tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82480435108142514902024-03-13T03:51:32.791-07:00Heaven or DirtAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-19117211168351302172013-10-08T08:25:00.001-07:002013-10-08T08:25:58.063-07:00"I would like to Trade."
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
has taken me several months to post this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Something awful happened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happened when I first started working at the humane
society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was before I started
asking myself “What would Hawkeye do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before I realized that some people take a job for a title, not
passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A transaction that a
friend once teased me about us doing that we actually in fact do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to resist and say to my friend,
“No, we don’t do things like that.” But after this happened it turns out he was
right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We trade and swap animals
for people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like cars, or shoes,
or any other material item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Several
months ago we had a Hispanic couple come in searching for a new dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went on a visit with a very nice
dog by the name of Charlie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they were done visiting they told me, “Okay we are ready to trade in our dog
for this one.” Not batting an eye they just looked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stared back thinking, “What the
fuck?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But instead I said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ You want to trade in the dog? Like a
car?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their response was, “Yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
made the situation even worse was my manager’s response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outraged instead of just lying to them
and saying we don’t do that like I should of, I took the case to my boss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I showed him what these people wrote on
their surrender form, “There is nothing wrong with our dog, we just like the
other one better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to
trade.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked if we could please
make them wait a day or even a week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no policy that stops people from surrendering and
adopting in the same day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No.” he said. “We have to put our emotions
aside. This is the way those type
of people think.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First
of all, besides the racism behind his comment even if this is how a culture views
dogs it does not make it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One cannot state, “Oh it is my culture.” And then continue to cock or
dog fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But being open
admissions means we are open adoptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was at this response I truly stopped believing in the people I work
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was sad, but true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think after a certain point people
who work here either stop feeling or they never came here for the right reasons
in the first place. They came here to get that title: Executive Director,
Director of Operations or Shelter Manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren’t there for the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they did come for the animals, after a year or so they
become broken and cruelty washes over them like a wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even
though we are open admissions I don’t see why we can’t restrict adoptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A simple application would do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we don’t, because there are too many
dogs and cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s mind boggling
to get 20 cats in on the same day and you have no open kennels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my new coworkers just don’t get
it when they first arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get
the call from someone saying I have 10 cats I want to surrender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A coworker will look at me and say,
“But we have no open kennels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
we start doubling up?” My eyes say it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No room
means no life.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my bosses
believe that open adoptions is the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can’t help but see that it is part of the
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adopting out animals to
people who aren’t going to take care of them is not a solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a temporary fix to get animals
out of the shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years past and
the animals that went to bad homes either die of neglect or are returned for whatever
reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is being put down better
than a shitty owner? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the one
question I ask myself daily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On that day for that dog, I would of answered yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Owning an animal is not a right it is a privilege.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately not everyone sees it that
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to talk to a friend
yesterday who has worked there for a couple of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to me quite profoundly “Don’t you every feel like we
are the rats on the sinking ship who refused to jump. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every one else around us has jumped but
we insist that we can make it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
we can save the ship. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does
that say about us?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
am not really sure what it said about me that I have continued to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no respect for my boss. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some day this will cause me to
quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since this transaction
it has caused me to fight a little harder, to break the rules a little
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no backing from my
highest superior, so my coworkers and I have, when we can, make our own rules. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried bringing it up with the executive
director. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t want to see
this change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why they don’t change
this I am not sure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only guess
is because they don’t see it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
don’t deal with it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t
know the dog or cat or guinea pig. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are just animals in some abstract form or number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you change policy you
don’t like if your bosses don’t want to hear it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t follow it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And try
your best not get caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-87716160747777475782013-09-06T19:19:00.002-07:002013-09-06T19:19:18.014-07:00What would Hawkeye do?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I was a teenager I would often sneak out to the living room late at night
sometimes until 2AM to watch MASH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We only had one T.V. in the house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would wait for my parents to go to bed, which was just down
the hallway, in order to creep out and carefully switch on the T.V.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents probably knew I was up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think recognizing it wasn’t doing
me any harm besides losing some sleep, they let me get away with it for they
saw it was doing some good to the spirit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
loved MASH for several reasons. One, the male leads were, quite frankly,
hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like those stupid boys MTV kept
trying to make me have crushes on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second reason was because I admired Hawkeye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t care when he broke the rules.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just did what was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The army tried to punish him, he would
piss off his commander, and Frank Burns was always there to challenge him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t apart of the bureaucracy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just followed his conscience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many T.V. shows and movies try to
illustrate the high notion that one should damn all consequences to follow
their ethics, none did it more inspirational or believable as Hawkeye, Trapper,
and B.J. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
find myself at work almost daily stuck in a dilemma that pits me against what
my conscience tells me I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> do
and what my work tells me I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It usually takes places in
transactions that should be straightforward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, the other day I was doing a typical
surrender/return. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This woman and
her family had taken home a cat that did not get along with their dogs or
children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a very busy
household. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told them this cat
was not a good fit for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
insisted on adopting anyways because they liked the color of the cat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A week later they came back to return the
cat and adopt another one in the same day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I had time to even stop the words from coming out of
my mouth, I heard myself saying, “Oh sorry. We don’t do surrenders and
adoptions in the same day.” A blatant and utter lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t care and I didn’t correct myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let them walk out; hoping that they
wouldn’t come back and they wouldn’t talk to a supervisor about the situation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many
of my coworkers have taken similar stances on issues they feel as passionate
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recently have started to
charge for people to view their animal after it has been euthanized. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disgusting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now charging for people to say one final goodbye. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of yet, not one coworker on the
frontline has actually accepted payment for this service. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We simply refuse due to principle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
would Hawkeye do?” I find myself asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes rules need to be broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rules and policies don’t always make for the right course of action. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My coworkers and I see horrible careless
decisions being made regarding the life of so many animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we lie, coil, twist, and bend to
follow our morals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do it not
because we are righteous, but because we see animals degrade into depression,
insanity, and finally death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people would argue that this is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our work’s policies are there for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stepping in is not our place due to the fact that it’s
not our decisions to make. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
just might be right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is
not what Hawkeye taught me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last
week, I was dealing with a difficult situation regarding a woman adopting a chinchilla.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had just surrendered a guinea
pig because it was too much to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told my lead that we should probably stop this because a chinchilla is
significantly more work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would
not be successful for the chinchilla or the girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My lead told me to ignore it; to stop thinking about it and
just keep going on with the visit and the adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t stop it, she said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of listening to her, I interfered and opened my
mouth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found another supervisor
who was as outraged as me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
broke the rules and told them they couldn’t adopt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She plucked that chinchilla out of their hands and found her
own inner Hawkeye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her and I risked
getting into trouble. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was worth
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://i500.listal.com/image/4514645/500full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" id="irc_mi" src="http://i500.listal.com/image/4514645/500full.jpg" style="margin-top: 24px;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> We’re
not saving lives in Korea or in a war zone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The risks are much lower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to believe that Hawkeye existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there are people out there that
say no when their stomach turns on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ideals need to be fought for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If one cannot find the inner strength to stand up in situations so seemly
so small, Hawkeye, Trapper and B.J. will always just continue to exist within
the T.V. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that just isn’t good
enough for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-36050426682501414302013-08-31T07:21:00.001-07:002013-08-31T07:21:19.823-07:00Singularly Human
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
smell is the worst part of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is something primal that rises up within you, that tells you, “This
is bad.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t think about
the philosophical implications of death, the notion that something is gone
forever, no one can escape that corrupt ancient feeling when you smell death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you smell something decaying your
entire body is revolted by it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
instantly back up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You pause. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people want to throw up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The collective memory of our species
