*Gulp*

Aly,

Well, I guess I will add my two cents, for whatever it is worth.

I am a relatively new volunteer at a shelter in Burlington VT. I do enjoy it and have managed to keep my head above water when it comes to dealing with the staff and not adopting every pet that comes in the door. Yes, I have been TOLD in no uncertain terms, what to NOT do with prospective owners and also yelled at a couple of times, for telling some people that we had puppies in another location and that we had kittens somewhere else too. Yikes, is that such a horrible thing? Well, anyway, what I learned about MYSELF is that I am not willing to give up playing with the pitiful animals at the shelter, and volunteering just because someone yelled at me and did not give me the answers that I wanted to hear. At the time, I wanted to walk out, but after cooling off, I said NO, I am not going to give in to nasty folks.

There is always a pecking order in businesses, charities etc. and if you don't get with the program and keep awake as to who runs the show, then you can easily become a target. My guess is that someone didn't like the idea of YOU running the show when it came to animals being kept together or adopted etc. I am sure I am not right totally, but it seems to me that even the director went behind your back (if that's what it is called) and did not do what you had thought they had agreed to do.

I would sit back and think about your level of dedication to this particular group/charity/business/shelter/employer and decide if there was a real message in what they did or if they were not hearing you clearly or if they really wanted to tick you off for some reason. I trust you will have worked some of this out by now, with the director etc.

You know, you cannot save all the animals Aly. And one of the things that I discovered about myself while being at the shelter is that I can't have all the animals....and that there are other good homes for the animals to go to. Although I would LOVE to take theses pets home, I cannot. I want to give someone else the opportunity to have the furry friends.

I know your heart is in the right place for sure and you give these animals your all, but you must leave some space for yourself to relax and get away from your work. Why not volunteer doing something else, rather than eat sleep and drink the shelter. I know, I know, they need you, but YOU NEED YOU TOO.

I hope you are not upset when reading this, but it is difficult to keep my trap shut on this one.

I feel so sorry for you - that you were so misteated by your employer and fellow employees. And we here at Pet Talk cannot undo any of that for you. Sometimes things happen to you for no good reason, but it ends up teaching you a good lesson. What is the lesson here? Sure does beat me, but I my only guess is that you may have learned something other than having heart ache for days, brought on by your co-workers and employers and not getting the pup you wanted and not having the kittens stay together.

Chin Up ALY and keep yourself balanced with the rescue/shelter thing. You shouldn't be making yourself sick over this. Maybe a little vacation and a NEW EMPLOYER might do you some good.

Fondly,
SAS

(((((((((((ALY)))))))))))

Excellent words, SAS. I think you are "right on". Thank you for that.

Logan :)

SAS, along with Logan, I agree with your thoughts as well. I feel your advice for Aly to keep balanced is excellent.

Aly, you know, that all of us care about you and admire all that you do for other animals and pets.

Aly, this is so sad, beyond my words. It's amazing how grown up people can act up like little kids, sometimes I swear us adults can be more childish that kids actually are :( .
I hope you can take some time out and take a breathe.

How about the kittens you have, what's gonna happen to them?´

After I cooled off (I don't do well with people mistreating my friends), I agree with everyone else. I think a new environment will do you good. Your new job's gain is the old shelter's loss. It is amazing how trivial people get...you should see some of the teachers at our school...amazing that we are supposed to be professionals and end up acting like the kids sometimes. Just show them that you've above all the trash talking and back stabbing and walk out on your last day with your head held high.

I went in for the conference with the Operations Director. She was shocked and disgusted. She told me she'd help me out in any way that she could. She also said she'd usually convince me to stay but she felt that the place was going downhill and that it was just WRONG what those people did to me. I had called up at the shelter before I came in and talked to the receptionist for the first time since this all happened. She said she was not at lunch when they did that but that they DID NOT LET her call me. She also said they called me a "collector". Umm, I have 2 dogs and a cat. One of the women who referred to me as a collector has 17 cats in her home. I know that all this is a big power trip. A lot of the people I work with are just nasty people at heart. All I can say is after what they did to me, they are going to have some bad karma.

Susan was there today and saw me crying hugging some people saying bye to them. She had to nerve to roll her eyes and make some comment about me that I couldn't hear. I don't know why she's doing this to me. I have never had a problem with her at all.

