i went for my second interview at the doggie day care today. for an hour and a half, i played fetch and rubbed doggie bellies, mopped up a couple of minor accidents, and doled out treats to an adoring crowd of mutts. now this, my friends, is a job.
the greatest point in my favour as far as getting the job will probably be the fact that sam, a sheppard that they told me was always mouthy and hostile towards new people, came to me and shoved his head in my hand, and later rolled over for a tummy scratch. dogs and i understand each other beautifully. it's humans that i have issues with.
tomorrow, on the other hand, i will go to the kennel and try to dole out as much affection as i can to the caged babies, some of whom, like robin, should not be in a kennel because they are OLD (16) and CRIPPLED (can't stand up on her own) and have mouthy little SISTERS (taylor, love her to bits) who are busy jumping around the cage and knock the water dish over so that placing it close enough to robin for her to drink from it means she invariably gets soaked and then has to lay there in the wet bedding until next change. it breaks my heart to see robin laying there immobile and smiling. for the past week that they've been there, i've made sure to go into their kennel every half hour or so to hold the water bowl for her so she can drink ... and then move it away so taylor can't knock it over and drench her. taylor makes me laugh because she comes and lays down beside robin when i bring her the bowl, and they drink together, laying down. but knowing that they're in there in the dark right now, with robin probably unable to drink (someone saw her get up by herself once, a few days ago, but i can't picture it myself because her hind end is practically paralyzed until she's stood up on her feet), just makes me want to cry. or call her owners up and ask them what the hell they're doing, boarding a dog like that who clearly needs constant attention and care. people are so stupid about their dogs. i'm sure they don't ask how long the dogs are alone at night, or if there are lights on. i'm damn sure that none of the owners whose dogs were there for the four days that we had no bedding knew that their dogs were sleeping on cement floors and in bare fiberglass kennels. they probably don't realize that dogs can and will overturn their water dishes - whether it's because they do it on purpose or because they're clumsy - and soak their bedding, so they might be wet and thirsty for those thirteen or fifteen HOURS that they're left alone in the dark. they definitely don't think about the fact that the outdoor runs are hosed down in the winter and freeze over, so i'm told, and their dogs are stuck out there on a sheet of ice while their cages are being cleaned.
the whole thing with robin has driven it home for me, that i can't leave without doing something. i'm writing a letter to the OSPCA, but i'm also looking for places to post warnings so that people might read it and not send their dogs there, and might learn to ask questions and think before they send their dogs anywhere. i feel kind of bad for continuing to work there even tho' it disturbs me so much, but i tell myself that at least i can give them a little bit of love and consideration when i'm there, by doing things like bringing robin her dish and picking lucky (an american eskimo, my new favorite small breed) up out of her cage and cuddling her for a few minutes here and there. i hope someone will come in and take my place and try to look after the dogs after i leave, never to return, on wednesday ... but i doubt it.