I was just trying to give them free labor!!
I went to a local animal control/care office on Saturday to see if I could volunteer there. I love the Humane Society we volunteer at, but its an hour away and I hate wasting time that I could actually be using at the shelter.
I walked in (it was quiet) and asked the woman at the desk if they were looking for volunteers. She said "You can fill out an application", not too thrilled with my question. I was very sweet and polite and said, "thank you" and filled out my application in one of the chairs. I turned it in and asked if they needed volunteers at the time. She said that they had "A LOT!" and that if they wanted to fit me in, they would. (NICE!)
I told her that I'd been volunteering at the HS in Ojai for almost a year. She raised her eyebrows (ALMOST impressed) and told me again that if they wanted me, they would call me.
Um....why is she working there? If I had her job, where I could make a difference in the lives of hopeless animals, I'd be stoked!!
She was also rude to a woman coming to adopt a dog she put on hold. She goes, "If he's still here, tell the people out there." If he's still here? Why wouldn't he be if he was on hold for them??
What a rude, unhappy woman!!!
Yeah, I know what you mean...
I went down to the local RSPCA shelter to find out how to volunteer. Well, I got a less-than-friendly response. The lady (admittedly busy when she said this) said "they should be over there." I can understand why she was busy, as a couple had bought in a cat that was so sick it needed to be put down. But, I couldn't find the forms, and asked another lady, who found them hiding behind a bunch of other pamphlets. The second lady seemed to be bored by the whole thing, and the first lady gave me a sarcastic look, rolled her eyes a bit and said, "I told you where they were."
There certainly was no "thanks for taking an interest" or any of those niceties that one would expect to receive as a potential volunteer for what is an emotionally draining role ...
Not only that, but you also have to APPLY to become a volunteer! On the form it asks all these questions then says, in effect, "if we want you, we'll call you, if not, forget it." It's almost like a job application form, you practically need references! I had none of this when I volunteered for the RSPCA in my home town.
What do they honestly think, that people who don't love animals dearly would vonlunteer? I think the best screening is "face to face" screening through a brief "chat" as it is much easier to lie on a stupid form that it is to lie to someone's face.
It is just too silly for words - I love animals and want to make a difference, but I feel like I'm seriously put off the whole idea - I will get around to it eventually, but it's been three weeks since I picked up the forms ... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