Everyone who was not involved in this mess is very sad and frusterated. Shannon, another person I work with in Adoption, is going to quit because of this. She's just miserable at work today. The receptionist confronted the shelter manager about how digusted she was at the situation. A lot of people told me that it is their loss and they were really sorry and sad I was leaving but completely understood that I have to leave.

A few hours later my superviser called me trying to make me feel guilty for not talking out my problems with her. I TRIED several times and she in unapproachable. She blows off all of my ideas and suggestions and its impossible to get her to talk to you. Not to mention she talks to you like you're a second grader. She's only been at this job for a month or so and I think she's just awful.

On a more positive note, I am officially hired at the Central Texas SPCA. It is a really tiny, quaint place there. I love Tammy who is the manager. I've been taking shelter dogs through the obedience classes she co-teaches for over a year. She's even working it out where I can start out getting paid a lot more than they usually start people out at (which is still a lot less than I make now, but I believe happiness is better than money). When I say the place is tiny, I mean TINY! Their cat area is so cute. They don't have cages. They have little decorated rooms where all the cats play together. The dogs aren't in actual big kennels like at my shelter, but more like wire crates. they only have 5 large kennels. They have a little room right now where they have a mama dog and eight newborn pups. The mama is SO SWEET! I told Tammy that I would foster her after I move.

They cycle the dogs in and out all during the day. The go to outside kennels in the morning to eat breakfast. The outdoor kennels have kiddie pools and dog houses. Then they get walked and come inside for their afternoon naps. Then later on they get taken outside for play time in the outside kennels again. Everyone gets a kennel mate when they are outside to play with. Then at night they get brought back in. I will be the "dog person" in the evenings doing medication, feeding, walking, and general care and training for the doggies. It is very happy there and I'm looking forward to it.

I don't know what I'm going to do with my 4 foster kittens. I think I'm going to pay their adoption fees and then rehome them through this new shelter.


UGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is so disgusting. The stupid new PResident of the Board of Directors just called me. He said I can't have tomorrow and Saturday off. I told him the story and he still said no. I told him there's no way I can go tomorrow and keep my mouth shut to Susan so he's calling my supervisor and CJ then he's gonna call me back. This is so stupid. He was gonna let me until I told him I put in my 2 weeks. He made this DUMB policy this week where we have to get approval for sick days, vacation days, etc through him. We can't even call our supervisers. The Board isn't even supposed to interfere that much. This is stupid stupid stupid.

Mugsy - when is a good time to call? I really need to talk.

The new shelter sounds relly nice! And until you get there, we are there for you. Pet Talk is a good place to vent!

Quote:

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Originally posted by aly
we have to get approval for sick days,

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Approval for being sick? Hmmmm....now that's a new one! Suppose you were really sick? :rolleyes: I guess you would have to get approval to stay home. What a nutty place! You are going to be sooooo much better off leaving there!

:Aly, you are welcome to call any time you want to. One of us will be home all evening and then tomorrow all that's going on is Sox, Sammy, and now Dudley are going to the vet at 9:30 and we have to sign some papers at the credit union after that and then we should be home.

I'll call you after this stupid jerk calls and tells me I can't have these days off.

Pam - I got to give Docker a kiss today. He's at the shelter because he kills kitties and other small animals :(

You have our number right??

Well I don't have a job anymore. I guess I should be happy but this is so sickening. I'll tell the story later. Right now I think I am going to take my dogs to the park.

(I do have your # mugsy but may wait until tomorrow to call now. I was in control but I'm a basketcase again right now).

Call whenever you want to aly. I'm sorry about the job...I figured that's what they'd do. I wish I could help in some other way than just having you call. Your furkids will help you through this and a long walk may help too. You will be in our thoughts. Now just focus on the new job and how much better it will be.

Hang in there, aly. The new place sounds fantasic! It should be less stressful for you. All these trials and tribulations will make you even stronger in your fight for the unfortunate. My prayers are with you.

Oh my gosh, my friend I work (err.. worked) with just called me and told me that one of the kennel guys who never talks found out today what happened to me. He flipped out and started screaming and yelling at everyone in the shelter and they fired him! I feel SO BAD!@!!!!