ChiKat

I've come to the embarrassing realization that I hate volunteering at the animal shelter. I'm vegan for cripes sake, shouldn't that make me genetically disposed to feeling all warm and fuzzy at the shelter?

Apparently not. I don't have a problem with the employees there. No one was super friendly (including most of the other volunteers), but everyone seemed pretty dedicated (and extremely over-worked). But there were three factors that really made the entire experience less than ideal.

1. The dogs don't wear collars, so you have to use a leash as a lasso and hope to trap the dog's neck in the noose while the dog is bolting out of the cage. It was stressful trying to lasso the dog without hurting it, especially when the dog had figured out the system and was determined to dodge the leash. In addition, right in front of the cage door is a trough for all the spilled water, urine and other fluids. Workers spray down the cages and push all the waste into the trough. I can't tell you how many times I triumphantly leased a dog, only to realize the rest of the lease was trailing in the trough. Gross.


2. The dogs aren't trained. Which means I spend several hours being pulled about by 50 pound dogs who have never heard of "heel", let alone this strange notion of "training". It's tough work. I think I would be more willing for the physical strain if it's weren't for…


3. The people trying to adopt the dogs are so poorly prepared for a new pet that I seriously want to kick them. Questions like, "Will he like my cat?", "Will he bark?" and "Will he bite me if I hit him?" made me want to say, "Seriously? Why are you adopting a dog? Get out!" and then I would commence kicking them.

Thankfully I refrained from kicking anyone, but I finally figured out that the stress the volunteering was causing me just wasn't worth it. I feel incredibly guilty about that, because I have time available to volunteer, and I really loved the idea of the shelter. I just hated the reality of the shelter. So I'm on a hunt for new volunteer opportunities.