I can't tell you how many times a day we hear the words, "I wish I had your job." When people say that to us they are usually watching us hold puppies & kittens as they are watching Howard (the owl) roaming the reception area. They are probably also looking out the big windows and watching all the wildlife roaming around our property.
Yes, my job can be fun. I do get to hold puppies and kittens. I get extremely close to the wildlife that most people can only see from a distance or in a photograph. And what I've learned! You wouldn't believe how much I've learned in the past three years since I started there. We work one on one with the humane societies and it's so rewarding to help every animal that we can. I can't complain about the hours either. Seven to three and off on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. And as for Doc, he's quite generous. Our pet's care costs us next to nothing and that includes our surgeries. He also keeps us stocked up on all the chocolate you could ever want. Ok, maybe that goes with the "cons."
But what they don't see is how we go into rooms with clients, and cry with them and hug them while they are putting down their beloved pet, their family member. They don't see some of the many animals we get in that have been so neglected or abused, that the images keep me up at night. That is the hardest part of all because those cases don't have to happen!!! The only way I can get past that is to remember how many animals we have saved from those situations and how many animals we are able to save from illness or injury (like my Bubba).
Then there's the fun of working in one of the busiest clinic in Northwest Indiana where the phones don't stop ringing. Sometimes we are lucky to sneak bites of our lunches here and there. That place is crazy! There are also the physical battle scars of being scratched and bitten. Thank God we have the greatest kennel staff who are so helpful when we are releasing or checking in aggressive animals.
So that's a little bit about my job and my typical day. I look forward to retiring someday and spending my days crafting and creating. I also look forward to the traveling my husband and I are planning in the future. For now, I'll be hanging out with my four legged and slithering (yes, we see reptiles) friends.
Photo above: one of the squirrels we raised.