Working in a kennel has it's ups and downs for sure. For the most part I love working there... The dogs and cats and endless kisses and snuggles they provide really make the difference.
This past week may have been awesome for some. A day off of work to hang out and get fat with family and friends but for me... it is one of the most stressful times of year.
We were fully booked and let me tell you caring for 100+ animals is no simple task.
For weeks before hand I was having nightmares every night, constant heartburn and upset stomach, and I'm pretty sure I lost half my head of hair from stress.
I never had this much anxiety over a holiday break at my last kennel, and a HUGE part of that was because I had a great team. EVERYONE worked together to help out.
Where I'm at now.... is not even a smidgen of helpfulness to the teamwork I had there. And it makes a HUGE difference.
I am happy to say that things went MUCH better than I had expected. MUCH better!
The pets were all on relatively good behavior. No major incidents or upset stomachs. A few but nothing compared to what happened over spring break...
Some of my all time favorite pups came in as well as one of my favorite cats which always makes the week go by faster.
I did have to deal with co-worker issues but overall things turned out ok.
Now I can breathe again and get some rest. At least for the next 3 weeks, then it starts all over again for the Christmas rush.
I somehow managed to get Friday off work.
I can't even adequately express how much I need this one little day off. Especially considering next week...
Simple fact of the matter is I'm completely burnt out and I hate my job. HATE it.
It's not the work (though I do hate to clean, and that is pretty much my entire job), but the complete bullshit of where I work.
From the lack of competent managers, to the high school like cliques and atmosphere, right down to the shitty (literally) work conditions.
I mean really, If you KNOW we are going to be super booked because it's a major holiday, wouldn't you plan out the schedule in advance? Wouldn't you think that's something that needs to be worked out sometime OTHER than a few days before hand? And what's more, that should be something you should do BEFORE you go on vacation?
Or how about ordering supplies? It's no surprise we run out of cleaning chemicals on a consistent basis. We should be ordering new supplies on a regular basis. It should be as obvious as a special monthly visit to order new supplies.
How is it that this is now the 4th or 5th time we have completely run out our main cleaner? Thus preventing me to do my job at all let alone effectively.
And of course, since things have gone all wonky I am the one in the hot seat for not being able to do my job. When in reality it's all your fault. I can't do my job if you don't provide me the necessary tools to actually DO it.
And on top of that I feel completely ostracized from my coworkers. Yes I work overnight and don't get to have much interaction with everyone, but that's no excuse to play favorites or make me feel like a lesser part of the team.
Perfect example: My birthday this year was on a Monday and I was scheduled to work. It, like everyone else's birthdays, is written on the communal calender.
I get to work and not a single person remembers nor comments. No card, no decorations, no cake.
I know I mentioned it multiple times to people who made general inquires to what my weekend plans were. So how come no one remembered or cared to comment?
Now this wouldn't actually bother me if this was a common practice for everyone. Granted I would (and am) be a bit peeved when people don't even bother to comment. Especially when I've mentioned it to them personally AND I am "friends" with them on facebook.
Yet I get to work yesterday and there is 'Happy Birthday' banners hanging up, cute little cupcake wall decal's posted everywhere, and a cake in the kitchen.
I of course wished him a happy birthday, but I couldn't help but think: "This kid has only been working with us for a month... I have been here over a year. Where was my 'birthday celebration?'"
Bitter? Kinda. Jealous? Maybe a bit. Peeved and annoyed at blatant favoritism? DEFINITELY.
I hate this. I just hate it so much!
I am expected to clean an entire kennel by myself, make breakfast in the morning, do dishes, do laundry, set up rooms for the next day, make sure everything is in working order, fix it if it's not, make sure no one gets sick/injured/or dies, and whatever else is left for me to do that the day shift just doesn't feel like doing or doesn't 'have time for'. It's a LOT for one person.
No really I am the only person in the entire store at night. How I am expected to do all my normal chores in the time allotted is already stressful. Then for the day shift to just leave me extra stuff to do is killer. If it then doesn't get done over night I am the one whose ass gets chewed out.
Please don't get me wrong... I am very thankful to even have a job at all. I spent over a year without a job and it was awful. I am lucky to have a supportive family who has been able to help me out.... but this is killing me. I don't know how much more of this I can take...
And next week is Thanksgiving... We are fully booked. FULLY BOOKED.
I am terrified and have no idea how I am going to survive this... no idea.
You know that feeling when all of your day dreams come true?
Yeah... It's like that but BETTER
COMMENTS
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voltorious
09:33 Nov 26 2012
I love animals