tells us this is something you should avoid at all cost. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps those who didn’t got exposed to more
diseases. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is the reptilian
portion of our brains telling us to stay alive because death is permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we are repulsed because we don’t quite
understand it and that is terrifying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the reason, I know when the freezer gets full and
makes the last half of our building smell, it makes our skin crawl. Everyone
avoids it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a silent fear that
creeps within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the animals’
spirits are crawling out of their bodies haunting us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only for the biohazardious reasons, but more so for the
peace of our own subconscious minds, we call to dispose of the animals immediately.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the unconscious mind that is
truly nauseated by being so near to death, by the actual discomposing of a
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
am not grossed out by anatomy, but rotting turns my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once opened a freezer bag with a dead
dog in it only to have its guts drop on my foot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That only made me change my cloths, not want to throw up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It simply was not as upsetting as when I
opened a bag with a dead cat in it that had been decaying for days in the
sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I broke open this bag maggots
came spilling out onto the floor and counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hadn’t frozen yet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like rice pellets they fell onto the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too fresh to complete my processing of
the animal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not the maggots
that made me sick, but the smell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
threw me back into a state that is singularly human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrapping up the cat, I put it back down into the freezer to
wait for it to be completely frozen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could deal with it then, perhaps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
don’t think many people think about the actual decaying process of a body. Most
people when we think of death, we think of the soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ponder where the conscious has gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While theses conversations need to be
had, there is something about actually seeing decomposition that brings a
person back to a time when there was no religion to comfort us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rotting is something man and beast
share alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Biologically we share
the same fate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is disgusting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that is why ancient man started
burring their dead, to avoid the smell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All I know is that I will not be able to eat rice for a very long time.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-33981835395606494592013-08-06T05:39:00.001-07:002013-08-06T05:39:32.146-07:00The Liars
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
is nothing more infuriating than being lied to face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It enrages me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To think that people believe they can’t
tell that we know they are full of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To think that they are just oh so clever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On occasion we have a person come in and drop off a
“stray”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From their demeanor we
can tell that this animal is theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is found in the way they look at the animal, hold it, and are reluctant
when we take it out of their arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They don’t want to attempt it is theirs because that would mean they
would have to go through the surrender process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking responsibility is too much for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What people often forget, at least with
cats and dogs, is the microchip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you are going to give up your pet as a “stray,” one should really remember that
when we trace the microchip we are going to discover it was your pet and we
will call you out on it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
lack of courage is found not only with the owners of cats and dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past week, I had an 18-year-old
girl come in with a huge rat cage saying that she found the rats as strays. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I asked her about it she said, “My
friend dropped them off in a box by my house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very drunk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked for the friend’s name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked for a phone number
or any information on this person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She couldn’t come up with any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked if they were at least Facebook friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I didn’t say it I thought, “But he knows where you live?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking the rats back as she filled out
the stray impound card, I was livid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare this little cheeky twat think she could lie to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Venting
to a coworker, I only grew angrier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t supposed to say anything negative to the customer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t supposed to question what
people tell us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are supposed to
just smile and say okay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I had
had it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I returned to the front,
calm and collected. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon entering
the lobby I was horrified to learn that she was visiting with a cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to her and asked, “Don’t you
need that big rat cage back for your rats?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hesitated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
eyes darted for just a moment and I knew with all certainty that she was lying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just had
that one hanging around from an old ferret.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stammered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“With
a water bottle, a rat wheel, and aspen hay in it?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um
yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned away
disgusted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was no way she was taking home this cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got one of my better supervisors who I knew would be as outraged as I
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My supervisor going in to
talk to her told her we needed the name of the friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then she could not visit with any
other animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going out to her
car she called several people for 20 minutes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Returning she gave us someone’s first name but not the last
name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We allowed her to go back on
the visit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, my supervisor
called this person and found out it was her sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 15 minutes of double-talk, the sister confessed it was
really both of their rats. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going
back into the visitation room with my supervisor I picked up the cat and gave
this little girl a hard fixed stare. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My supervisor informed her that we would not be adopting out
to her because of her dishonesty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
that we walked out without another word, cat and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cat merely meowed, having no clue as to his fate or
odds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lying
is a disgusting act that only cowards resort to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my coworkers and I sense the dishonesty the passion rises
up in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger is the appropriate
response. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It steers us into
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we may turn off
our apathy towards some people, I have never seen anyone be able to turn off
their anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank God. With anger
we become brave. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stand up and teeter
the line of getting in trouble because we were rude to a customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We force people to confront their
horrible acts and neglect towards the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot drop off an animal and replace it with another unfortunate
creature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rage within us won’t
allow it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t always catch
the people who try and do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
girl may have just gone somewhere else to get a cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one cat’s odds where changed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope for the better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I left that night he was still in his kennel, sleeping,
flicking his tail as cats will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His dice had been cast and he hadn’t had a word on the outcome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, he didn’t seem too bothered by
the day’s events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the fact
that he wasn’t, made all the difference, at least to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-39701296352052616032013-07-25T08:42:00.001-07:002013-07-25T22:26:15.948-07:00Sometimes death is a gift.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
do you know when to put your animal down? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is without a doubt, the hardest decision a pet owner
will have to make. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as it
pains me to see a person euthanize their pet, there are some people who cannot
make this decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contrary to
what one may think, this often leads my coworkers and I to judge that person
even harsher than if they had gone through with the euthanasia. This
may sound counterintuitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
can euthanasia to an animal lover be the right course of action? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, at the humane society, we often
see that this <i>is</i> the better course of action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People surrender animals we know will not pass our evaluations.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tell this to the customer but
they do not listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
once had a 13-year-old cat that was emaciated, incontinent, and simply put,
ready to die. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her owner could not
come to terms with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her this
animal would not pass our evaluations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be
more painful for the cat to have her sit in the kennel for several
days before our evaluation team could assess her than to put her down now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The merciful action was to euthanize
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, perhaps even better, let
her go home and die in her own time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, the person in front of me did not hear these words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner could not comprehend it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This family had too much sadness
already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a couple of
family members fall ill and as a result had some financial troubles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The consequence of people having poor
lives is that the animals suffer even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, although my heart went out to them, as one of my
coworkers stated, “Take a moment, deal with your shit, and get it together.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hard
decisions surround anyone who lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that you have to kill a creature you love very much
is just too unbearable for many to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> responsible
pet ownership though: knowing when you have offered them the best possible life
and now it is time to let them give up the ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can either let them pass in their own time or you can
end their suffering with a fatal injection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is much better of an action than surrendering them to a
humane society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word
euthanasia in Greek means “good death.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No person I have ever met would want to go to prison for several days
away from everything they have ever known, separated from their family, get
led into a dark small room that smells of death, get injected with fatal plus,
and then buried with the other carcasses in the landfill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the outcome is still the same, why
put your animal through the first horrifying part of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people who surrender their pets believe we can heal
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when the front desk
clerk tells you there is no hope for your pet because he is simply too old, too
aggressive, or beyond care, then you as the owner must take that burden on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not pass it off to someone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
my dog got sick this past year, we asked the vet for an estimation on the cost
for our different options. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
list was euthanasia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I could
not heal him, I would certainly put him out of his suffering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
death is a gift. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the right
time to give this gift is, however, is something that no one will ever be able to tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who cannot make this decision, I
find, lack courage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That statement
is full of judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I see sick
and dangerous animals sit in kennels for several days and I know what their
outcome will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sit there scared,
hurt, and wanting nothing more than to go home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they will not get another home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their owners did not give them a quiet
end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead they chose to have
their animal wait; to simply sit and have false hope of walking out. Confused.
