Advice & Thoughts Needed
Almost don't know where to begin but here goes.
I've worked at the cat shelter for almost 6 1/2 yrs now. Over time I've shared things abt this with you my friends.
I've felt for some time that things are getting questionable & that there would be some straw that could break the camels back(not that there hasn't been enough up to now). I think I've told how management is non existent & the senior person(Amy) is almost impossible to understand & work with. She's very controlling, lacks communication skills, does not really trust anyone to do much of anyting until she needs an errand or special favor then maybe???
The shelter is in deplorable shape & some know that I've reported them in the past but they always get passed. People close to me feel that the city will keep doing this cause otherwise what would they have to do with a 100 & some odd cats so better to turn a blind eye & let the shelter be. Today the senior person had to be away & two others where away on holidays. A few other people agreed to come in to fill the void with me of course being the foundation. When I arrived I get my stuff organized, peruse what shape things are in, work needed etc. etc. I went into the big open room & stopped dead, looked around & swore "what the#$@$@#$@". Half the old rotten floor was ripped up, all the cat stands, condos, beds & stuff had all just haphazardly been pushed to the center of the room. The floor had not really been even swept, old floor pieces littered everywhere, you'd cringe I know. The old floor that had been revealed had spots sticky I think from old glue I guess. The cats were all so confused & some really really upset. Their whole little world looked like WW3 had been through there. I found out that the provincial vets office I believe finally threatened to shut them down due to conditions so our never seen owner has started to work on the floor in this particular room. Would an efficient manager/owner who runs a business that functions thru volunteers want to ensure he advises everyone of what's going to happen, ask for ideas to make things as easy as possible, care enough to involve everyone for the better of the facility. Those poor cats can hurt their toes on tile pieces, possibly pick up glue residue on their pads. I think you all get the picture from here. Lets not add that the building needs to be condemned. We have cats that are sick, some terminally with cancer related matters, renal failure & other stuff. But heaven forbid you put the poor thing down, let it cross to a much happier life. no, you keep pumping them full of drugs & stuff. It's worse too when you see how unhappy some of them are. I should mention that approaching Amy is just abt impossible because she will not talk to me or even be there when I am. There was once where I took the initiative & cleaned the whole floor area in the back under the sink, reorganized a couple things. Well, I found out she freaked, she didn't call me though, she called my partner to have her pass onto me that she doesn't like to give work to people, it's hers, don't touch, etc. etc.
Yes, I go there to do what I can for the cats but I'm seriously feeling that I don't need to put up with this type of abuse anymore, or those working conditions, the no team work, the no left hand not knowing or caring what the right hand is doing.
Please my friends, let me know what your thoughts are, be brutally honest too. I don't mind working in the trenches so to speak if there was management that would embrace, respect, make us feel valuable & get in the trenches with us. Hubby is concerned abe the effect on my health of course.
I do need to update you guys on other general more interesting stuff which I'll do tomorrow but you're the best people I can turn to for honest advice on this matter.
Sure wish I could just hug all of you right this minute.
I've worked at the cat shelter for almost 6 1/2 yrs now. Over time I've shared things abt this with you my friends.
I've felt for some time that things are getting questionable & that there would be some straw that could break the camels back(not that there hasn't been enough up to now). I think I've told how management is non existent & the senior person(Amy) is almost impossible to understand & work with. She's very controlling, lacks communication skills, does not really trust anyone to do much of anyting until she needs an errand or special favor then maybe???
