Speak no evil

(Everything in this post and blog is my own personal opinion, and in no way reflects that of the SPCA or its staff and other volunteers.)

Happy Birthday to me! And I spend this first hour of being 25 years old, reviewing the mistakes I have committed as a new volunteer at the SPCA.

The biggest problem a volunteer can have begins with the question "Excuse me, do you work here?" This question usually leads to questions that I am not comfortable with, because they have not formally trained Kennel Helpers to deal with the typical questions families who have made that special trip all the way to the SPCA have.

The SPCA has Counsellors who are trained to answer questions and also screen potential adopters for the kennel animals, and this better-PR-trained team of individuals can be easily identified by their bright red polo-shirts. But of course anyone would ask you first if they saw you fussing over and spoiling huge Benji in his cage, and apparently not in any danger (yet) of being mauled to death by Benji and the great big teeth he has. And, regardless of the fact that I had redirected their questions, some people will still come back to me to ask "so how is that dog?".

So come the questions, and the probably inappropriate answers.

I once made the mistake of saying a bit too much (it really was something rather innocent and naively indignant; like "yes their owner left them both here!!") , only to realise too late that the usual Counsellor on Sundays had been frantically waving her arms at me hoping I would direct the visitors' attention to her for politically correct answers. I bit my tongue, mind plunging into a deep dark valley of regret, where the souls of poor abandoned pets at the SPCAs roamed for eternity because of the stupidity of their inexperienced Kennel Helpers. These stupid Kennel Helpers, who had said the dumbest things and spoilt any chance of them being adopted by a decent family. Luckily, those 2 Golden Retrievers were adopted within the fortnight.

I am probably not in any position to question the SPCA methods since I have no instruction in their methods of potential adopter screening, not to mention the fact that SPCA does seem to have a rather high successful adoption rate (based on un-scientific statistical methods - since February, I've only known of 2 dogs returned after being adopted). But I wonder if we sometimes disclose too little information about the pets awaiting adoption. Information which might affect the chances of their adoption, especially for the dogs. Because as a volunteer, I do learn things about the dogs in my fortnightly Sunday morning interactions which I feel are not conveyed in the dog's description on the SPCA website and at the SPCA shelter.

It could be simple things that could melt an undecided adopter's heart - like Toto loves to show you he loves you by bringing his toys to share when you come home. But Toto hates pink socks and they provoke him to attack them, but you love wearing pink socks and decide after a week that you had enough of this crazy dog who took to attacking your ankles and adoption had been a big mistake. It could be something very basic - JOEY DOES NOT SHARE FOOD (see note 1 below); hence Joey started fighting with your other dog when you thought they would get along fine during the adoption screening period. It could be something more sinister - Baby had a terrible experience when he was a pup, and needs time and love to build trust in you. Baby is most loving and adorable when he sees familiar faces but acts like he wants to attack strangers - no one might take him home if the staff or volunteers at the SPCA don't because no potential adopter will return again for Baby if they don't understand his history.

We all want the best for these animals. There is nothing sadder than seeing the same little dog, cat or rabbit faces month after month, or seeing a familiar dog returned not long after he left. But once you start talking to these people who might make a huge difference to the life of one of the animals at the SPCA, where do you decide to stop?

(Note 1: Yes, that is a quote from the American sitcom, 'Friends'.)