Problems with us....

[Ivory]

I am having some problems with other people in the rescue because of their lack of knowledge and their refusal to listen to better advice. Basically, I'm tired of it.

And I have no idea what to do. I was thisclose to screaming at them on Sunday at the cleanup day.

They are uneducate, dumb, and overly emotional. That is a really bad combination and I have no idea what to do about it. I'm about to blow up at someone because of how ridiculously annoying it is.

And then, they call me up for free veterinary advice and want me to start giving free services to THEIR rabbit! Um, honey, not just no, but HELL NO.

I'm just about to lose it, really, I am, and I hate it because I hate being focused on another person rather than helping the rabbits, but it's getting out of hand.

And I don't know what to do.

...help...

 

[pamnock]

Take a step back, a deep breath and acknowledge the fact that you don't know everything either

Be patient and helpful. How you treat others is a reflection of your own character.



Pam

 

[Ivory]

I'm trying very hard to be patient, but they're doing everything wrong. They don't know how to clean sick animal cages properly. They don't know how to handle sick animals. They don't know that you're supposed to wear gloves in some of these cases, because the diseases that some have had are transmissible. But when I've pointed this out, they just shrugged it off and ignored me. Despite putting directions and evidence in front of their face from medical textbooks, they chose to disregard this information.

For instance, there is a rabbit with relatively severe coccidiosis. Instead of waiting for me to come and prepare a proper cleaning place, because the rabbits bum was dirty, they began to pick off the pieces of feces-clumped hair and throw it onto the ground...near other rabbits and next to the pellets. And not pick it up afterwards.

After cleaning a rabbit with a potential Pasteurella infection, "inspecting" the rabbit, poking around in his nose to look, they did not wash their hands and went to handle other rabbits.

They cleaned the poopy bottom off of a newly aquired cage (and rabbit that's in quarantine) and didn't wash their hands after, despite advice and practical policy that all rabbits in quarantine should be handled either with gloves, and/or handling should be followed by thorough hand washing afterwards.

Another example, when cleaning litterboxes, they put a litterbox belonging to a rabbit who is getting over coccidiosis into the same water as other rabbits.

And the Clostridium case. Don't get me started.

She is potentially getting other rabbits sick. That is why I'm really mad. We have having a coccidiosis problem in the rescue right now- many rabbits are getting it. I know that it's also the time of year, but this isn't helping. At all.

I don't want these other rabbits getting sick. We've talked to them, but it doesn't stick to them and they doesn't listen. At all.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Take each thing a step at a time. She sounds like she needs help to learn but has a good heart.

It sounds also a bit overwhelming, but if you break it down into smaller problems, find the worst of them and gently tell her how to do it right.

ie: Let me show you something I recentlylearned! If you clean with this and be sure to wear gloves since we don't want to catch or spread disease....... we can bring the chances of spreading down to nearly ZERO!

Recently to you could be in your lifetime. Let her think what she wants of recently. You just want her to learn it now! Be excited about learning how you can really change things........ she'll assume you really did just learn itand want to share it now.

This doesn't make her feel admonished, or stupid.

 

[jordiwes]

Is there a manager, a person in charge?

Also, it's a lot in how you say something, not just what you say.

You need to call a meeting and suggest a list of procedures they follow. Less sick bunnies means less work for them. Do they have their own pets at home? Tell them they could be passing the diseases to them as well.

If you get emotional or talk down to people, they will just close their ears.

Good luck, I know it's an uphill battle, but think of the bunnies!

 

[Ivory]

Yes, there is a person in charge, and we're all intending on having a serious talk with her.

And yes, she does have bunnies- bunnies that, more than anyone, shouldn't be exposed to infectious diseases.

These are things that she should know- or does know- and disregards anyway. This isn't just being uninformed- it's being downright stupid.

But I will try as hard as I can to be patient...

 

[naturestee]

I really feel for you. Apparently these people have never been in a shelter, or at least one like my local shelter. Each room has at least one hand disinfectant dispenser and a big sign stating that hands must be disinfected before and after touching any animal. There is a separate quarantine room for sick animals, and they literally go through gallons of bleach washing all the bowls, litter boxes, cages, reusable toys, etc. Because you know what can happen if there is a disease epidemic in an overcrowded shelter.

Maybe you can find some brochures or books on proper hygiene in a rescue situation? They might be more willing to take the advice of an "expert" author.

 

[Ivory]

That's my problem- I have a nice book on how to properly house rabbits in a situation like ours. Written by a veterinarian. The book is mostly a medical reference book, but also has a huge portion of it dedicated to proper husbandry and how to handle animals that are potentially infectious.

The person in charge of the rescue will be talking to her, I'm not allowed to be there. To quote Othello,

"I am black
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have."

(Well technically I'm not black...but you get the picture.)

 

[Ivory]

Well, we've talked to her...and it's pretty much come down to, "Either do this, or leave. You're making other animals sick."

Hopefully that will have gotten through to her...

:attention:

 

[JadeIcing]

Good Luck

 

[Bo B Bunny]

GOOD!

 

[BlueGiants]

Hope that works...

 

[Ivory]

You have no idea how much I hope it works too.

 

[Leaf]

I could feel myself getting light headed just reading through the problems you have with this person. While I do hope things improve with her, in a situation like this I personally wouldn't hesitate on barring her from helping with the animals at all.

If there would be other work she could do, strictly hands-off but still in a positive manner for the rescue I *may* consider allowing that (if I were in your shoes) but my tolerance is close to zero when it comes to actions that could further endanger animals in need.

I'm an animal control officer and along with it a euthanasia tech. Life and death go hand in hand with my daily work and over the years I've lost my tolerance for people who refuse to follow strict proceedures.

It's understandable, your frustration about people wanting your "services". I get the same in almost all senerios. I am not anyones private vet, unwanted litter home-finder, bully-to-the-coworkers-neighbor-because-they-dont-like-them, or death angel. In almost all aspects I refuse to "help" in situations I face when seeing the public outside of the pound, with the very few exceptions of requested euthanasia, and only then in extreme circumstances.

It is very hard to keep work (or types of work) seperate from the rest of your life, and I sometimes get it two-fold since I work in the human medical field. I've recently changed cell phone numbers, as people seem to think I can substitute as their doctor in minor cases, or even more major instances if they feel they can't (or shouldn't have to) affoard to see their own physician. And of course, there is always someone who knows someone who knows me... "so if you get ahold of her, ask her..."



GAAK!

I hope your situation gets resolved in a positive manner. And soon!