The shelter is in deplorable shape & some know that I've reported them in the past but they always get passed. People close to me feel that the city will keep doing this cause otherwise what would they have to do with a 100 & some odd cats so better to turn a blind eye & let the shelter be. Today the senior person had to be away & two others where away on holidays. A few other people agreed to come in to fill the void with me of course being the foundation. When I arrived I get my stuff organized, peruse what shape things are in, work needed etc. etc. I went into the big open room & stopped dead, looked around & swore "what the#$@$@#$@". Half the old rotten floor was ripped up, all the cat stands, condos, beds & stuff had all just haphazardly been pushed to the center of the room. The floor had not really been even swept, old floor pieces littered everywhere, you'd cringe I know. The old floor that had been revealed had spots sticky I think from old glue I guess. The cats were all so confused & some really really upset. Their whole little world looked like WW3 had been through there. I found out that the provincial vets office I believe finally threatened to shut them down due to conditions so our never seen owner has started to work on the floor in this particular room. Would an efficient manager/owner who runs a business that functions thru volunteers want to ensure he advises everyone of what's going to happen, ask for ideas to make things as easy as possible, care enough to involve everyone for the better of the facility. Those poor cats can hurt their toes on tile pieces, possibly pick up glue residue on their pads. I think you all get the picture from here. Lets not add that the building needs to be condemned. We have cats that are sick, some terminally with cancer related matters, renal failure & other stuff. But heaven forbid you put the poor thing down, let it cross to a much happier life. no, you keep pumping them full of drugs & stuff. It's worse too when you see how unhappy some of them are. I should mention that approaching Amy is just abt impossible because she will not talk to me or even be there when I am. There was once where I took the initiative & cleaned the whole floor area in the back under the sink, reorganized a couple things. Well, I found out she freaked, she didn't call me though, she called my partner to have her pass onto me that she doesn't like to give work to people, it's hers, don't touch, etc. etc.
Yes, I go there to do what I can for the cats but I'm seriously feeling that I don't need to put up with this type of abuse anymore, or those working conditions, the no team work, the no left hand not knowing or caring what the right hand is doing.
Please my friends, let me know what your thoughts are, be brutally honest too. I don't mind working in the trenches so to speak if there was management that would embrace, respect, make us feel valuable & get in the trenches with us. Hubby is concerned abe the effect on my health of course.
I do need to update you guys on other general more interesting stuff which I'll do tomorrow but you're the best people I can turn to for honest advice on this matter.
Sure wish I could just hug all of you right this minute.
Replies
Kitty,
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Love Ya, Barbara
My heart goes out to you, and the poor cats. I would encourage you to keep reporting the facility. It doesn\'t sound like a good place for the cats or for you.
I\'m so sorry for such a sad situation for you and the precious kitties. I wish I had some great advice, but I don\'t know what I would do except give you a hug and tell you that I love and care about you, so take a deep breath, exhale, ahhhh.... don\'t forget to breathe. (That\'s what my yoga teacher always says). Good luck, dear friend.
P.T.
Oh I\'m getting here SO late, Kitty. My heart aches for what you have to deal with, AND for the cats, living in such deplorable conditions. I know that you are such a loving, giving soul, you want to help our fur babies BUT if it\'s affecting you mentally and physically, you need to go with your gut feeling.
Have you told us about this owner? Did you say that they aren\'t approachable? Is there a humane society that can take the cats, help those? Is there any opportunity for fundraising? I wish I was closer, maybe I could help out. I agree that the shelter is deplorable, reporting seems futile, how can you get to higher powers? Sometimes, going to the media gets alot of action and reaction, maybe that\'s a consideration? I\'m here, feel free to bounce more ideas off, I\'m sorry I\'m here late..... xxoo
Sorry I\'m a bit late ... I just randomly logged into DS today. I feel for you in this situation and wish I had some good advice. But sadly, I don\'t. I guess it might boil down to this: (?) do you feel that the help you are giving the kitties that wouldn\'t exist without you personally far outweighs the negative and the stress and how it is affecting you? Or are those tasks things that might get done by another worker (who feels as you do) if you aren\'t there? If they are, then you might consider taking a break for your health?
It\'s hard to judge these situations from afar, but my mom has always said that cats and dogs are so much more resourceful and resilient and capable than humans. She would say that a hungry stray dog can much easier find a meal than we could in the same situation. I don\'t know if that helps you one bit and I\'m not really sure it is 100% true, but I know it always made me feel better when I was worried about some animal here or there. I know animals can be better at avoiding toxic things than we humans seem to be. sigh.
I hope you find the answers in your heart because your heart could never steer you wrong. xoxo, m