How far would you go?

[missy]

How far would you go to do the right thing?

Of course we all have different circumstances and for example not everyone can risk their jobs so I get that.

We were watching ER last night (I love that show) and one of the doctors who was sexually harassed by one of the supervisors wouldn't back up the intern who also was harassed. Because she was not a citizen here and didn't want to lose her sponsorship at the hospital. I think eventually ( we are not yet up to that part) she does the right thing. And does speak out against him. To help the intern and to also help others from experiencing this at his hands.


My question is how far have you ever gone (or would go) to do the RIGHT thing?


In 2009 I found out there was a cat kept prisoner in the basement of the building where I was working.
I worked on getting him out and taking him to the vet and finding him a home
My boss said I would be fired if I made any trouble because the cat was being used as a "mouser" to keep the building rat/mice free. The super got the cat (as per the owner of the building) and kept him in the basement under terrible (dark, dirty, no real food) conditions.
I ignored my boss and we rescued him. I did it by working on the owner of the building. I appealed to his machismo side and it worked. I was smart about it and didn't go like gangbusters because that would have been completely the wrong strategy here.
That cat was Tommy and he had 15 wonderful years with us. He died in December and I miss him EVERY SINGLE DAY. But so grateful we got to rescue him and give him a safe and loving home for 15 years. My heart aches so though and I think of him every day multiple times a day. He was such a sweet sweet boy may he RIP

This is my example and I absolutely do it again and risk my job and other things to do the RIGHT thing. I would even risk my safety to do the RIGHT thing if I thought I could make a difference.

That's how I was raised and that is how I am. I 100% go by the quote "if you see something wrong say something" and "Silence is Complicity" and "“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

How about you? Can you share a real life experience where you did the right thing causing risk to you?

 

[dnfd]

When I was young, a neighbor kept a dog chained outside year round. My mom talked to them, but they did nothing. While they were out, my mom took (okay, stole) their dog and rehomed her to a coworker in another town who would love and care for her. She is my role model.

I live in a major US city, am a 5'1" female, and am disabled. I am acutely aware of how vulnerable I am. I have verbally intervened when I saw a young man walking on a busy street with an untrained puppy off the leash. I made up a fake story about a friend whose puppy was killed this way. The ignorant person didn't get aggressive but did say he was willing to take the risk. I reminded him that having dogs off leash is illegal, but he ignored me.

Another time I was getting into my car around the holidays and saw a well-dressed young man who appeared to be drunk walking his dog. The dog was wearing a harness and a sweater and looked well cared for. The dog's caretaker almost bumped into someone, and the dog jumped at the person. The caretaker dragged the dog away but stumbled into some trash cans and began pulling forcefully at the dog's leash and scaring the dog. The dog's body language showed he was scared, tail between his legs and cowering. I yelled at the person to be nice to their dog several times, but they ignored me. My anger got the better of me, and I am ashamed to say that I cursed at him to get his attention. It worked. I quickly got in my car and locked the doors as the man proceeded to take photos of my license plate. I then watched him stumble into his house a few buildings down. I truly believe he was not an animal abuser, but no animal deserves to be scared and confused.

Of course none of this compares to the amazing rescue you pulled off while risking your job. The thought of a sentient being living under such circumstances makes me heartbroken. What a happy ending for your dear boy.

 

[Bron357]

When I was in late teens and some new neighbors, renting, got a dog. I was outside in the garden when I heard a man’s voice yelling and thumping and a dog yelping. The dog was being left outside 24/ 7 and was barking a lot. Another neighbor said they went over to ask about it and the guy who answered the door told him to “mind his own f….ing business or else”. Two days later we heard more of the same yelping and crying out from the dog. Dad was home and he heard it too.
A few more days went by and we thankfully no longer heard the dog barking, crying or yelping. I commented on that to Dad, and he said it was because the dog wasn’t there anymore. I got quite upset thinking it must have been hurt or killed by the horrible man and Dad said no, it had been rehomed.
My Dad, rightly or wrongly, went over the fence one night and took the dog. The dog was then living with a nice family many suburbs away, but as Dad warned me, if anyone asks, you know nothing ok!
Ok.

 

[missy]

Thank you @dnfd and your mom for caring and protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

@Bron357 thank you and your dad for saving his life. Some people should never have animals in their family. They do not deserve the privilege.

