I had a horrible day ....

[Walk away]

I actually feel sick. The little old lady up the block has a small dog that no one in her family can administer medication to. She's a little snapper but I have a gift with difficult animals so I give the dog it's eye and ear drop every day. I don't charge her because she is on a fixed income and I try to do pro-bono work for the local elderly when I can. I have met her daughters and their husbands and they seemed a little bland but OK and grateful that they don't have to deal with the dog. Usually I pop in, medicate Fluffy, get thanked profusely and take off, but today she had tea for me.

Big mistake...she started telling me how upset she was about Barack Obama. That he hated whites and wanted to murder babies. When I told her she shouldn't listen to people who are just trying to scare her she started yelling at me that I was a sinner if I voted for Obama and that he was a Muslim who was destroying the country. Apparently, her daughters and their husbands are also believers. According to her, most Americans are now sorry they have voted for the President and foxnews and Rush and Glen are the only truthful sources for news.

The worst part was when she kept saying that I wanted to kill babies and how her family hated people like me. I have been taking care of her dog for months. To me she is a dear little dog and now I understand why she wants to bite them all. I actually feel violated and pretty shaken up. I'm not sure what to do about poor Fluffy. She shouldn't have to suffer because her family are so crazy but I don't think they'll let me in anymore. It's so crazy!

[gateley]

1. Wow. The level of hate and fear is staggering. If you can't help Fluffy any

longer, just know that you helped a LOT for as long as you could. :pals:

[HowHasItComeToThis]

19. IT ALL STARTED WHEN FOX NEWS CAME INTO EXISTENCE...

IT IS A PROPAGANDA SOURCE.

[bertman]

22. Not really, HowHasItComeToThis. The John Birchers were rabid right-wingers just like this

back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. There was no Fox News then. Dallas, Texas was a huge enclave of Birchers and anti-Kennedy types and look what happened there.

But it is a propaganda source, for sure.

[Nictuku]

2. That would shake me up too.

That would shake me up too.

It is deeply disturbing to me to see the deep divide between our citizens.

If she won't let you in, then nothing you can do about this,really. If she does let you in, I don't think I would want to discuss politics at all with her.

Divided we fall comes to mind.

[LynnTheDem]

3. Walk away.

I know it's heart-breakingly difficult to do, walking away from the dog. But for your own well-being, walk away.

[Tommy_J]

26. This is wise advise

[dalaigh lllama]

4. For your own sake, do like your user name and walk away

If she can berate you like that after you've been doing a daily kindness for her for months, perhaps it's time for them to figure out how to administer the dog's medicine.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. How very sad.

You've only ever treated these people and their dog with kindness and all of a sudden you're a baby-killer and they hate you. All that hate -- and for no reason. And the poor dog can't get her medicine that you have so thoughtfully given her.

Awful people. I don't get it. It's really depressing...

[Elwood P Dowd]

6. I have 3 sisters like that.

My 91-year-old mother and I voted for Obama, and the sisters have been in Fox News brainwashed land ever since. I get emails almost every day about the latest Obama plot to kill all the christian men, rape all the christian women, and eat all the christian children.

[Mojorabbit]

38. I have a sister the same way

and my best friend of 35 years. Fox news brainwashed. It is insidious I think and little by little it has totally warped their thinking using fear. It makes me really sad. These are not dumb people either.
It is difficult.

[rhiannon55]

7. Oh that's awful

:hug:

[AllentownJake]

8. Sorry to hear that

It never ceases to amaze me the number of Christians, who never understood a word in the New Testament.

This women could use a good lesson on the Good Samaritan.

[FarLeftFist]

9. Tell her he is half-white,inquire about him wanting to murder babies and let her know he's christian

[Faygo Kid]

10. Offer to take Fluffy. If that doesn't work, you have to leave the poor thing.

Demented woman, but you don't need that. Fluffy is likely a goner, and there is little you can do about it at this point. One last "Hail Mary" offering to take Fluffy off her hands is about it. The family obviously does not value the vulnerable. Take care and best wishes. Bad situation.

[patrice]

11. Oh dear, that IS terrible.

:hug:

[katanalori]

12. Poor Fluffy!

This, of course, is not the dog's fault and he should not be punished. NEITHER should YOU be abused (and the ignorant boobs ARE abusing you).
I am suggesting this without thinking (which I know I should never do), but:
What if you called the SPCA and asked them to rescue Fluffy from that home - on the grounds that no one there is willing/able to give the dog his needed medication?
I would only suggest this if you (or an animal-lover you know) is ready to adopt Fluffy once he is rescued.
I try so hard to have compassion for folks like you describe - it is really not their fault that they are dumb/frightened. It is the fault of Beck, Palin, Bachmann, Hannity, et.al. at FAUX.
But personally, I cannot be around them. Maybe you have a stronger stomach than I do - and can handle it for Fluffy's sake.

:cry:

[southernyankeebelle]

13. Do yourself a favor and forgetaboutit. You will never be accepted with these kind of people. I

was suppose to go home and visit with my family. 2 of my siblings are republicans and 3 of us are democrats. My one sibling is a democrat and is influenced by my other sister who thinks she made a mistake voting for Obama. I told my sisters that when we come there will be no politic talking. But they had adult children and honestly I just don't want to hear it. So I called my sisters and told them I couldn't go to thanksgiving dinner because my husband had to work. I just am so worried we will get into. They all make a lot more money than me.

[punkin87]

14. You did a lot of good. You deserve a pat on the back.

And they owe you an apology.

[emilyg]

15. Put your feelings aside - the dog needs you. Don't

have long conversations with the woman.