Wanting love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not understanding
what is going on around them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is not fair to the animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not fair to the people who work there. These owners pass off their guilt onto another person, not having the gull to face the decision. 'Coward' just doesn't seem like a big enough word. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
can death ever be the answer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
all life must die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man is not God
and yet we find ourselves with the opportunity to play that role. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not fair that life must end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it does. And someone a lot wiser than me once said, “And
that’s what makes it beautiful.” </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-29420817624295399372013-07-12T08:03:00.002-07:002013-07-12T08:10:06.446-07:00Unmasking a Man's Character <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Every
now and then I do a transaction that makes my heart burst with joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so rare, I can really only
remember two, maybe, three times it has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It catches me by stock and surprise when it happens, truly
leaving me speechless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At work, I
am ready to argue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ready to
be yelled at. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> ready for is gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True appreciation that comes from the
heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who know what is at
stake. Who realize they messed up and are dreading the consequences of their
actions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who understand if
something has happened to their lost pet, they will feel very guilty whether it
was truly their fault or not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
other day I had a women come in 10 minutes to closing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came bursting in, frantic looking
for her ancient lost beagle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing
that she was coming in, I knew which dog was probably hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had to be at least 15 years old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blind, deaf, thin and worn, if no owner
was going to come for this dog, he would be euthanized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old dogs make me the saddest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are dropped off here and no one
comes to reclaim, they don’t get a second chance, even if physically they could
probably live for a year or two more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When they are surrendered the outcome is almost always the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the old strays some are dumped
because the owners don’t want to pay for the increase in cost as their pet has
gotten older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other old dogs just
wonder off, confused in their old age and their owners never come looking. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
this old beagle, he did have an owner who loved him very much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came in crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As cold as it sounds, after a while you
stop letting tears affect you. Compassion fatigue runs deep with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, if you want to make it
here longer than a month when people start crying, our emotions turn off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially when we know that same
person who is crying once they hear that there are fees to get their animal
out, suddenly isn’t so grateful, but instead starts screaming at us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are no longer happy to have found
their lost pet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are outraged
at the system. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are hollering
at the injustice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare they
pay for someone to have picked up their pet, feed it, given it medical attention,
and made sure it was safe?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Asking
to see a picture of the dog before we headed back, she stumbled on her phone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flipping to one, she showed me the same
tired old beagle that had yelped when I tried to vaccinate him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay,” I said and lead her back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Showing her the beagle she burst into
even more tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then without
any warning she turned around and gave me a huge hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart warmed and turned into a gabbing smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Was she really that grateful?” I
thought. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes. Yes she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even after telling her she would have to
pay $96 to get her dog back, she tossed me her credit card and said “I don’t
care. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just charge it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I just won’t be going out to
eat for the next couple of months.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I stared at her. Stocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giddy almost. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally someone who all they truly cared
about was getting their beloved old friend back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this woman, her dog was not just any old dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Tanner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tanner was a beagle that she got 15
years ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tanner had been hiking
with her, seen her kids born, and had a funny howl when he wanted to go for a
walk. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tanner was irreplaceable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This dog was not a possession but a
living member of her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
remarkable woman understood that if Tanner was not here, the risk of death
increased exponentially for an older dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Death she saw would have been final. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never to be recovered from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never being able to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one </i>dog again she recognized was much
worse than paying $96. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
the paperwork was signed, and the money paid, I went back to the kennel to get
Tanner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared up howling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What a lucky pup.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lead him back to his owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joyfully he jumped directly into her arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walked out happily together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanking me several more times before
they left, I rejoiced in the fact that our purpose was acknowledge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had saved a life and more than that
we had reunited a family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Often
at the shelter, we see so many appalling owners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget that out in our community there are fantastic pet
owners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our perspective is skewed because
those people don’t let their animals get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are responsible and know how to keep their animals in
their backyard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gates will always
fly open because of the wind. A lab will always be able to jump a fence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A border collie will always get bored
and wonder off the range. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
is the risk of being a dog owner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How people value their animals when it comes time to reclaim
is always reflective of that person’s character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I was recently on vacation, my husband had the idea of checking out a local
humane society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up not
going just because our time got cut short. But he said something to me that
took me back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said someone once
said, “The only true measure of a man’s greatness is how he treats his
animals.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband’s point was
that while this place seemed wonderful, only their local humane society would unmask
the character of the people who lived there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This measure indicates compassion, empathy, dignity, and to
some degree wealth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although you
don’t have to be rich to be kind, you do have to have some means to care for an
animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t afford to pay
for an animal, you should admit it is not your right to own that animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are good people out there, who
treat their animals not like disposable waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other day, my heart sung with joy to witness this in my
community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been other
people who are grateful, but nothing compares to this one woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transactions like this stick to my heart
like glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives me courage to
keep showing up each day just waiting for the next time I can sing with elation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eiIXSckuBZk/UeAcKqOUUMI/AAAAAAAAAEc/LCw0jrkb3hQ/s1600/06-04-02Kaitlin(056)face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eiIXSckuBZk/UeAcKqOUUMI/AAAAAAAAAEc/LCw0jrkb3hQ/s320/06-04-02Kaitlin(056)face.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a Tired Old Beagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-79467613090782830922013-07-04T12:28:00.000-07:002013-07-04T12:28:04.233-07:00Saying Goodbye to You
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Someone
really wise once said, “Great friends are made when you go through war with
them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it’s not war, but on
a lot of days it feels like triage, at the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very grateful for the friends I have made in the time
working at the humane society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
see a lot of shit together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together
we loose our faith in humanity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
keep clinging on together hoping that the ship still has a chance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On most days I hear my coworkers say,
“What the fuck?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On other days I
see them cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On really hard days we go out, get
drunk, and scream to the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes it is really something quite simple that makes us turn our
heads. Yesterday my coworker was filing a lost report. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she asked the gentlemen what the
color of his dog was, he paused, looked at her, and said, “I don’t know.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you not know the color of our
own dog?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People
who work at shelters are different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A lot of them have a fantastic sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ironic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People who deal with such sadness all day you would think would be
pretty depressed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the most
part we are a happy lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
us come there trying to figure out our course in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some trying to find their careers, a
couple that just need a job, others searching for the best possible way for
them to achieve some good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite
why staff members come, what they walk out with is so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some would call it cynicism but I see
it differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Innocence is lost
in place of a new wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
not blind to what people are capable of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cruelty is a reality we live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still, it makes us shine that much brighter when we see good done in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing death and sadness
weaves some good into a person’s soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It makes us inexplicitly happy when someone brings us cupcakes, it makes
us sing out loud when a good song comes on the radio, it makes us dance at
closing time, and it makes us high five one another when the sun comes
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes us calm when there
is a moment of peace and nothing is happening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
while back I read a book about the way dogs live. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author of the book simply followed her pet dog around and
observed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her conclusion was
that all dogs want is to lay on the side of a hill in the warm sun and have
nothing happening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love to
explore and go on walks, sure, but they aren’t restless like a lot of people
can become on a quiet afternoon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
just appreciate the silence for what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to think that conclusion was silly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who wouldn’t love a grand adventure? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, now, I see my dog across the
living room floor, sleeping in the sun, and I know he is at peace because there
is so much worse that could be happening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This understanding brings dogs that have good homes
tranquility much like the author noted in her book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
working at the humane society, my coworkers and I see what life is like for the
animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witnessing this turmoil
builds within us that same respect for simple uninterrupted quiet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen way too many people leave
this job. Good people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be
very hard to say goodbye to someone who has wrapped up a dead dog or cat with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who has fought beside you to
argue with your boss why certain people shouldn’t take home a specific
animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who have risked getting
written up because we are following our sense of what is right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see terrible decisions regarding the
outcome of so many animals and share that same sense of helplessness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
my coworkers now leave this job, I can’t help but think they are merely the old
dogs in the book purely yearning for a sunny hillside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life filled with the absence of
chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know it’s still there
somewhere out in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have seen it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They return home
from their long journey never to truly be the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, they can now simply lie in the grass peacefully having learned
just a little wisdom from our friends the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-88842960837199189702013-06-16T20:09:00.000-07:002013-06-16T20:09:14.385-07:00Tripping Over Death
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People
are horribly selfish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially
when it concerns their own children. They do it in the name of making their
children better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From an outsider’s
perspective it would appear that they are doing exactly the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a shame what parents teach their
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I had a woman come
in to return a cat she adopted several months ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name was Teddy, an orange tabby. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very sweet and loving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the paperwork she wrote, “It’s not
fair to my son to keep this cat.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I inquired upon this further she said, “My son keeps pulling on the cat’s tail.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rolls on top of him and even
will bite his tail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t
want my son in trouble all the time. It’s not fair to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looked up from the form stared her
straight in the face and said, “Or to the cat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked back, blinked, and uttered, “Oh. Well that too. I
just don’t want to keep punishing him.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it too much for parents to teach their kids to be
kind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be gentle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I looked at her, I couldn’t help but
