I closed my pet salon to relocate out of state. About 8 months ago, I reopened my grooming business within a local animal hospital. I've never worked at a vet facility before....this is a first. In the hall in between my grooming area and the kenneling area, lies a floor freezer. In all this time, I never bothered to look inside....as I commonly assumed it held frozen pet foods. I opened it the other day to look for some treats to give to one of my clients dogs. What a shock! It was full of dead animals...apparently waiting for cremation. I wish they would move the freezer to another part of the clinic. It's freaking me out and it's probably going to interfere with my trane of thought while I'm working. It's too close for comfort. Keep in mind....I'm not a vet, vet tech or vet assistant. I'm a pet stylist. I'm not used to this sort of thing. A freezer full of dead animals....all shapes and sizes. It's creepy. Would you be able to work easily knowing that thing was right next to you?
2006-06-10 15:39:36 · 11 answers · asked by pet stylist 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
BTW...the clinic does not pay me. I lease a portion of the facility to operate my business within their business. Freezers full of dead animals in my work area are not in my lease.
2006-06-10 16:03:48 · update #1
Also...this is not a shelter. It is an animal hospital....approximately 4,000 square feet. I'm located near the kennels....paid boarding only....not rescues or lost dogs. Apparently...these were sick of ordered down dogs that were euthinized. I'm no where near surgery or treatment rooms. They have no purpose being stored in my area. I think they moved them near me so they wouldn't have to have them in their work area.
2006-06-10 16:18:40 · update #2
You say the freezer is in the hallway outside of your grooming room? Unfortunatly for you... you are renting the grooming room and not the hallway, so you probably don't have much say in where that freezer goes.
I think, over time you will get use to it, and forget all about it. Working at a vet clinic, you are going to see all kinds of nasty stuff!
Before I was a groomer, I worked for a vet. We had a freezer because we did not have an incinerator at the clinic...it was at their other location and guess who had to transport the dead, frozen animals to that location in the back of her trunk??? Yep..me. I was creeped out at first, but got use to it. They were in black bags so you coudn't see them.
Be thankful they have a freezer...I also worked for the SPCA and they would pile up all the dead animals outside next to the incinerator and at the end of the day would toss them all in. I would much rather be working next to a freezer with dead animals in body bags, than ones sitting out in the open.
2006-06-11 03:38:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Sorry, it is a fact of life for vets, techs, and shelter workers. Ask if they can move it, all they can say is no. It doesn't bother me any more, not even animals that I was really attached to bother me anymore. In fact, I have grown so accustomed to it, it is hard for me to imagine why you are so upset! I know it sounds cold and heartless, but once they are gone, it is over. We can't do anything more, except take care of the bodies, and for many that means cremation, which(even for people) there is a wait for. Let them know it bothers you, maybe it will help, but try talking to a member of the staff who is also kind to people. I know several vets who would give a limb to make an animal comfortable, but would laugh off such a "silly" request from a person! And that would be the last thing you need!
2006-06-10 16:42:55 · answer #2 · answered by jenn_a 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of things we don't like to deal with and this is one of yours. I think it depends on how much you like working in that facility. If you like it and your business is good, then you must find a way to deal with it.
I would ask the supervisor or whoever is in charge exactly why the frozen animals are placed in the hallway and what they do with them. I imagine if they are there for cremation, it is an ongoing sight. Maybe they could move it to a different place if they realize it bothers you. It doesn't hurt to inquire. They will explain and tell you if they can relocate it.
See what happens when you go into places you shouldn't? If you were not looking for treats that did not belong to you, you would have known. (This is a joke) Now go find out what is going on.
2006-06-10 16:25:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me tell you why that freezer is there. It is there for deceased animals that have yet to be claimed (found in the street somewhere), animals that bit someone before they died because they have to be tested for rabies, and wild animals that have to be tested for rabies.
It is unfortunately necessary to have this. You aren't likely to get them to move the freezer depending on how much room they really have. Yes, it's gross, but has to be done.
It will take time for you to be able to ignore it, but I understand that it isn't easy to work in a shelter environment. You are at the heart of how the system works with lost animals. Good luck to you.
2006-06-10 16:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by thewildeman2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This might make you feel better!!
Last year one of our schools classrooms had a gerbil. The teacher came back from Christmas break to find the gerbil "dead" so of all the places, she threw it out... in the classroom trash can. A few weeks later they hear this scratching noise from the trash can. The entire class looks over to find the gerbil climbing out. Apparently the classroom got so cold that it hibernated. As soon as the room got warmer it woke up.
2006-06-10 16:54:08 · answer #5 · answered by kat_katty_chic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is really disturbing, can't beleive the owners of these pets anticipated them being frozen for any amount of time. Besides, it can't really be healthy, especially if treats or food is being stored in the same freezer. Most germs etc, will die when frozen but certian germs will survive. think I'd call the health department, anonamously...
2006-06-10 16:07:50 · answer #6 · answered by sweetokms 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you only have a say if they are useing your rented space. best way to get them to move the freezers is to ask for a reduction in rent due to so much lost space that their freezers are using!? good luck :)
2006-06-10 16:49:57 · answer #7 · answered by sillygoose 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get over it you aren't in the same rm. as them,their paying you to work so work.
2006-06-10 15:59:20 · answer #8 · answered by russell d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not. I feel sorry for you. Good luck.
2006-06-10 15:44:54 · answer #9 · answered by Kelly_from_Texas 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eeeeeeeeeee nooooooooooo i am already scared!!
2006-06-10 15:44:00 · answer #10 · answered by cravingbrains 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