[amerikat]

18. I agree 100%

Keep at it.

[Walk away]

23. I will do my best. Fluffy is elderly and with my help she is now on ...

the correct diet and medications to help her live a happy old age. I can actually pull up to their back door and have them hold her up to my window. I have done it for other animals.

Dog name edit (Snowy is a Dem dog)

[emilyg]

37. God bless you. You seem very kind.

[safeinOhio]

16. Welcome to my world, where

no good deed goes unpunished.

[amerikat]

17. Tea used to be a hospitality thing.

I think you should try again to take care of the dog.
So sad but don't give up. The dog needs you.
It's a shame that you get a raft of shit for doing the
right thing.

I don't know what else to say. I am stunned by your story.
I can imagine how you must feel.

[Walk away]

20. Thanks..I think I'm just a little freaked because it was SO hateful.

I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with a republican and a libertarian (both are on the moderate side, one voted for Obama and the other abstained last year) We argue all the time but not hatefully. I have never been attacked before like that. I was politically active against the Viet Nam war and no one spewed hate at me. This is a very bad time if grandmas are so rabid!

[amerikat]

28. Maybe you could take your friends of different politics

with you on Thanksgiving day to visit the dog and
treat her while your rational friends distract her with
political talk. She may take to it if you have intermediaries.
Just a thought

[endless october]

21. not your fault or the dog's fault.

kudos to you for helping the dog as you have done.

[roody]

24. Fluffy needs you. Please continue to help him and no chatting!

[LuvNewcastle]

25. Such rude people

You were a good neighbor to them and they treat you like this? Because of who you voted for? Some people just have no concept of manners. That 'lady' who served you tea doesn't deserve to have someone such as yourself as a neighbor and don't forget that.

[Walk away]

27. OK, I'm starting to calm down. Thanks folks.

The first thing I'll do tomorrow is call and ask how Fluffy is doing and then suggest I do a drive-by medication run. Maybe she will be smart enough to accept and shut up. She can't be feeling too good about her outburst either no matter how much she may believe it. I hate foxnews!

[Contrary1]

29. I would tell her that you no longer feel welcome in her home...

Offer to give Fluffy his meds at your house.

It has been my experience that hateful people don't usually care to inconvenience themselves. They think nothing of using other folks. Maybe after a few days of having to do so, she would be open to your taking the dog permanently.

[Stevenmarc]

30. Tell her that her dog is more important to you than her politics and if she loves her dog then STFU

[Vinnie From Indy]

31. WTF?

How is that a bad day? You learned that you were giving to an ungrateful, hate-filled, fundamentalist whacko! Do yourself a favor and help people that are not going to take your beautiful gift and turn into hate.

[Hawkeye-X]

32. Fuck the lady, fuck Fluffy

Tell her that if she wants to keep Fluffy alive, then she should be paying you $10 each time. And get it up front.

Tell her if she refuses to pay, then she's on her own.

This to teach her a very harsh lesson on her politics are going to the shitter, and she's going to hell for it.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[sudopod]

34. *hug* x 100^100

[Libertas1776]

35. Don't think of it as dognapping

think of it as rescuing...from a deranged, crotchety old witch and her psycho family.

[sjdnb]

36. Just take solace in the fact that

you have done your best for this dog as long as you could. You're not turning your back on the dog, it's owners are turning their back on you. I've been doing similar work since 1996 and it is hard, maddening, frustrating, etc. But, in the end, knowing you did your best, will get you through.

[katkat]

39. the dog comes first

I would try to continue to help the dog. If she says no, leave open the possibility.

No sense arguing with people like that about politics, just let it roll off your back.

I would not call the ASPCA, that's a fast trip to euthanasia for an elderly needs medication dog.

[Walk away]

41. I do rescue work so I know to always try to keep a dog in it's home unless..

it's being abused. I don't usually argue (except in a friendly way) about politics. When she started to get weird on me I was just trying to calm her down by explaining that it wasn't real news and not to be so upset and frightened.

She was already doing crazy before I said anything. I'm hoping I can help the dog, get it done fast and get out.

[enough]

40. I understand people's concern for the dog, but I am concerned about the effect on YOU.

You should not have to take abuse and hatefulness from anyone, let alone someone you are helping out of the goodness of your heart.

I think it depends on whether you can continue to interact with this woman without ruining your own mental state. If it's going to be a daily battle with stress for you, I think you should give it up.

[Walk away]

42. I have to try it, Maybe now she realizes it's not socially acceptable to be..

a mean crazy in public.

[Berry Cool]

43. I cannot believe that people are telling you to forget about the dog.

I mean, really...why punish the dog just because it is owned by nasty, ignorant people?

And for crying out loud, no one is going to stage an "intervention" and "rescue" this dog from its owners just because they happen to be wingnuts. I mean, give me a break!

What you need to do is say firmly that you want to go on helping the dog but you need to not get into any discussions of politics when you do, because your philosophies are distinctly different from theirs, and you do not want to argue about them.

That, right there, says something about the kind of person you are, vs. them...a person who doesn't insist on everyone seeing the world the way you do in order to warrant your help and care.

It just might make them think twice about their assumptions about Obama and people who support him. They might even feel ashamed. But even if they don't, you've made your stance clear.

You don't like what these people think...you HATE it...but you won't let it stop you from helping their dog.

[TwilightGardener]

44. Keep on being a good, kind person and helping her--the kind of person she hates

because of your political beliefs. Consider yourself a proud ambassador for the Democratic Party, even if you end up not winning hearts and minds in this family.