Selfish or Not?
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
April 8, 2012 11:44am CST
So, I recently donated a bunch of stuff to the animal rescue I volunteer with for their yard sale. There was about 4 boxes of books and VHS tapes (most of the books were mine, so of the books and all the tapes were my dads). I also donated a fish aquarium with the filter thing and a rock cave. And I donated a 3 story rat cage, my dad also gace me a jersey for them. There were a couple other misc. items.
And I also donated some books to another animal rescue that is just starting up, they were having a yard sale too. My family also gave that one a couple working printers.
But now I've started thinking that I want to start saving my own stuff for when I am ready to have a yard sale to raise money for the rescue I want to start. But then I wonder if it's selfish or not. These rescues are already here, so do they deserve stuff more than I do? What do you guys think, start saving stuff, or continue to donate it?
Thanks!
4 people like this
11 responses
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
8 Apr 12
I don't think that is selfish though. You already make donation to this animal rescue organization, now, you want to do something of your own, you should come up a plan, and financial resources too. So, raising the money through yard sales, that is one good idea. Anyway, you are about to helping the small animals and rescue them too. Don't worry about it, You knew that you will have done a right thing.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Apr 12
There are many things to consider. Do you have room to save enough to have a big sale? Will you end up working for the shelters for a while and would that be more of an incentive for them to hire you and if you stop will they be more likely to hire someone who has consistantly helped them? Weigh all your possible angles first ( like your're doing by posting this question) and then decide.
I saved things too long one time and some mice and squirrels got in them. The things I saved got eaten, shredded for bedding, etc. So you need really good storage and a good amount of it to keep things.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
13 Apr 12
I may be able to convince my parents to let me use some of the garage space if I don't have enough room when I move out. We have a 4 car garage, and only 2 cars go in it, so lots of room there! lol
I will not be workin for the shelter I volunteer with and donate too. it is a small rescue that I enjoy volunteering for, but I want to apply to the Arizona Humane Society.
We have good storage for things we keep, and have never had a problem with mice (and def. not squirrels). Never had a single 1 in our house/garage/yard.
Thanks!!!!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Apr 12
I don't think that the established places deserve your stuff more than you do. There are always plenty of others out there who can donate who are not willing to put in the effort to start their own. You are not selfish at all to want to save the money for your own project. I say concentrate all your efforts on your future shelter.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
13 Apr 12
Thank you Bill 
Knowing that so many people are okay with me "hoarding" stuff for a while will make it a bit easier on my conscience! lol
Knowing that so many people are okay with me "hoarding" stuff for a while will make it a bit easier on my conscience! lol
@haopee (493)
• Philippines
9 Apr 12
Hey Lily. You seem to have been busy these past days. I don't think you're selfish. However, if you do want to put your own rescue center, you can start saving by donating half to the shelter you are currently working on and half on the shelter you want to put up.
A person who intends to help animals with the genuine passion for doing so is never selfish in my book. Good luck.
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
23 Jul 12
Being selfish means withholding stuff just because it will go out and benefit someone else. Sharing what you have with someone else means that you give some to benefit someone else and you keep some to use. However, if you are keeping some of the stuff you donated with the hope of helping someone else, that can not be termed as selfish.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 12
Your logic is sound! That was a very good explanation of the situation Thank you honest!
Thank you honest!
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
8 Apr 12
No little Lily, this is not a selfish deed in the least. Think of it this way, you are doing it for the poor little animals that you will be providing for. How in the world is that a selfish act? If anything, it's quite the opposite.
Everyone has to get a start somewhere, and this is where you're starting. It's not that you have loads of money and are just going to open up and not be concerned. If you ever sell anything on Ebay, use the money for your pet shelter and mention this in your description that it's going to help for the care of your animals.
I wouldn't think it was selfish to actually ask for donations to help you out either. You do what you have to do to maintain and preserve a good life for these little lost souls. Good luck and don't ever think it's selfish..ever. 
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
9 Apr 12
Thank you Kash
I def. have lots of ideas about raising money, and Ebay is one of them. But looking at the rescue's I donated to, they had a lot of success with their yard sales, raising thousands of dollars! So that's why it's high on my list.
I def. have lots of ideas about raising money, and Ebay is one of them. But looking at the rescue's I donated to, they had a lot of success with their yard sales, raising thousands of dollars! So that's why it's high on my list.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Apr 12
hi lily ofthe thorns I do not think its selfish either way
you want as they are both good deeds and will help others
Starting your own rescue is something you want to do to
so yes start saving stuff for it. more power to you.Either
way is wonderful of you in my eyes
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
8 Apr 12
If you are going to start your own animal rescue it is not selfish at all. You will need the stuff to donate to your own for sales so that yours can be up and running as well. It's more like business thinking then selfish thinking.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
14 Apr 12
I think that as long as you keep remembering that you yourself have intentions of raising your own funds for your own rescue, I don't think it's selfish.
It doesn't hurt to give a little, and I think it's helpful to your own cause if you keep a little for yourself.
It's the animals that win in the end.
@vertu007 (683)
• Romania
9 Apr 12
It would be selfish if you keep your stuff, have a sale and buy ice-cream and eat it all day for example.
It's not selfish to raise some funds for your own rescue because you want to do a decent thing with that money.
Either way you are still doing a great thing, but in my opinion taking initiative deserves more credit.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
9 Apr 12
Haha good example vertu, thank you. It's nice to know that so many people are okay with me doing something like this. Maybe I won't feel like a hoarder! lol.