think with sorrow, “I can only imagine what he will do to his future wife.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
make matters worse, half way through the surrender she told me she thinks the
cat has ringworm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ringworm in a
shelter environment is not treatable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an airborne disease and as such in a shelter can spread
rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t control it so
even though people can easily treat their pets in their homes, in a shelter
these animals are euthanized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I heard that the cat had ringworm, I told her if our vets confirmed the cat had
ringworm he would be euthed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That’s fine.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at her in almost wonderment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what universe is that fine? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her mind she made the decision that it
is better to kill this cat than punish her child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The selfish gene at its best. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hearing
her words doom this cat, I let one of my coworkers finish the paperwork. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrapping myself in PPE I picked up the
cat out of the visitation room and carried him back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited in the hallway for the vet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just waiting is unbearably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she finally came she determined we
would black light him in the euth room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Using a black light is a quick test for ringworm).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrying the cat into the euth room I
almost tripped over a dead dog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was shocked to enter upon them doing the list. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such an ugly word in a shelter: list. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be listed means to be put to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list is all the animals that have
to be euthanized in one day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
the summer coming it has gotten very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no more room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hate the list.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Stepping
around the dead dog, I sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Betty. A pit bull. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweet
when she first got here but being here over three weeks has caused her to
become aggressive with other dogs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was no longer safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I handed over the cat telling the euth team the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left Teddy there waiting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rubbed up against the kennel bars
purring wanting out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanting affection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There just doesn’t seem to be enough
love in the world on some days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This cat was offering his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no one was listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked back up to the front to
plaster a big sign on the visitation room that read, “DO NOT USE.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman still finishing the paperwork stared
at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cursed her with my
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
just can’t deal with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing
my son suffer.” Those were her words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She never stopped to think how the cat <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">felt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>How <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i> might want to live. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in today’s modern world animals do
not feel to many people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
just controlled by instinct. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
insist that we are “higher.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
we are not flesh and meat, not animals, something greater. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have purpose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What instinct is we cannot define. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet it is there controlling their minds.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow feelings got magically put
into us, but not other creatures. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
treat animals as we do, they must not feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeffrey Masson
and Susan McCarthy said it best, “How can we be gods if animals are like us?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others who are distinct and separate
from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They live in the wild. Not
in civilization. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They live below
us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God didn’t make them in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his </i>image. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will always take a back set because we insist that we
are mighty gods. If I may say
so, I think God would be truly pissed at this conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
you learned in the eyes of God you were no different than a mouse would you be
hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people would be outraged
at such a humiliating question. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
others they would be proud, believing the mouse to have more virtue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free of sins. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But mice eat their children, fight for territory, rape each
other, and all-in-all play out all the same dramas of life as we do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How devastating would it be for this
child if he every learned he was just meat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For any of us to learn that? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
don’t believe that we are just dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither the others nor us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are constantly fighting for our children, for our genes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But maybe in our pursuit of godliness
we can see even gods need the companion of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soul is turned into greatness when we see beyond
ourselves and recognize the glimmer of life in another’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this mother she will never go
beyond seeing her child as a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Piety. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it just goes
to prove she is no better than a mouse. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-57030877027229560992013-06-10T07:52:00.000-07:002013-06-10T14:55:03.330-07:00To have a pet? Or not have a pet?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
earlier stories I wrote of pit bulls reminds me of another dilemma; how does
one decide if one can afford if they can have a pet? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week I had a girl come in to look at
an extraordinarily large pit bull/mastiff mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was very excited about the dog and
after meeting with him had to run to borrow some money for the one hundred
dollar adoption fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were going
through the paperwork, I told her there would be an additional $12
license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her she could put
it on her credit card, but she said her cards were maxed out due to her paying
some bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said she would
look in her car for change and when she came back in she had a very large
plastic bag full of pennies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
spilled them out over the counter and proceeded to count every one of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To her dismay she only had $2.06.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat there not knowing what to say
next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awkward silence followed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cleared my throat and simply said, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There
isn’t anything I can do. The dog must be licensed.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pretended to play on her phone a little while and then
got up and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to tell
her, that she probably couldn’t afford this dog if she cannot pay for the $12
license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this situation made
me think, “How does one decide if they can afford an animal?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this woman, it’s hard for me to
believe that she could afford food for this large dog let along vet bills. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My personal guideline has always been,
good quality food (Blue Buffalo), annual vet bills, and enough money for a trip
to the emergency room once per year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But what kind of emergency? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
past year I was faced with this very problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my dogs ate something that could have been
potentially lethal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking him to
the emergency room the vet quoted us, to start with, a $1,000 over night
stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I swallowed,
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not willing to take him home
and just watch him die we put the charge on our credit card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vets the next morning informed us
that he would have to stay hospitalized for at least three days for his kidneys
to repair themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, we
swallowed hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the vets
wanted to see our little dog live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They pooled their own money together to help us pay the cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With their help we didn’t take out any
loans or have to sign up for care credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of compassion, our dog lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first realized he ate some pills we right away set a
budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I love my
animals, I cannot go broke because of them and I think most people feel the same
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dog and I were extremely
lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to pull
through this emergency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if the
bills had gone any higher, I know we just simply did not have the money to
cover it. Other people have
the means to push that line even further. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They give their dogs kiMo, hip replacements or even knee
surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could afford
this for my animals, but I know deep down, that I could not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does this mean I should not have my
dogs? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
all have our limits as to what we can pay for our animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is that line that states some
people just simply cannot afford to have a dog? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That owning a dog or a pet is a privilege not a right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as I think about this I recall very
brave dogs that live with homeless people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These dogs are these peoples’ sole protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories persist of homeless people dying
and their dogs sleeping on top of their cadavers to protect them even in
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bite unwanted groping
hands, they growl to scare strangers away, and they bark to alert their owners
of danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do not leave for a
better life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t break away
and run to find some comfy sofa to sleep on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
dogs didn’t choose that life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
certainly must love their owners though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
I wonder what the dogs would have to say about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they give
up being a homeless dog, to live somewhere where they would have a hip
replacement when they are 8 and live until they are 14? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or to them, is the devotion and companionship
they share with that one person more powerful than security? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard not to imagine that the former is not what they
would choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But love is powerful
and friendships eternal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s in
a dog’s heart, I cannot say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
their capacity for love makes it difficult not to believe that they would do
anything only to be loved in return. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-77693403463803271332013-05-28T20:03:00.003-07:002013-05-28T20:03:57.628-07:00Is Killing in the Euth Room the Same as Eating a Chicken Sandwich?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People
who work at my humane society often get into debates about euthanasia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are exposed to death way too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a meeting regarding euthanasia
one of my coworkers stated, “They should just call it the death society.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But depressing that she sees her job in this light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can almost predict when she will quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen way too many people, good
people, leave this job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All had
very good reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a month
ago we had a new person start up front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we went to the preserve freezer and I pulled out a dead cat, I saw
her face turn green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately
stopping, I asked her, “How much experience have you had with death?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When her response was none, I knew she
wouldn’t make it the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying
to comfort her I said, “Don’t worry if you every feel uncomfortable just grab
one of us and we’ll do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are many days when I can’t go back here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was gone by
weeks end. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
new person who recently started working there has refused all together to be
certified to do euthanasia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I,
myself, also do not wish to be certified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have held plenty of times, but as one of our newly certified staff
members has stated, “Holding and injecting are two entirely different
things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To refuse this certification
means he could be fired. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in
his job description that he must do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, for whatever reason, he cannot find the cause or structure within himself to do such acts. A different coworker of mine finds his decisions
almost revolting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has to be
certified as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were
talking about it, she refused to offer him any kind of leeway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to stand up for him saying in
the euth room you go beyond confronting death; you have to deal with the fact
that you just killed something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
called this hypocritical for as she sees it, killing an animal in the euth room
is no different than eating a chicken sandwich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
it is much different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I kill
a chicken, (although someone else far away does my butchering) I do it because
I need to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people would
argue that eating beans or peanuts could offer just as much protein but there
are a lot of doctors who would argue otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in any case, killing something because you are taking
part in the natural food chain is not wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a reason why we say grace before we eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps those who don’t are just
disconnected to what is in front of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not blind to think that something else died for me to
have a meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had the money I
would live on my own farm and raise my own meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would give them wonderful lives until their purpose brings
them to their end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
euth room is completely different. The people doing the injection often times are not the
