*Gulp*

aly

For me, its easier to live with myself with feelings of "maybe I shouldn't have",

than to live with myself with feelings of "maybe I should have"

I had a big day today. I decided that I am going to adopt another dog and quit my job. I've been upset all day but I am at peace now that I have made these decisions. I am also going to move because management of my apartment changed and the new people said I can't foster or have more than 2 pets. They are allowing me to until I move out though. The decisions to quit my job and move are a little scary but I'm just going to follow my heart and I know I'll be fine. The reasons behind quitting my job are too numerous and messy to go into right now. I will continue to volunteer there though. I am thinking about applying to be a vet tech and also maybe volunteering with a rescue group. I will also still foster for the shelter.

ANYWAY, I took my dogs up to meet Spice today and it was so funny. He sort of just fit right in. I don't think Lolly even noticed there was an extra poodle. They were so cute. I had Tyler in with them so there were 3 little poodles and Lolly and all they wanted to do was sit on and around me. Poor Spice had to endure major mounting from Reece (after Monday when he had to put up with it ALL day from Tyler). Reece usually doesn't do that unless a dog does it to him first, but he was really intent to do it with Spice.

I forgot to take my camera :( I will get some pictures as soon as I can though. I don't really want to take Spice home until I get Tyler to his new home (which will probably be Friday if I can get him neutered on Thursday).

Oh by the way Teresa, I will definately contact you if something doesn't work out with me adopting Spice.

Aly - that little poodle is simply adorable. I can see why you could not resist this sweet little guy. Congrats on your adoption - I know everything will work out OK;)

Oh my, what major decisions you've made today, aly. I wish you the best of luck! That Spice is a little cutie-pie!

What decisions! Hope everything works out well for you. I'm sure following your heart it will!

The people I work with hurt me so bad on purpose. I can't stop crying to say much. They adopted out Spice to hurt me because I wanted to keep my kittens together. Ugh its a long story and I'm too upset to type right now. I feel so hurt and betrayed and disgusted. I'm not even giving my two weeks. I'm never going back.

Oh aly, I'm so sorry. I don't think I would go back either. It sounds like you've given your heart and soul to this place and then they go and backstab you like that...it's just not fair. Hadn't you already adopted him?? If so, could you get him back?? Please feel free to call me if you want to talk.

Do you have any vacation time accrued? That could count toward your two weeks' notice ... Please consider giving some sort of notice, if you want to stay in the field, it could look bad to future employers to quit with no notice.

Take tonight, breathe, think, then at least you'll know you made the decision with a clear head.

I'm so sorry they did that to you. I was hoping you would get Spice. Some people can be so cruel.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Pam
GASP!!!!!!!!!!!! You post pictures of so many pupsters that really tug at my heart! I just don't know how you don't wind up with a home with 100 dogs living with you! I just cannot understand the circumstances surrounding him arriving at the shelter! Who in the world would drop him off at the vet and never come back! People just amaze me! :mad: :mad: What a precious face and I can tell he is scared. :( Oh I would love to give that boy lots of hugs and cuddles and, if I lived in Texas, he would no longer be homeless!!! Yes, Aly I am weakening. I know just from seeing Tyler and now dear little Spice (is that his real name?) that I would not be able to just walk away. I do hope that you will get to adopt him. He couldn't wind up in a better home, (unless of course it was with me and Bella! hehe! :D ). Please keep us posted!!!

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How do you get those cat smilies, Pam?

Oh Aly, Karen is so right! Give yourself a little space this evening, cool off, calm down and think this through with a clearer head.

Jobs are difficult to find right now and not leaving this job under the best of circumstances will not look good on a resume!

I am very sorry about Spice! He sure is adorable.

This is the worst feeling in the world. You would think they'd understand... especially after I lost Nookie. I hadn't officially adopted him yet but EVERYONE knew I was taking him. Well I'll try to say the whole story...(I'm gonna try to leave as many details out as possible, otherwise it will get way too long).

The work environment there is very hostile and nasty. People hold personal grudges and there are so many little cliques of people against certain other people. Its disgusting. I have pretty much always stayed out of all the crap that goes on, but it still wears me out. I have been so stressed at that job that I can't even function like a normal human being. I am always there on my days off helping them out. I never clock in to do that either. Its all volunteer time. I help them out SO much and wear myself SO thin.. then when it comes time when I ask a favor, people kick and scream. If anyone else ever has to come in on their day off (which is rare), they always clock in and get paid. I just feel used there a lot because I care so much.

