She's the one I would take home in a heartbeat if only I could. I think I'll lobby on her behalf on Craigslist to find a home for her, at least.
So today I did the dogs again. 9-1. Then I stayed an extra hour to take some more pictures. As I was getting ready to leave, the lady asked if I could come back tonight. I was so, like, ummm... uhhh... I would really rather not? And then there was pressure to come back, if only for an hour. They had me on the schedule for Monday night, she explained. I went back and forth on it, saying okay, and then, like, hello - I'd already been there for five hours and they wanted me to come BACK? And today is our anniversary! Finally it turned out that they DID have someone to help tonight so didn't need me. But as she was leaving, the lady said, "OK, see you Wednesday!" I was like, WHAT?! I ended up calling the lady I originally had contacted after I left just to make it clear - I'm on the schedule for MONDAY MORNING, NOTHING ELSE. I did two days last week, as a favor, but I am not going to do that as a rule.
I mean, I really don't mean to be difficult or mean or anything else, but this was advertised as a TWO HOUR volunteering shift. It is more like 4-5. And that's actually OK, but I really don't need pressure to do MORE when I really can't or don't want to. I mean, the way it is, I didn't get home until 2:30 p.m. Smelly and needing a shower in a way you can't believe; walking dogs in 90-degree heat (and sun!) will get you that way. MY dogs had been locked outside/in the bedroom all day. I hadn't eaten since my morning bagel. I hadn't so much as stopped to pee since I left the house. I was covered in scratches from one of the dogs, had a throbbing lip from where another jumped up onto my face. So taking a shower and heading back out after 1.5 hours to get covered in dirt and worse all over again did not seem all that appealing. And good call, since at around the time they wanted me to go back in, I was deep asleep on the couch using Gretchey has a pillow. Doggy duty is exhausting, I'm tellin' ya.
I mean, it's quite weird really... I really do ENJOY my time at the shelter... but at the same time, I don't want to do it every day. I kinda feel like me ENJOYING this is contingent upon it not being overwhelming. I think I could handle going in for an extra hour or so here and there to help out, but that's as an "extra" thing, not an obligation.
I think the lady got my point. At least, I hope she did.
Let's end this on a happy note: LOOK AT THIS PUPPY! She is so smelly and dirty and sick too -- I had to wipe some boogers off her face and eyes before I took these pictures -- but my god is she a gem. Lays in my lap for belly rubs. And, I mean, look at her. SO cute. I hope she's outta there, right quick.