 

[missy]

I just remembered an experience when I was in my early 20s. I was dating a Manhattan ADA. He was not tall. Maybe an inch or two taller than me (I'm 5'6"). Why I mention this will become clear in a moment. We were on a date. Waiting for the subway. Late at night. The station was deserted. Anyway two youths (late teens?) come to the platform and throw something onto the tracks. My date A goes over to them and starts yelling at them for littering. Mind you he is much shorter than they are and in a fight they could take him no problem. I was looking at him incredulously. I mean it was just the two of us and the two of them in an dark and empty subway station. I went over to him and pulled him away and luckily the kids walked away from us. But omg if they were armed or crazy we would have been in a lot of trouble. I remember being very angry at A saying he put us at risk for what. But I guess many would think he was being brave. I think he was being stupid. And thought that at the time too lol. He was headstrong but he was a good guy

 

[missy]

Another incident. My sister's husband was out walking the dog with my two nieces. And they came across an older teen (maybe two I don't remember) kicking a bird (I think a dove but have to confirm as I am not sure). Anyway my brother in law stepped in and stopped what was happening and they rescued the bird. He was injured but my sister fixed him and they have him to this day

 

[missy]

I don't know if this counts as we didn't risk our safety for this but I just gave up what was my dream house because we couldn't abandon the feral cats we are caring for on our property. We looked into relocating the cats with us but it was a low probability of being successful so ultimately we decided we could not risk their lives just so we could have our dream house. I am sad but I know with complete certainty we did the only thing we could do. One of my mottos...living beings over beautiful things

But OMG this new house has so many great features we could have enjoyed including an elevator for when we get old and feeble.
But it was not meant to be

How could we abandon these sweet sweet babies

 

[dnfd]

When I was in late teens and some new neighbors, renting, got a dog. I was outside in the garden when I heard a man’s voice yelling and thumping and a dog yelping. The dog was being left outside 24/ 7 and was barking a lot. Another neighbor said they went over to ask about it and the guy who answered the door told him to “mind his own f….ing business or else”. Two days later we heard more of the same yelping and crying out from the dog. Dad was home and he heard it too.
A few more days went by and we thankfully no longer heard the dog barking, crying or yelping. I commented on that to Dad, and he said it was because the dog wasn’t there anymore. I got quite upset thinking it must have been hurt or killed by the horrible man and Dad said no, it had been rehomed.
My Dad, rightly or wrongly, went over the fence one night and took the dog. The dog was then living with a nice family many suburbs away, but as Dad warned me, if anyone asks, you know nothing ok!
Ok.

What your dad did was 100% right! He very well may have saved a life, and at the very least prevented a helpless creature from living a prolonged miserable existence being abused. Those people didn't deserve to be the caretakers of that poor dog. I hope he or she lived a long happy life full of life and contentment!

 

[Antique_Charm]

How far would you go to do the right thing?

Of course we all have different circumstances and for example not everyone can risk their jobs so I get that.

We were watching ER last night (I love that show) and one of the doctors who was sexually harassed by one of the supervisors wouldn't back up the intern who also was harassed. Because she was not a citizen here and didn't want to lose her sponsorship at the hospital. I think eventually ( we are not yet up to that part) she does the right thing. And does speak out against him. To help the intern and to also help others from experiencing this at his hands.


My question is how far have you ever gone (or would go) to do the RIGHT thing?


In 2009 I found out there was a cat kept prisoner in the basement of the building where I was working.
I worked on getting him out and taking him to the vet and finding him a home
My boss said I would be fired if I made any trouble because the cat was being used as a "mouser" to keep the building rat/mice free. The super got the cat (as per the owner of the building) and kept him in the basement under terrible (dark, dirty, no real food) conditions.
I ignored my boss and we rescued him. I did it by working on the owner of the building. I appealed to his machismo side and it worked. I was smart about it and didn't go like gangbusters because that would have been completely the wrong strategy here.
That cat was Tommy and he had 15 wonderful years with us. He died in December and I miss him EVERY SINGLE DAY. But so grateful we got to rescue him and give him a safe and loving home for 15 years. My heart aches so though and I think of him every day multiple times a day. He was such a sweet sweet boy may he RIP

This is my example and I absolutely do it again and risk my job and other things to do the RIGHT thing. I would even risk my safety to do the RIGHT thing if I thought I could make a difference.