So yesterday I was driving up to work with my dogs when they called my cell phone. They wanted me to do a counsel with someone who was interested in adopting a certain dog (only a few certain people can do the counsels). I said I'd do it and I was on my way up there anyway to let my dogs meet Spice. When I went in there, Susan asked me why my dogs were there and I told her I was going to adopt Spice. She said "Well there are tons of other people who would want that dog" in a really snotty way. I didn't understand why she was being that way to me but I ignored it.

I left my 2 dogs and Tyler behind the desk while I went to do the counsel and when I came back, my supervisor was glaring at me. She spoke to me like I was in second grade, really condescending and mean. She basically told me she didn't appreciate me bringing my dogs up there because it was "too much". I told her I was doing them a favor and the dogs were only back there for 15-20 minutes so I didn't see what it hurt. She kept repeating that it was too much and I kept repeating that I wasn't planning on leaving the dogs there, but I had already been on my way to work and agreed to do THEM a FAVOR. She was being so mean. Then I got all my dogs on their leashes and was walking by her office and heard her talking really bad about me. It was around then I decided I probably didn't need to be working there anymore.

While I had my dogs with Spice in the auditorium, Nicole came and told me a kitten died on the operating table during the spay and the woman who had adopted the kitten wanted an orange tabby. She said the shelter manager wanted to know if I'd adopt my kitten to the woman. I said I would if she wanted 2 kittens because I really wanted mine to go together. I dont see what the big deal was. We have a lot of orange tabbies that lady could have. She had never even seen or played with mine so there was no reason I should have to give her mine. Well then they got REALLY mad at me. I didn't even know it at the time. But even the shelter manager was saying bad stuff about how I was being difficult. I DIDNT EVEN DO ANYTHING TO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE!!!!

After the dogs met, I went to ask the girl that works in Receiving when Spice might go up for adoption. She shrugged her shoulders and kept walking past me. I had to chase her down the hall asking her questions. I was trying to tell her I didnt' want to take Spice home until Thursday or Friday because Tyler would be adopted by then. But that if he was moving up into adoption that day I would take him. She kept blowing me off so I went up and asked the receptionist to call me if and when they moved him into adoption. She said she would and that she really wanted me to get the dog.

Then I came in today for obedience and Nicole and Nathan were giving me weird looks. Then Nathan told me they adopted Spice out YESTERDAY right after I left. Susan was trying to get revenge on me only because I wanted my kittens to stay together. You guys have seen their pictures, they are so attached. Turns out right when I pulled out of the parking lot, some people came in saying that wanted a poodle mix. Susan went out of her way to get Spice from the BACK.. he wasn't even in adoption. It wasn't the receptionist's fault. She had just gone on lunch.

Susan knew that was the one thing that would rip my heart out. That was such a personal attack. I cannot even talk to that woman because a really big slur of bad words will come out of my mouth. I haven't felt this much hurt in so long. I am in utter shock and disbelief. How can someone have so much hate? She knew how attached I was. Everyone knew. She orchestrated the whole thing, but there were a few others who helped carry it out. The shelter manager gave approval and the girl who works in receiving WHO WAS MY FRIEND AND ACTED LIKE SHE WANTED ME TO GET THE DOG helped too.

I am going in tomorrow to talk to the Operations Director. I am thinking I am going to use my sick days this week and maybe work next weekend and thats it.

One of the people who teaches obedience works at the other no-kill shelter that is sort of near our area (its not in Austin though, its a bit of a drive actually). She offered me a job as an animal care technician at her shelter. I accepted and am going in tomorrow so she can show me around. I will start there in 2 or 3 weeks.

I am so so so so so so so so so hurt that someone I worked with and respected did that to me. The person who I took to and from work every day for 3 weeks when her car was broken. The person who I have covered for so many times.

I really want a third dog. I guess I was not meant to have one or something.

What a painful situation for you - really sorry for you. I am glad you decided to post what happened.
I hope you can use up that sick time and give yourself time to figure out what to do. Things will look somewhat better in the am I hope.
Well that was a dirty deal they pulled on you - giving them notice of sorts will look better for other jobs as others have stated. Try to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible when you go to work - that might give you some satisfaction at least:mad: .