Lions, Tigers, and Bears...Oh My!

Okay, well, its more like dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and birds...Oh My. I, too, like Caton am sorry I have fallen off the grid a bit and haven't held up my end of the bargain with keeping in touch. It was much easier when I was unemployed, but I do miss you all tons!

First off, Caton, I am so sorry that things aren't all that great teaching, working, i guess, just isn't all its cracked up to be.

My life, too, has changed tremendously.

Firstly, I have moved to Massachusetts and live with my oldest brother and his obnoxious cat. But actually, it's pretty much just me and the cat because my brother has practically moved in with his girlfriend and is hardly home. (Not that I am complaining ;)

I wake up at 6 oclock every morning so I can leave my apartment by 6:45, where I then sit in traffic for about an hour so I can make it to work by 8. If it wasn't rush hour I could do the trip in 20 minutes...ugh. I go to bed between 10 and 11...some exceptions. If I decide to nap, my nap occurs at 9:00 pm where I then just decide to sleep until morning.

I too am dirt poor, and this job is just barely going to cover paying back my loans, nevermind feeding myself, but at least it is a job, and for that I am thankful.

So, I have been working for about a month now. And I must admit, I really do enjoy my job. But it is 8 intense non-stop hours each day of being on my feet, bending down, heavy lifting, dodging claws, evading teeth, preventing disease spread and so much more. We have 20 dogs and over 120 cats, about 6 birds and about 10 rabbits and rodents. The dogs need to be fed, walked, cleaned, watered, entertained, walked, enriched, trained, fed, walked and watered. The cats need to be fed, cleaned, watered, entertained, enriched, fed, and watered. All this needs to be done along with a million other things, like cleaning of common areas, a million dishes, restocking of foods, kitty litter, dog treats, plus so much more.

I have lost some of my trust and faith in people, since working at this job. I don't think I will ever understand people who can let terrible things happen to their animals, or even worse, those people that do the terrible things. We have one dog rescued from a pit bull fighting ring, another dog (border collie) that has no fur, for her owner allowed scabies to ravage her body, another dog who was so terrified of everything, she can't even manage to walk up one flight of stairs. And a pair of dogs that had cuts on their backs, and because their owner left them unattended in a yard, maggots started eating at their flesh. And that is only the dogs. We've gotten in cats with fur that is so severely matted that they can't walk. Others had collars on so tight that they no longer have fur around their necks, one cat came in with duct tape wrapped around him to use as a sling for his broken scapula. The things humans do to animals is absolutely terrible.

Caton, I wanted to reassure you, that you are not the only one who is brought to tears regularly because of your job. Seeing the cruelty that happens always forms a lump in my throat. I worked so hard with some animals, training and trying to work through their behavioral problems, but their issues stem so deep that i couldn't teach them otherwise and for this reason they couldn't be adopted out and thus were euthanized, bringing tears to my eyes.

Let's face it, working sucks. And no matter how much we try to make the world a better place, something always seems to prevent us from doing so. Caton, I don't want you to think that you are a terrible teacher, because you aren't. You care, and that is what makes the difference between a good teacher and a terrible one. The good news is, I do regain a little bit of my faith lost, everytime I see a deserving animal find a forever home. Because not only does it mean that animal will have a better life, but a new cage opens for another animal in need. And Caton, I'm sure in time, these kids will start to appreciate what you are doing for them a little more, and your faith in yourself, and in others will be restored.

Kristin, how is graduate school going? I'm glad that you are feeling better about the people you live with. And don't let anyone get on your back about your dirty dishes. I reserve that right, (Im sure Caton and Judy do too) :) Is your work difficult? Are you enjoying it? Any men in your life?

Judy, a month into vet school, are you still alive? How is it going? I wish I was back there with you. (However, when I say this, I want to be working there, not taking classes and memorizing a million different scientific names and how everything works). Is your living situation still going well? How about men in your life?

I also have no drama in my life, there isn't even anyone I have had to be stopped from punching. Caton, a little part of me wishes your friend Sarah didn't stop you.

Well, girls, I hope that you are all doing well, and I promise that I will try and be better about writing more often. Oh, has anyone heard from Jodi? When is she getting married anyway?

Miss you lots,
Naomi

I miss you girls so much, it hurts.