people who made the decision to put the animal down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The euthanasias are not unjustified, but killing a cat or
dog in American culture often seems very unnatural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes otherwise fantastic dogs that are just scared and
need time are put down because of space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We simply do not have the resources to train dogs to not be aggressive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cats that are good but
just aren’t adjusted to people are killed because we don’t want them spreading
diseases to our own pets or over populating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want dogs that attack people or other animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, when these animals die, even
though we know it had to be done, there seemingly is no larger purpose at play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t use their bodies to get nutrition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t serve us as guardians
or protectors or companions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are just gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he person who
is certified has to justify that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has to confront that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes they feel okay about it and can see they were making our
community better, safer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But other
times, it feels so far removed that they can no longer understand the reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Animal
lovers come to work at this job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is extremely difficult when we are faced with the idea that not all animals
should live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people quit and
leave and someday I will too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the mean time though, we offer what we can to the living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hug them, name them, offer them
treats. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will always argue about
the euth room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is good that we
do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Debates challenge our assumptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my own part though, I very much
intend on to continue eating chicken sandwiches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-70872604539346908082013-05-21T08:16:00.001-07:002013-05-21T08:16:38.724-07:00Mercy, Please
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
really do not understand why some people treat animals as if they are
replaceable. Their mentality is simple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a dog; that dog there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting right in front of me. And if he goes, there is
another dog sitting right by him that can trade places with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has no personality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No mind of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No quirks and no certainly no self. He
is a thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such as a table or chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Objects that are to be moved around to
fit one’s lifestyle as it changes. Never considering how the chair or table
might feel about the change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
just merely go about their lives figuring that if that dog goes it wouldn’t
mind much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t care if it
lives or dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly it cannot
feel pain and has no concept of it being alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just there staring back at you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more of a soul than a rock. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
see this mindset when people come in looking for their pet after it has been
missing for several weeks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course there are those people who never come looking for their animal and
people who come crying because they are distraught that their beloved pet has
gone missing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet there is a
particular breed of person who not only looks for their old possession, but for
a new one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new hat to be tried
on, a new pair of shoes to go with their outfit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take them to look through our dog strays and they
look through the kennels at each one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really hopeful, but more in a browsing fashion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the question emerges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t think my dog is here, can’t I just take that one home?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No concern that their dog got hit by a
car or froze in the cold. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look
at them puzzled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for a
smile that surely means they are kidding, trying to break the somewhat awkward
and guilty feeling rising within them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Uh,
well. No.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mumble out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
just that our dog has been gone for a week and I don’t have any hope for him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That lab there, he looks pretty cool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll just take him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sigh, knowing they are serious this
time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot just take one of these
dogs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are dogs waiting for
their owners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting out their
stray periods.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what the
company would like me to say next. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would like me to say, “But you can see our adoptable
dogs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are full and even bad
owners have to be better than the euth room, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But instead letting my emotions take the better of me I say,
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog is not here then we
have no dogs for you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can escort
you out or file a lost report but that is really all I can do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t want to file a lost report. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lead them out holding the door open,
glade to seem them gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I do
the right thing? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other people came
in and our adoptable dogs went out, as they should. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space was made available by some good people and others that
will have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
would love to say that I exaggerated this conversation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs
and cats even though they are amazing life that once lost cannot be substituted,
are as it turns out, to many people replaceable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow all I can imagine when people now walk through our dog
stray room or the adoption floor are the dogs quietly whispering, “Mercy, please. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a pair of shoes.” </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-31463757782809286222013-05-13T07:28:00.004-07:002013-05-13T07:34:09.941-07:00“I hope today is kind.”<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> This above statement is so simple. It is filled with such innocence. “I hope today is kind.” The first words out of one of my
coworker’s mouth this morning. Tragedy
surrounds us. It absorbs us. The people who walk in don’t always see
it. Almost every day we have
someone come in to reclaim his or her dog. There are fees that go along with getting your animal back
healthy and safe. It can get very
expensive. People don’t seem to
think it cost money to pay people to feed their animals, clean up after them,
and make sure they are medically okay.
A majority of people get irate when they have to pay. They make a scene, cry out, and yell at
us for the injustice. But about
once a week there is an unfortunate person who doesn’t get the chance to yell
at us because they are in shock that their pet died. Cars hit cats and dogs too. This is a very simple sentence that no one thinks
about. It is not pretty. Their faces fall off. Their guts drop out. People come in to find their missing
property that they loved so much.
It’s not just a marketing gimmick when humane societies say they save
lives. If dogs
weren’t brought in, many of them would not make it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
unfortunate person has a terrible experience in front of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take them to look through all the dogs
we have in the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
matches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go up front to look in
the computer at the deceased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There in front of my face is a match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask about sex, breed, color, location, anything to distinguish
this animal. Everything lines up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
get the death book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lifting the
pages I show them a picture of their once beloved pet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have seen strong people, grown men break down and cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same man who on the phone was upset
when I told him if the dog was here there would be fees to get his dog out is
now crying in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to
be snarky, but we both wish he was yelling at me instead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
hope today is kind.” We mumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hope today someone realizes that their life is not the only one worth
living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope today people come
to see how precious life is; how short it can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I know when I go into work tomorrow there will be someone
peeved at me because they have to pay to get their animal out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To receive a healthy happy animal cost
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some jackass who says, “Hey
dude should I pay $80 to get my cat?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have to ask that question because you’d rather spend the money on
something else, then the answer should be no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But animals in society are property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Property that they have the right to destroy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“I hope today is kind.” We utter under our breaths.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
once refused an owner request for euthanasia because the animal was perfectly healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told the customer that they could
surrender the animal but we do not do euthanasia for healthy animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are supposed to do euthanasia for anyone who requests it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The logic being we are preventing over
population and dumping of animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, my conscience would
not allow it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was discussing it with a
coworker I told her, “What a shitty situation.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her response was, “Is it?!!?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her point being the people we adopt out to, a lot of the
time, suck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t care. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animal really isn’t in any better circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have just changed hands to be neglected
once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My reaction at first
was complete horror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet she
raises a good question: Is death better than a shitty owner? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like to think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With bad owners there is always a chance that you may in the
future get a better one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
death there is no hope. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
hate it when people glorify death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with religion is that we are waiting and praising
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we exalt something that we have
no proof of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with
believing in an afterlife (especially in the case of animals) is that it gives
you less cause to fight for the living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The life that
is in front of you now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives
you an excuse to say, “It’s okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His soul is living on.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am not saying I don’t believe in any kind of thereafter, I am just stating the
problem it can have on peoples’ mentality. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“I hope today is kind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray silently. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Many
of my coworkers are not ready to give animals the status of people in society. For the most part I agree with them. Yet, I simply do not understand why animals
have to be given the status of “humans” by society for us to protect them. It has gotten a lot better as the years
have gone by. In many cites you
now have Animal Protection and Control Units. In large part, it is the way we think that has to
change. Many people believe they have a right to own and control an
animal’s fate. Even if
people have control, I do not think God intended us to have absolute power to do as we wish. Perhaps animals are not humans. Maybe we are “higher.” But that does not mean God has forgotten
his other creatures and has forsaken them of His love. It’s odd how people use religion to pardon
their blame in death and use it to make themselves feel better but do not use
it as a rally cry to protect God’s most absolute gift: life. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-63679376048623615042013-05-06T17:25:00.002-07:002013-05-06T20:08:14.318-07:00What is in a Name?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Scholars
have debated if a name dictates who a person becomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you give your daughter the name Candy does that mean she
will become a stripper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you give your son the name Richard, does it mean he will be brave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many parents take great time in
selecting a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A name that will
suit their child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how do you
go about picking a name for an infant that for all intents and purposes has no personality
yet? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents pick names that they
believe are unique and fit the vision they have for that child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the same true for animals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see a lot of bad names come through
the shelter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs who don’t come
from the best circumstances often carry names like Demon, Beast, Trouble,
Naughty, Mistake, Dog, or Lucifer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can a name dictate a dog’s behavior? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
people believing that their dog is just a “Dog” or is the devil certainly do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs, just like people, have a tendency
to reflect their names because of the conditions they come out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I first started shelter work someone told me when stray animals would come in,
“Give it a name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It adds something
to their spirit.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A name gives a
creature that merely is “just a dog” a persona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A chance at
being referred to in conversation as a self not a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personalization causes attachment and I
think makes shelter workers fight that much harder for the cats and dogs that
come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I work now we don’t give names to
the strays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t name them
until after they have been evaluated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At first I thought this was depriving the animal of something; one thing
that was missing from their essence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet after working there several months, I now realize it is to protect
the workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you fall in love
with a dog and then later in the evaluations he shows to be aggressive towards
other dogs, it is very hard to put down Teddy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it’s not so hard to put down that husky who is
aggressive with other dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A
name is something so small yet it gives people their identity. The same may, in part, be true for
animals. It gives love and life to
an otherwise disregarded beast. Instead of being apart of the collective, it
makes individuals. Perhaps that’s
why even though we all know it’s hard on our own spirits, my coworkers and I
silently name each animal that comes in.
