http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19036132&as=30809 Most Recent Submissions from adoptashelterpet91 on Veterinary Community Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:40:42 GMT Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:40:42 GMT meisler@advanstar.com (VetWeb) meisler@advanstar.com (VetWeb) KickApps Feed Builder 2009-12-30T23:40:42Z 1 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=30809&includeVideo=on&includeAudio=on&includePhoto=on&includeBlog=on&sortType=recent 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_FirstLine-Challenge-Client-Relations-They-just-want-to-be-heard-Its-our-job-to-listen/blog/1651287/30809.html They walk through our shelter doors seven days a week. Some walk out with a broken heart...some walk out with a sigh of relief. Whatever the reason or circumstance that brought them here, they all just want to be heard. I have worked in this shelter for over a year. I have seen all types of people in this job. I have been called everything from a dog thief and a murderer to a saint and an angel. Some days seem to be full of people who truly need and appreciate our open door policy (we never turn away an animal) and other days...not so much. It can be hard to see through the hurt and anger of someone who has had their animal taken away from them due to an eviction or divorce but if you look at it from their point of view, they just miss their buddy. Sometimes the only positive thing in that person's life is their pet. They need the opportunity to tell their side of the story. Many times we are the only people they have to vent their frustrations to. If they recently lost their job and just cannot afford to care for their animal anymore, they often feel a sense of failure and disappointment, like they let their pet down. They apologize repeatedly to us, to the pet, to themselves for ending up at our door. They try and try to rationalize their decision: 'It's the best thing for the pet - this way he'll get a good home with a family who loves him and spoils him rotten, like he should be.' Sometimes the only necessary function of the shelter staff is to stand quietly and let the owner say everything on their mind. A response is not always needed. Sometimes people just want to get it over with - come in, fill out the paperwork and leave. The act of surrendering a family pet - no matter how long they've had it - is never easy. For others that make their way to the shelter, it can be a welcome visit. It could be that they found a litter of stray kittens under their front porch or a homeless dog in the yard. For these people, the decision is easier. They have no sense of ownership, no obligation. They are simply dropping off a package. They still want to be heard, though. Often times they feel the need to share the reasons why they can't keep the animal. Too many pets already, the kids are allergic, the spouse doesn't want one. Whatever it is, they want to make sure we understand their situation. And they want to make sure we don't see them in a negative light - they're not a bad person, just a person who can't take in a pet right now. We get that. We don't judge, we don't roll our eyes. We take in that lonely little creature and say thank you. We take in the sick, the wild, the young and the dying. And we say thank you. That's why we're here. For the people with no other choice, we're here to listen. Take the time to extend a hand, lend an ear. They all just want to be heard.   They walk through our shelter doors seven days a week. Some walk out with a broken heart...some walk out with a sigh of relief. Whatever the reason or circumstance that brought them here, they all just want to be heard. I have worked in this shelter for over a year. I have seen all types of people in this job. I have been called everything from a dog thief and a murderer to a saint and an angel. Some days seem to be full of people who truly need and appreciate our open door policy (we never turn away an animal) and other days...not so much. It can be hard to see through the hurt and anger of someone who has had their animal taken away from them due to an eviction or divorce but if you look at it from their point of view, they just miss their buddy. Sometimes the only positive thing in that person's life is their pet. They need the opportunity to tell their side of the story. Many times we are the only people they have to vent their frustrations to. If they recently lost their job and just cannot afford to care for their animal anymore, they often feel a sense of failure and disappointment, like they let their pet down. They apologize repeatedly to us, to the pet, to themselves for ending up at our door. They try and try to rationalize their decision: 'It's the best thing for the pet - this way he'll get a good home with a family who loves him and spoils him rotten, like he should be.' Sometimes the only necessary function of the shelter staff is to stand quietly and let the owner say everything on their mind. A response is not always needed. Sometimes people just want to get it over with - come in, fill out the paperwork and leave. The act of surrendering a family pet - no matter how long they've had it - is never easy. For others that make their way to the shelter, it can be a welcome visit. It could be that they found a litter of stray kittens under their front porch or a homeless dog in the yard. For these people, the decision is easier. They have no sense of ownership, no obligation. They are simply dropping off a package. They still want to be heard, though. Often times they feel the need to share the reasons why they can't keep the animal. Too many pets already, the kids are allergic, the spouse doesn't want one. Whatever it is, they want to make sure we understand their situation. And they want to make sure we don't see them in a negative light - they're not a bad person, just a person who can't take in a pet right now. We get that. We don't judge, we don't roll our eyes. We take in that lonely little creature and say thank you. We take in the sick, the wild, the young and the dying. And we say thank you. That's why we're here. For the people with no other choice, we're here to listen. Take the time to extend a hand, lend an ear. They all just want to be heard.   Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:40:42 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_FirstLine-Challenge-Client-Relations-They-just-want-to-be-heard-Its-our-job-to-listen/blog/1651287/30809.html adoptashelterpet91 2009-12-30T23:40:42Z Veterinary Community They walk through our shelter doors seven days a week. Some walk out with a broken heart...some walk out with a sigh of relief. Whatever the reason or circumstance that brought them here, they all just want to be heard. I have worked in this shelter for over a year. I have seen all types of people in this job. I have been called everything from a dog thief and a murderer to a saint and an angel. Some days seem to be full of people who truly need and appreciate our open door policy (we never turn away an animal) and other days...not so much. It can be hard to see through the hurt and anger of someone who has had their animal taken away from them due to an eviction or divorce but if you look at it from their point of view, they just miss their buddy. Sometimes the only positive thing in that person's life is their pet. They need the opportunity to tell their side of the story. Many times we are the only people they have to vent their frustrations to. If they recently lost their job and just cannot afford to care for their animal anymore, they often feel a sense of failure and disappointment, like they let their pet down. They apologize repeatedly to us, to the pet, to themselves for ending up at our door. They try and try to rationalize their decision: 'It's the best thing for the pet - this way he'll get a good home with a family who loves him and spoils him rotten, like he should be.' Sometimes the only necessary function of the shelter staff is to stand quietly and let the owner say everything on their mind. A response is not always needed. Sometimes people just want to get it over with - come in, fill out the paperwork and leave. The act of surrendering a family pet - no matter how long they've had it - is never easy. For others that make their way to the shelter, it can be a welcome visit. It could be that they found a litter of stray kittens under their front porch or a homeless dog in the yard. For these people, the decision is easier. They have no sense of ownership, no obligation. They are simply dropping off a package. They still want to be heard, though. Often times they feel the need to share the reasons why they can't keep the animal. Too many pets already, the kids are allergic, the spouse doesn't want one. Whatever it is, they want to make sure we understand their situation. And they want to make sure we don't see them in a negative light - they're not a bad person, just a person who can't take in a pet right now. We get that. We don't judge, we don't roll our eyes. We take in that lonely little creature and say thank you. We take in the sick, the wild, the young and the dying. And we say thank you. That's why we're here. For the people with no other choice, we're here to listen. Take the time to extend a hand, lend an ear. They all just want to be heard.   nonadult false FirstLine Challenge - Client Relations: They just want to be heard. It's our job to listen. text blog 1060 10 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19036132&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_7443227_30809_19036132_ap_160X120.jpg false Kansas Topeka 66608 0 0 1651287 19036132 Member 0