Tina,
How are you today?
I want to suggest something. You have reached for help and you found this board. Juls is right, we are with you and you´re not alone. The fact you reached out for help is a big step. You´ll soon be ready for the next step.
I know how frightening it is to go to a group for the first time. Could you call the AA hotline - I´m sure you have one near you - and talk it over first? You´re secure and anonymity is assured. No one needs to know. It´s up to you.
If you want to get well, you need to show every bit of commitment to yourself as you did to the homeless animals you adopted. I like that - I have cats myself - and when I stay in my vacation place in the summer on an island not far from Africa, I take in black cats myself. Strays. I love them.
You go ahead and be kind to yourself. It really boils down to a simple choice: "Get busy dying, or get busy living." I´m not saying you´re going to die, but the path you find yourself on is downhill. Just take small steps and the rest will work itself out. One small step would be to make a note of contacting an AA hotlaine and then follow it through. The later, when you feel better, make a note of going to a meeting. It will work out well. Trust me on that one.
Let us know, we care.