This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
I have a similar situation and am struggling to determine if it is "just me". I was hired almost a year ago to fill a new position at a rescue working with enrichment and behavior. I was told I was starting from scratch and I have not had shelter experience before but am a dog trainer and an avid learner. I do all the behavior evals and use the form that my predecessor used but when I asked how things are done, I was handed the form and a fake hand on a stick and that was it. I was told I should do behavior evals with more than one person but no one was ever available to me, even when I tried to pre-plan my day, so I started doing small dogs on my own, skipping dog meets and just doing cat meets through bars in the cat room. I have been trying to use resources like Maddie's Fund and ASPCA Pro to increase my learning and understanding. We're all fear free certified but very rarely do we use fear free methods. Part of that is just because our facility was poorly designed by the former owner and we're working as well as we can with what we've got.
I was also put in charge of volunteers a lot of whom have been here for years so when I started doing enrichment I got a lot of push back. Volunteers couldn't be bothered to do click for quiet or aromatherapy sprays because it took too much time. Staff didn't want me using tp rolls for hiding treats (I still did) or paper bags or boxes for playful destruction because of the possibility of obstruction. Items like frisbees I put on our amazon wishlist for peanut butter licking get deleted and then ones we get, get thrown away. The use of slow feeders is like pulling teeth even though we now have almost enough for every dog. Volunteers complain that Kongs are hard to clean. I could go on.
I've had some positive feedback from well meaning volunteers but almost no communication from my coworkers. When a volunteer asks me what special diet a dog is on, I can't answer their question because the kennel health manager won't tell me (even when asked directly).
I've come to the conclusion that I need to look for another position. The straw that broke the camels back: one of our dogs who was diagnosed with cancer a month ago is being put to sleep today. I found out through the grape vine. No one has told the volunteers besides a select few that I have been in contact with. An email is supposed to go out, but hasn't and I'm not in a hurry to facilitate it as I am not part of the decision making process at all. Another dog (elderly, also with cancer) is being put to sleep today as well. I also found out from someone other than the kennel health manager.
A trusted co-worker has told me I need to ask more questions. But how do you ask those questions, "Hey, are we planning on putting anyone to sleep this week?" We are a no-kill rescue and while we've had both health and behavior euthanasia's since I've been here, it's not a regular occurrence.
Our vet tech/kennel tech is sympathetic but they are also leaving. I feel like it's me against the world and I just don't know if it's worth staying. Most of my dog training now goes through the rescue and it is where I do my group classes. I feel like if I quit I'll cut off all my streams of income as little as it is and I don't have anything lined up yet.
I'm not trying to step on your toes, but your post made me see that these things can change and there are places out there if I can find them. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appriciated.