We never speak of this practice, but it’s done. Attachments are formed. Hearts are crushed. Still, at least for a little while, the
stray dog that comes to us is not "just a dog,” he’s someone and that is very
special for person and animal alike. </span><!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-80521056247525680482013-04-29T18:26:00.002-07:002013-04-29T18:26:50.964-07:00Friday is the Day We Deal with Death
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have no statistical proof or theory as to why this is, but Friday seems to be
the day we deal with death. Maybe it has something to do with it being the
end of the week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t
have an explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do
know is that on Friday we deal with more surrenders and request for euthanasia then
any other day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Friday in the
first hour we had six surrenders going on and two requests for euthanizes at
the same time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Society” by Eddie Vedder
played in the background popping up on my coworker’s Pandora causing peoples’
tears to fall like rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Society you crazy
breed. I hope you’re not lonely without me.” –</i>Eddie keeps singing on.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> Even
though I am often harsh on people, there are those whose hearts break like
glass when they have to turn their animals over. Those who surrender because
they lost their homes, have no money, have had a death or medical illness
overcome the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their lives
are broken and now they are forced to give up a part of their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also those who make the
decision that their pet should no longer live, that living would be crueler than
the alternative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
girl in particular has stuck with me these past few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her beloved companion, a 15-year-old
Boston was suffering from cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
dog’s owner, a 21-year-old girl, came with her mother to do what needed to be
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cradled her dog, crying,
whispering into her ear saying everything would be okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mom signed over the paperwork explaining
to me what was wrong with the dog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl waited in one of our visitation rooms for the
appointed hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the paperwork
was finished we give people as much time as they need to say good-bye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they weep over their loss, we
wait outside the glass window like undertakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wait silently as the people in the lobby room stare,
sensing the tragedy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
cannot help but feel like the grim reaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the death coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are the person who leads the dog or cat back, it is
as if death is using you to achieve its goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, logic tells you that it is more merciful to put
this animal down than to let it live but being a part of that process is an
entirely different experience than just knowing theoretically it is a suitable
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does one even know
what the right thing is when it comes to such a morally grey area such as
death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Society tells us that we are doing the
proper procedure and when we stare at the animal our hearts goes out to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely this suffering must end. But
death is not quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not gentle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The process of dying is not peaceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how one goes about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting in the euth room
holding, watching, injecting, we cry, shudder, and laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
offer people a viewing after their pet has been put down, one final moment to
say good-bye. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not allow them
to be present during the process. Unlike at the vet’s office where one can pay
hundreds of dollars for euthanasia, at a humane society the animals are not always
put to sleep beforehand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
come here because it is cheap. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a reason why it’s cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grab a leg, get a vein and inject the fatal liquid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose it’s quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animal shutters, collapses and is
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A needle is injected into
the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it stops moving,
death has come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
people do a viewing they usually follow an almost preset conversation. They sit
staring at their lost pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
girl held her Maggie and through tears she muttered, “At least you are out of
pain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were the best dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mother trying to comfort her said, “It’s okay her soul
is gone now. It wasn’t painful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It was painful though!” My heart screams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps not as painful as dying of
cancer, but it wasn’t painless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
these are the words we say to make ourselves feel better, because death never
feels right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the actions
we take because we cannot stand to see pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the dog rather have died at home in her own time? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one will ever have the correct answer
to this question. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t write
these thoughts down to judge people who euthanize their pets or because I think
this girl did what was wrong by her dog, I am merely recounting what has
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the grand scheme of
things, this girl did what was best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow knowing that there is no longer life in the absence of suffering
offers me little solace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Games of
Thrones had it right though, Death is a God and all we can shout is “Not Today!”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-19398486306512586122013-04-23T07:17:00.000-07:002013-04-23T07:17:19.167-07:00Giggling Little Girl
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Sorry there was no post last week. We had an emergency in the family. It has finally started to resolve itself, so today was the first day I have had a chance to hop on my blog. I hope you enjoy the following story!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
moments that make me absolutely beam with joy at the humane society are when
there is a perfect match between animal and human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost magical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can see it in the people’s faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That look that they cannot leave without this animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That particular animal because they
have touched something deep within that person’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instant love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because the animal was necessarily
the cutest or the youngest, but because on some level these two living
creatures have connected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
connection is contagious and everyone can see it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
had a moment like that this past week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was right before closing when we had an older father and his seven-year-old
daughter come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He politely
asked if he could visit with the guinea pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought we closed an hour later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally we would grumble and say, “Okay
but we are closing in 5 minutes so you will have to decide quickly.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike what most people think, we do
have lives and after a 9-hour day we do want to go home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this specific man had someone very
special with him: his seven-year-old girl. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she saw the guinea pigs, she squealed with delight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently they had already built a
large cage and had been just waiting for some to go up for adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gentleman told his girl that they
were going somewhere very special tonight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a surprise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being convinced that they were going to McDonalds, the girl was
shocked when they rolled up to our doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As our rules dictate, we had to set them up on a visit before they could
adopt them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my absolute joy, I
picked up both guineas and placed them in the room with the little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started giggling and laughing and
simply, as only children can do, whom are not self-conscience of others
watching, she began to have an entire conversation with the two pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told them all about how they would
come home, live in a fantastically large cage, and have tea parties. She named them
Chocolate and Oink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dad left
the room to do the paperwork, but we could still hear her chattering away to
not just a couple of pets but two new best friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kids
have a unique way of seeing animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They see them as equals. As if they are only their stuff animals that
have now come to life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids
haven’t realized yet that they are “just animals.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hold them as if they are something precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They talk to them as if they understand
every word. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, children
treat animals not as something below them, but as another friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imaginary dragons, make believe
princesses, and mysterious lands all exist, so why can’t the animals just be
another companion that one meets along the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To a child, animals can talk, they can go on phenomenal
adventures, and they are whole beings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some how when we grow up and learn animals can’t really talk
and they don’t quite have the same capacities as us, we convince ourselves they
don’t feel the same way either. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
only more kept on believing in magical escapades maybe the animals would fare a
little better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
this seven-year-old, she brought home two new buddies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never to be discarded, only to be loved.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked out the door still
chattering to them in their little boxes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Telling them everything would be okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only imagine what kinds of
adventures they have been on since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t help but picture two guineas dressed up in Barbie clothes
drinking fake tea, eating bits of apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think the guineas mind though, for the girl is probably in as of
equally a ridiculous princess costume as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tjMikdU1x8/UXaXgo4PLNI/AAAAAAAAADs/z5HPd-yL4Jw/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tjMikdU1x8/UXaXgo4PLNI/AAAAAAAAADs/z5HPd-yL4Jw/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-66517815673343198452013-04-08T07:19:00.001-07:002013-04-08T07:19:35.077-07:00A Pit Bull by Any Other Name
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Why
is it that some breeds just attract certain types of people? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Labs attract families, border collies attract
people who want something fancy and pit bulls attract people who want to appear
tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know stereotypes have a
role to play, but pit bulls always seem to get the worst of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many perspectives on pit
bulls; many large cities have bans against them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been shown in temperament studies to be more
aggressive towards other dogs and fiercely protective of their owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a shelter environment, we call this,
“highly reactive.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemingly
have a high prey drive, but then so again do Huskies
and German Shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, at
the humane society it is the pit bull that draws the most irresponsible people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When every a pit bull goes up for
adoption, we at the front desk dread the visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try and explain their personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Pits, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to be the dominant one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You must give them direction and obedience training, otherwise you will
have an uncontrollable dog with triggers for aggression that you do not understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This combination of bad owners and raw
disposition breeds unpredictability; which by in large, makes a community
unsafe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since cities cannot force
people to train their dogs or assert themselves, your only real option left is
restrict the breed itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dog bred to bait bears and later for
dog fighting needs good people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
pit bull from a humane society is like a foster child straight
out of juvie that craves structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not the dogs themselves that are the problem but rather years of unregulated
