Hey Guys and Dolls!
I've got some pretty exciting news! A few weeks ago, I got an email from the Kitten Nursery asking if I would be interested in a Full Time position that would be opening up. Ummmm,YES! Of course I would!
If you remember one of my posts from 2015, Walk with the Animals, Talk with the Animals, I explained how I was trying so hard to figure out a career working with animals that I would enjoy. My whole life I didn't have a clue...that is until one of my former co workers started working at the food bank. We were talking and she mentioned Best Friends Pet Adoption. OF COURSE! I would love to be involved with that! I started volunteering, fell in love with it and here we are, 2 years later,
and I had the opportunity to Save Lives on a daily basis.
We went ahead and set up an interview for the following week. I was so nervous. I knew these people, so why should I be nervous? Because... it was a big change in my life. If I messed this interview up, I would have been devastated.
But the interview went well and I felt pretty awesome about it. CRAP! Now I have to tell my work of 8 years about it and that there was a good possibility....Anxiety flooded me....They were sad, but very very excited for me at the same time.
A week later, I got the call but I missed it. So I had to call them back, but I was a nervous wreck. My co-worker Gina was my motivation against the nerves. I called them back and to my relief, I heard the words, "We would like to offer you this position" VICTORY! I was over the moon! But the idea of leaving the zoo made me pretty sad.
Now I've been at the zoo for 8 years. It was my VERY first job! Without the intention, I pretty much made it my home. I grew to love the environment, and my co workers. They became family. The only thing that honestly made me want to leave so bad was the guests. Working in Guest Services, you see a flood of different people. And you mostly will see the ones who have something to complain about. I've had people rip my face off over the stupidest things. I've had people wreck my emotions to the point of having to go in the back and cry for a minute (I am an emotional person, but come on...) I just didn't want to do it anymore. I didn't feel like I was doing anything positive. Everyday, every guest, I felt I had to prepare myself for a battle.
And now I had the opportunity to do something positive. To save lives of animals! Oh and I got an awesome raise, full benefits, PTO and paid holidays (none of which I was getting at the moment.) What could be better than that!
My last day at the zoo came faster than I expected. All though, I agreed to work Tuesdays until the end of April to help with spring break and get a little extra cash, my last day was technically March 21st. I came into work that day, not really expecting anything because of the working Tuesdays thing.
To my surprise, they made be a breakfast bar (because they know I don't really like cake!)
Make your own waffles, Fruit, Yogurt, Morning drinks. The minute I saw it and realized what it was, I cried. Which isn't hard...but this was a, "Today is going to be a really rough day." I was so amazed and appreciative. I pretty much was just a wreck all day.
They even decided to make Julio the Lion (our office mascot I adopted) into a little zoo worker for me and even put a sound button in him with my voice recording from our office voicemail. He was going home with me to retire. Guuuuuys! Just STOP! It was an amazing last day, and I am so appreciative of everything that's been done for me over the last 8 years there. I appreciate them molding me into who I am today. I really am going to miss the zoo shenanigans and work friends I've made over the last 8 years.
But alas, a new adventure awaits!
The next day was my first day! I was now entering the nursery doors as not a volunteer, but as staff! How exciting is that?!?! The first day I got in and started shadowing re training shifts for returning volunteers. I also learned how to detect when a kitten is ready for vaccinations by looking at their teeth. It was a basic first day of just seeing the daily events.
Day 2 - I learned how to give meds (although there is ALOT to learn still). I learned how to check to see if they are dehydrated by pinching their skin. If they are hydrated, the skin will bounce back like a rubber band. If they are dehydrated, it will kind of stick. So, I was able to give fluids to a little black kitty named Furby because he was a bit dehydrated. Sticking a needle in a little kitten is nerve-racking, let me tell you.
We also got in a Syndactyl kitten. Most commonly you hear Polydactyl meaning they have extra toes. This little guy has his toes fused together instead! So that was pretty exciting! His name is Attenbourough I have a soft spot for Special Needs kitties <3
Day 3 - I learned how to do an intake, which is when we are brought kittens. We need to do a physical on them, give them the appropriate meds, put them in our records and most importantly, make them a temporary home at the nursery! This little guy was my first kitten of the season! He was found at a school and had some purple paint or marker on his backside that reminded us of an Easter Egg. I knew his name right then! Luckily I was able to name him. Meet Harvey! Named after the invisible 6 foot rabbit in the classic movie Harvey, which stars Jimmy Stewart! One of my all time favorite movies!
Day 4 pretty much just consisted of feeding kittens and learning to draw penecillian for some new intakes we had that day. Their mama was hit by a car. I have no idea how they didnt get hit because the officer said they were still trying to nurse when they found them. Lucky Lucky kitties! They were named Huey, Duey, and Louie.!
My first week was pretty awesome and I am so excited for next week!
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| Furby! |