That's how I was raised and that is how I am. I 100% go by the quote "if you see something wrong say something" and "Silence is Complicity" and "“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

How about you? Can you share a real life experience where you did the right thing causing risk to you?

 

[Antique_Charm]

@missy you have such a beautiful soul <3 He was so lucky to have you as his mama the last 15 years of his life <3

 

[Begonia]

Mum was palliative and we were caring for her in her apartment. I had plenty of morphine in ampoules to keep her pain free. She went "unconscious" due to the meds but may have been aware. I know she was aware. It was time for more meds and I told her the next dose might send her on her way. Squeeze my hand if you don't want the dose. No squeeze.
Mum had helped me into the world and I was going to help her out of it, if she chose.
She was such a good Mum. It was 17 years ago now. I'm 59 years old and I want my Mum back.

 

[Bron357]

Mum was palliative and we were caring for her in her apartment. I had plenty of morphine in ampoules to keep her pain free. She went "unconscious" due to the meds but may have been aware. I know she was aware. It was time for more meds and I told her the next dose might send her on her way. Squeeze my hand if you don't want the dose. No squeeze.
Mum had helped me into the world and I was going to help her out of it, if she chose.
She was such a good Mum. It was 17 years ago now. I'm 59 years old and I want my Mum back.

Sending hugs.
My grandpa was helped along the same way.
With my Dad we were “staring down the barrel” of a similar scenario when one morning Mum couldn’t wake him. He had travelled on while asleep and we all thought, sad as it was, that it was a wonderful thing.

 

[Bron357]

I don't know if this counts as we didn't risk our safety for this but I just gave up what was my dream house because we couldn't abandon the feral cats we are caring for on our property. We looked into relocating the cats with us but it was a low probability of being successful so ultimately we decided we could not risk their lives just so we could have our dream house. I am sad but I know with complete certainty we did the only thing we could do. One of my mottos...living beings over beautiful things

But OMG this new house has so many great features we could have enjoyed including an elevator for when we get old and feeble.
But it was not meant to be

How could we abandon these sweet sweet babies

@missy the choice you made will bring you much more joy and blissful sleep than any house even one with an elevator. Plenty of time til needing that, in the meanwhile give those kitties some love from me.

 

[missy]

@missy the choice you made will bring you much more joy and blissful sleep than any house even one with an elevator. Plenty of time til needing that, in the meanwhile give those kitties some love from me.

Aww thank you and I will. I appreciate your kind comments Bron

Mum was palliative and we were caring for her in her apartment. I had plenty of morphine in ampoules to keep her pain free. She went "unconscious" due to the meds but may have been aware. I know she was aware. It was time for more meds and I told her the next dose might send her on her way. Squeeze my hand if you don't want the dose. No squeeze.
Mum had helped me into the world and I was going to help her out of it, if she chose.
She was such a good Mum. It was 17 years ago now. I'm 59 years old and I want my Mum back.

I am so sorry Begonia. Life is not easy. You did the hardest and bravest thing. The most selfless act one can give. You gave your mom peace from suffering..I try comforting myself with this...with great love comes deep grief. But there are days when even that provides little comfort. My heart goes out to you. A mother's love is special beyond special and one never fully recovers. We just learn to bear the grief and move forward. Gentle hugs

@missy you have such a beautiful soul <3 He was so lucky to have you as his mama the last 15 years of his life <3

Thank you so much Antique Charm. I miss him so. Every little thing reminds me of Tommy. I pray he is at peace and that we will meet again. Thank you for your kindness

 

[Antique_Charm]

Aww thank you and I will. I appreciate your kind comments Bron



I am so sorry Begonia. Life is not easy. You did the hardest and bravest thing. The most selfless act one can give. You gave your mom peace from suffering..I try comforting myself with this...with great love comes deep grief. But there are days when even that provides little comfort. My heart goes out to you. A mother's love is special beyond special and one never fully recovers. We just learn to bear the grief and move forward. Gentle hugs



Thank you so much Antique Charm. I miss him so. Every little thing reminds me of Tommy. I pray he is at peace and that we will meet again. Thank you for your kindness