Bad day

We were full this morning. Last night, Receiving was scrambling to find places to put incoming animals, both dogs and cats. This morning, they pulled for space. For those who don't know, "pull for space" means: Choose dog and cats to euthanize in order to make space for new ones. It is more "fair" to euthanize those who have had months to find homes than those who have just arrived and never had a chance. Truth is, euthanizing healthy, friendly animals is never "fair". The fact that our facility exists as more than a temporary stop for lost animals is not "fair".

We hold hundreds of animals. If we could hold more, I have no doubt that we would eventually fill again. Every summer, we are full to capacity, and then some. I'm so glad that I don't have the difficult job to not only choose the animals that are sacrificed but also do the sacrificing. To make that decision and then execute it must be excruciating, especially knowing how much those individuals care. This is not a career you enter into lightly. It's one where you know that you can't "win" every day. Some days, you just lose.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly upset about any of the dozen or so dogs that were pulled today. I hate to say it, but I also was not surprised about the ones that I knew. Sad because I know many of them were loved by the volunteers, but not surprised. Pit bulls are adopted far less than other dogs. I would wager that a majority of non-medical euthanasias are pit bulls. I never bought into the breed stereotypes, but my job has made me a full believer that dogs are not defined by their breed, especially one perpetuated by false media reports. But that is a rant for another day.

What upset me were some of the cat choices. Black cats are the pit bulls of cats. Like puppies, they're more adoptable when young, but once they reach adulthood, they are adopted in much lower numbers. Yesterday, I found out that my favorite cat in stray, who had been waiting for a vet exam for three days, had Calici and was euthanized. I went with him and he was out before he knew what was happening. I can't help but wonder if he had been seen earlier, would he have been okay? I know better than to dwell on questions like that, but they still pop up and are troublesome.

I didn't recognize some of the cats, but there were two that stood out. Yesterday, I told Doc that a cat had tapeworms, and she handed me the pill for treatment. I'd never actually pilled a cat, but I didn't tell her that. I knew how, and I did it. Thankfully, he was cooperative. He was euthanized this morning. Another one was China, a fat, older, very sweet and silly cat. Both were large, black, short-hair cats.

We are short staffed. Full past capacity with animals, but short in all departments except the front desk. We have been operating with half kennel staff, about 3/4 receiving, NO full-time vet, one out of two vet techs. It's getting ridiculous. I usually work 4 days with 3 days off. Tomorrow will be my sixth day in a row. I am tired, sore, stressed out, and disheartened.