Tw: animal death/cruelty
So around 5 months ago I started working at my local Animal Care and Control facility. At my interview, It was explained to me that my primary role would be spending time with the animals, walking them, giving them treats, feeding them, etc. During my interview, when I asked if it was a no-kill shelter, they tip toed around the subject, but generally told me that they “have” to euthanize some animals and that it's completely out of their control. They told me that I would not have to he concerned as it had nothing to do with my part of the job. I truly believed them (stupid, I know) and took the job. After a month of working the day shift, I was switched to nights for their convenience. Upon being switched to night shift, I was not told of any change in responsibility other than the fact that I have a little more cleaning to do.
For about a week it was smooth sailing, until I was called back to the office and told that I needed to restrain a dog. It's pretty common working there for me to be asked to do this, especially for administering vaccines. So I go back, and muzzle the dog as they're presumably giving him his vaccines. They give him one shot (if it were vaccines there would be 3) and he starts to slowly pass out. It was already too late when I realized that this was a euthanasia. They then pulled out the needle with the euthanasia fluid and shot him with it before I could even ask what was happening. This was absolutely devastating for me, as I took this job because of my care for animals. After he was gone I walked out of the room to collect myself. That's when they call me back in and ask “what are you doing? You still need to bag him and put him in the freezer.” I shit you not, I had to put this poor guy into a garbage bag, and throw him into a freezer, with ALMOST A HUNDRED OTHER DEAD ANIMALS. This absolutely broke me.
Unfortunately, I was unable to leave the job as I desperately needed the money. I had to keep working there just to stay afloat. I kept having to repeat this process almost every day I came in to work. I noticed that some of the dogs that were getting euthanized had no medical or behavioral issues. This is when it came to light that higher ups in the shelter will tag a dog for euthanasia at the slightest issue. One dog literally got euthanized because they were barking too much. Nonetheless, I still stayed. I kept telling myself I was staying for the animals, that if I left who would still truly care for their wellbeing. I stayed for 3 more months before I hut my breaking point last week. I came in to work, where I was immediately told I needed to move 4 150lb kennels across the building into a new room. Apparently the small dog rooms air conditioner had broken and they needed me to move all of them (by myself) to the new room. Upon inspection I saw that this room was not fit to hour any animals as it had no drain, air filtration, or even enough space for all the dogs. I begged and pleaded with my managers for over an hour to not make me do this, but they didn't care. Not only was this unethical, they were also making me do many things outside my job description. I went and spoke to my supervisor and told her I needed to go home for the night, as my mental health was plummeting. That's when she told me since I called out earlier that week (my grandma got diagnosed with melanoma and I needed a personal day) I would be fired if I left. So, I left. I never got contacted by them again and filed for unemployment yesterday. I dont know how I'm going to pay rent but I do know that I couldn't be in that place for even a second longer. I left in such a fucked up state that I didn't clear my locker or get any of my belongings.