breeding and rotten owners that have created a breed in a state of chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.atlkingpits.com/assets/images/Layla12232007029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.atlkingpits.com/assets/images/Layla12232007029.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="256" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">An Example of a Blue Pit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Several
examples come to mind when I speak of pit bulls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was a beautiful blue pit bull by the name of
Norman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a pure bred pit, rippling
with muscles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His ears stood erect
alert at everything he heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
gaze was fixed, focused, and ready to be told what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one coworker put it, “He was a
beast.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
he was put up for adoption, he went through the normal process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a week, he found someone who
adored him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought Norman was
an amazing creature that he must have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He adopted him on the spot not giving it a second thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two days later, Norman came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His new wonderful owner had taken him
over to a friend’s place to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The friend had a cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norman started out friendly enough, playing with the cat,
mouthing it gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the cat ran,
stirring up in Norman his prey drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chasing after the cat, he grabbed hold and shook until the cat no longer
moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bad
owners cause violent situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Didn’t this person ever hear of the stories as a child of the dog who
chased the cat? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True cats and dogs
can be great friends, but some dogs simply see them as something to run after. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No different then a squirrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who brings a dog they have not trained
yet over to a friend’s house that has a cat and just allows them to interact? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before that dog went anywhere with other
animals, his owner should of taught him how to “leave it” and know that he
could break his dog’s prey drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
second example is a poor dog by the name of Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry also was a magnificent pit bull. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stood tall, his red and white coat
glistening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got adopted to a
hippy lady who, following the ways of Caesar, wanted to create a “pack”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She already had two tiny Chihuahuas whom she had spent a great deal of time training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Henry’s paperwork we put a waiver
on him stating that he had a high prey drive, meaning that something like a Chihuahua
he might find amusing to chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
particular woman did not care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
she put it, she “Trusted in her own ability to train this dog.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, mind you, a Chihuahua is not a
pit bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A month later,
Henry came back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had attacked
one of the dogs in the home and had fought with three others at the dog
park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, where was the training?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this lady trusted in herself, but
that did not give her the right to trust in a dog she barely knew. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
both cases, the dogs were put down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heartbreaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the right owner, a good owner for a pit is one in a million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good owners create fantastic dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if the people who are looking after
you can’t even control their own lives, how can they give you guidance? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many controversies surrounding
pits, but for my own opinion, it is hard for me to not stand by a dog instead of
a person who really simply doesn’t have a clue. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-30177414906200687452013-04-02T07:21:00.000-07:002013-04-02T07:21:19.743-07:00The Case of Tiny: An Example of the Rule
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People
can be incredibly stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially
when it comes to animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They expect
animals to be no work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For them to
just be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in being, be
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals, however, like
people have their faults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have histories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Histories that
shape their personalities and reactions to various situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiny was the case of a dog with bad
reactions combined with very stupid people. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.completedogsguide.com/images/dog-breeds/largepic/Australian-Shepherd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.completedogsguide.com/images/dog-breeds/largepic/Australian-Shepherd.jpg" style="margin-top: 77px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of an Aussie </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tiny
was an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breed has its own set of problems, but for the most part
they are kind, warm, loyal, very intelligent, and extremely high energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also don’t back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stand up for what they believe in. Shyness is considered a fault in both breeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can spell trouble for the unknowing or uneducated individual
who really does not understand their new dog that they have just brought home
from the humane society who looks, well, cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aussies are known for their fantastic and wide array of
colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come in blue and red
merles, swirled together with black, browns, and different shades of
white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also come with
stunning eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having either
marbled or completely different colored eyes, Native Americans actually called
them ghost dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This beauty attracts
all kinds of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stupid
ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who don’t understand that
this breed needs to run, play, direction and most importantly, needs to figure out
puzzles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tiny’s
people were a special kind of stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ignorant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I first meet them
when they came back to the shelter to return a dog they had adopted the previous
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things, according to them,
weren’t going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog just
didn’t fit their lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is something to be said for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A dog, if it wants to stay with its people, must fit their way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is almost certainly why people
have breed over 150 various kinds of dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beauty, the dog these people had adopted previously, was not
the right kind of breed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said
she had just too much energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
kept door dashing, running for miles before they could catch her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was just too fast for them (granted
the mother in the group looked like she had eaten at the Country Buffet for every
meal of her life) but Beauty just had too much of a get up and go spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they returned her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
this always makes us sad, we expect it, and give a voucher for a new animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never give people a refund, but know
that people can show very bad judgment when it comes to picking their own happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
issuing them their voucher, these people proceeded to look through all our available
dogs as if they were shoes on the rack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found a few dogs they
wanted to visit with and I had the misfortune of doing the introductions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I told them about each dog, their personality,
their traits and behaviors, it became apparent that these people had no idea
what they wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a boxer
mix at home that hated anything bigger than her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they wanted a guard dog for the 16 year old for when he
went running (somehow a boxer mix doesn’t fit this description). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them about various breeds, but
they kept finding problems with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After an exhausting hour, they finally left and said they would come
back the following week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
back they came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t deal with
them much the second time around, except to process the actual adoption
papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I saw that they were
adopting Tiny<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was astonished and
shocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated every minute of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as an open admissions
shelter, we are also open adoptions. Wrong?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But only being a front desk clerk I
felt my hands were bound. I tried to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to tell them about his personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to convince them to do a
dog-to-dog in which both dogs could meet one another. But no. They wanted Tiny
and no reason would suffice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Illogical? The entire thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so out they
went with a wonderful dog that had no luck and not a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
animals it’s all about luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is what draws me to help them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
people, at least most, they have some say in their destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can and have many choices to make
each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This shapes their
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I do my homework
assessment? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I help out with
the chores?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I run away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I marry this man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there are many who are forced
into their futures, but for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all </i>animals
there is little to no choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
don’t have a say in where or whom they go home with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter where they are born or what animal they
are, they are subjects to our will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even if we are kind, they cannot tell us what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they </i>want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>his
means they are subject to our every whim and desire we possess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cast their die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their odds are with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many, this is a terrifying and overwhelming
truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can end well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or it can end in disaster. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when you’re a dog or a cat sitting
in an open admissions shelter, and you look up at the people coming to see you,
I am sure all you can think is, “What will you be like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you be kind? Will you destroy me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many people and you’re just hedging
your bets on if you are cute enough, if you are sweet enough, and the most imperative
of all, are you lucky enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tiny
was not lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A week after his
adoption he came back through our doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kid’s arm was in a cast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They justified it by saying that Tiny had attacked the other dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the kid tried to break it up
(which is the stupidest thing a person can do) Tiny latched on and dug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second time it occurred was that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly, the other dog was lying on
the couch with the boy’s arm wrapped around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiny lunged for the dog and instead grabbed the teenager’s
arm tearing it to shreds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No
hope was left for Tiny after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They took the kid to the emergency room, had his arm bandaged, and the
next morning brought Tiny back to us giving their version of what
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew their dog would attack Tiny
because Tiny was bigger than their other dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Instead of attempting their mistake t</span>hey stood there and lied telling us their dog would
never attack another dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
just the previous week, they had told me different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enraged I could do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t say anything to their disgusting faces. I told my
coworkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told my manager. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Tiny didn’t have any hope left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the surrender, Tiny was lead back
by a catchpole, never to be touched by a human again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once an animal has bitten, they are quarantined off. No one is
allowed to handle them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
needed and keeps people safe from rabies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it can be cruel when applied perhaps unjustly to guilty
yet as equally innocent animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiny
spent his last night in a familiar kennel that he dreaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A scary place with lots of other dogs
howling trying to escape some future they do not know and cannot control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning, they came for him. Thus was his end. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those stupid people knew
that their dog did not like dogs bigger than her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they didn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To them, Tiny was disposable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They shrugged him off like you would of an old sweater that doesn’t fit
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we led Tiny back,
they went into our adoption room and proceeded to pick out another dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gloria, a Chihuahua was selected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time we required a dog-to-dog with
their boxer mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting went
okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, as they adopted
out Gloria (of which I refused to have anything to do with) and walked out, I
couldn’t help but mutter, “Dead dog walking.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-53870998218687606972013-03-25T08:43:00.000-07:002013-05-22T09:18:00.080-07:00“Not all dogs go to heaven. Some just go in the ground.”<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
devastating aspect of working in the shelter is the death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite quote, I think, concerning
animals dying is from a show called Animal Practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It debuted on NBC this past fall and didn’t do very well in
the ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, it
wasn’t that great of a show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
there was one line that has stuck with me and that resonates in a shelter
environment: “Not all dogs go to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some just go in the ground.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many
people when they come to a shelter assume that the animals there will be
safe; that they will make it out alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many when they surrender their own pets to us, for what every reason,
when we tell them there is a possibility of euthanasia and we won’t notify
him/her if that is the case, shrug their shoulders and say, “My dog will be
fine.” It’s as if these people are saying not only that they are in denial that
their animal could be put down, but that if they are, its not the worst thing
that could happen to them because they are either just an animal or their
spirits will live on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet in a
shelter, death feels absolutely final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At least to those of us who see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animals who no one loved or cared about merely go in the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has their memory to
live on in their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death,
for them, is the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peoples’
lack of care about their decisions that determine the outcome for so many animals,
to me, is unbearable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t
realize that their choices can result in another creature’s death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But people don’t think about it that way
because they don’t see that for the animal, that means being buried in a
landfill.</span><!--EndFragment-->
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
story that spurred on my recollection of this quote, however, was not the cause
of humane neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have many
stories like that this week, but instead this week I choice to think about Patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patience was an adorable black cat with
the biggest cheeks and greenest eyes one could image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was without a doubt a lover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I impounded her and did her lost report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When every an animal comes to us we
have to take their picture, scan them for a microchip, and do a thorough
description of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This method
allows owners to try and reclaim their animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For cats, it is rare that someone comes looking for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they wait until their stray
period is up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the holding
period, if they are friendly enough they go up for adoption to wait for the
next person who will take them home and be stupid enough to let them
outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Patience
was more or less just another one of these cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was gregarious, outgoing, and full of sweet
kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hung around for the five-day
wait period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our vet examined her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was spayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went up for adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the first day she was sitting in
her kennel to be adopted out, I went to grab her to take another more faltering
picture of her for our website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I went to grab her, Patience was unresponsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t move as I opened the kennel
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t turn her head as
I snapped my fingers behind her head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took her to the room concerned, rapidly getting
distraught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrying her I felt
her limp body sink into mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put
her on the bench in the room, banged on the door, ran my fingers through her
fur, shouted at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called to my coworker to take a
look. She was convinced it was “just her personality.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Idiot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called to another one of my coworkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After seeing her, he rushed back to vet
services to see what they thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Upon entering the room a second time, this time I smelt it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything is dying one will only have
to smell it to know it is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The vet scooped her up in his arms and carried her back the exam room,
surely knowing what I did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For two
days vet staff tried to treat her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They gave her fluids, forced feed her, and put her under a heat
lamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a thing worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Determining that it must have been a stroke,
on the second night they put her down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Patience
crushed my heart because for her, death <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was
</i>the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People tend to ignore
this part of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially
when we consider our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For over
three fourths of the world there is an after life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether that’s heaven, reincarnation, or hell there is
something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are definitely
mixed opinions on where the animals go when they die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of people believe that animals don’t have souls; which
I think makes their deaths all that much more shattering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But some people believe life goes
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe it does. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for Patience she is no longer sitting
in the shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is no longer
waiting, hoping for someone to take her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if she went to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do know she went in the ground. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994014308931575405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248043510814251490.post-70126418839441746802013-03-24T13:26:00.002-07:002013-03-24T13:26:38.024-07:00The Rules<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
blog is to chronicle my everyday work at a local humane society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not the director of operations or
the manager or the executive director. I am just a front-end clerk. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ordinary person who adopts out
animals to hundreds of people, vaccinates and impounds animals, reclaims lost
pets to their owners (or otherwise known as RTOs) and help people make owner
request for euthanasia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t work
at a “no kill shelter.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you talk
to anyone who has worked at a humane society there are two types: open
admissions and closed admissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Closed admissions are the happy places that you hear about on the news
that never kill any animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a reason why they have this privilege.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are closed admissions; meaning they can determine what animals enter
in to their facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rarely
have contracts with municipalities to intake animals despite their
capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get their animals
from transfers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they have
room in their shelter, they send out a request to open admission shelters to
take some of their animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if
they are filled, the public cannot bring them strays and they can deny
surrenders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where open admission
shelters come into play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They accept
every animal that walks through their doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the animals’ mental or physical health, we take
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes it almost
impossible for us to save all the lives that walk into our shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to my specific state’s law there are only certain conditions under which we can
release various animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably
one of the most crucial is that we cannot release an animal unless it has been
fixed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For animals that do not like
being handled by people, this spells the end of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest example of this is that of
feral cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many groups have
tried to start trap-and-release programs, in which the animals are fixed and
then released as barn cats, unless if the funding is there, for most shelters
these types of programs are not possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For thousands of feral cats, unfortunately, this means they must be put
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dogs
have slightly better odds if they suffer from behavioral issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are very few dogs that have
lacked so much people interaction that they are considered “feral”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, dogs have their problems
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally from people being
really stupid to them throughout their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a dog is food aggressive, has barrier issues, is possessive
over his toys, or is sensitive to touch, these are all conditions under which
the dog’s life could be placed in the balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately for these dogs there are closed admission
shelters and rescues that have more time and resources to work with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These behaviors often <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> be trained out of dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a dog is lucky enough, he will come
into an open admissions shelter at the right time when a transfer to another
shelter is possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or even
better an open admissions shelter that has the resources to train the undesirable
behavior out of him. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Still,
there are two Golden Rules to being a dog that if broken will end up getting
one lead into the dark room. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first is a dog cannot bite a person unprovoked and break skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do so, surely means death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second, is one has to get along
with other dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a dog has a
history of attacking other dogs, its time will surely be limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These
are the conditions under which I work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On most days I find it incredibly difficult, heart breaking, and
rewarding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always amazes me the
love in which an animal can offer people after repeatedly being abused by
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humane societies often say
that they offer second chances to animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I find, in most cases, it is the animals that are
offering us the second, third, forth, and fifth chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On any given day I will always say it
is people who make my job awful, never the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People destroy hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they can also give it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s where my job steps in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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