, at this moment, I just found out that two of our claimants who tell me they have no money, have gone for an overseas holiday. And so….RM10 a month is so difficult, isn’t it?
Or, as another friend puts it: Who doesn’t want to claim?
So, the only way to go about this is to change my own mindset: The money is not going to the humans, but to the animals.
Animals first. Humans second.
This way, you stop getting disappointed with entitled humans.
But the problem is not just the lack of funds alone. It’s also the amount of work involved.
It’s the numerous emails and voicemails that I have to respond to every single day. It’s attending to questions and the problems that feeders face. It’s encouraging new feeders who are just starting out (this is the most rewarding part of running AnimalCare). It’s processing claims 5-7 days a week. It’s doing the accounting each day. It’s trying to think of new ways to raise funds. It’s also, sadly, dealing with the old applicants who cannot seem to get things right for the umpteenth time. It’s dealing with rude and demanding applicants who think you owe them. You can’t win them all, right?
It’s just too much work, sometimes. Age is catching up and I have to take care of my own health too. And I do have a life.
So, yesterday, thanks to the help of two friends, we brainstormed and came up with two policy changes. The entitled are not going to like it, but sorry….if you are not happy, please look elsewhere. I’m done with trying to please everyone. Say what you will behind my back, I don’t really care. This is the best I can do and I have helped you.
My conscience is clear. Is yours?
Our priority is to help the new feeders. We are looking at the long-term goal of building a larger community of caregivers who practise CNRM. 500 years to reach there, remember?
I’ve done the English and BM versions and am waiting for a friend to help me with the Chinese version. When that’s ready, we will roll it out.
Come what may.
Chillax, right?
Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2018/11/09/being-entitled/
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