The First Shift

Shift was 3:00pm - 11:00pm

I walked in quite excited about my shift. The first person I saw was MC who welcomed me to the team and she showed me the punch clock which is located in the kitchen, which is on the first floor, across from the laundry room.I was being trained by Chantal who is from Jamaica and working along side Vicky, it was her second day on the job.

It was easy to say, the shift was mostly concentrated on how everything worked and where everything was. It was a lot to take in but it reminded me of when I worked at the Boarding Kennel except these dogs and cats didn't belong to anyone and they would never return once adopted.

The afternoon shift consists of these tasks
Punch IN
Check on dogs, cats, exotic pets
Feeding basement
LUNCH
Feeding upstairs
cleaning up
checking on animals
Handing out medication
Punch out

So as explained we started with tending to the dogs first in their respective sections to avoid cross contamination. We start with Adoptions, Pre-Adoptions, Strays and finally Kennel Cough.

Kennel cough or tracheobronchitis

This is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract. The disease is not serious in most cases, however, and often resolves itself after one to two weeks. The accepted medical term for kennel cough is tracheobronchitis, indicating a form of bronchitis that affects the dog's trachea.

Kennel cough can be caused by several airborne bacteria and viruses. It is generally accepted that most cases of kennel cough are caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica but it has also been associated with the canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parainfluenza. It is the general consensus of the veterinary medical community that in order to cause the illness, an animal must be virtually bombarded by multiple versions of these pathogens at one time. For this reason it is dogs that spend a lot of time around other dogs that are most at risk for the disease. Dogs that participate in dog shows or spend a lot of time in kennels are the highest risks for kennel cough.

The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry, spasmodic cough which is caused by the inflammation of the dog's trachea and bronchi. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis - an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In effect, the dog appears to have a very nasty cold or flu. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately.

Your vet will be able to diagnose kennel cough with a physical examination and medical history. The cough associated with the ailment is very characteristic and a simple massage of the dog's throat can usually cause it to cough on cue. In some cases, such as if the dog is depressed or feverish or expelling a yellow or green discharge, the doctor may require additional diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and laboratory testing of microorganisms in the dog's airway. These tests will help the doctor rule out other infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, or canine distemper.

Then we do the same for the cats. Adoptions, Pre-Adoptions, Strays and finally Rhino. If your wondering what rhino is, i'll explain.

Rhinotracheitis (FVR, rhino, Feline Herpes)

This acute disease affects the respiratory system. Symptoms are similar to our common cold, and include sneezing and coughing. Next the eyes become red, swollen and sensitive to light. The eyes produce a watery discharge, and the nose usually runs and forms a crust. Fever may be present, and the cat may stop eating and seem depressed.

Like the human cold virus, rhino is easily transmitted from one cat to another through direct contact, shared food and water dishes, litter boxes, or aerosol droplets drifting in the air from the emissions of an infected cat. Humans caring for infected cats can carry FVR on their hands, clothes, or even their feet. The risk of infecting your cat by petting a strange cat is small, although washing your hands after handling an unfamiliar animal is a wise habit to develop.

Treating FVR is usually symptomatic. Antibiotics are given to treat secondary infections. In severe cases, fluids are given to overcome dehydration, and oxygen is given if lack of respiratory function decreases the cat's oxygen intake.

Once we finish with the main task, we look over in the euthanasia room to see who needs a change of water. We avoid touching them because most animals carry diseases that are too far gone for treatment. So basically that room is filled with animals on death row. The room itself is white with nothing comforting since the cages face the fridge, the final resting place after the injection is done in a tiny separate room on the side. Chantal told me that the vet listens to the radio while he does this gruesome task.

During our shift, we're also in charge of doing laundry, we managed to do 9 loads and it still looked like we barely made a dent in the room. It was somewhat depressive!

After feeding the basement around 5:30pm which consists of stray dogs and cats, pre-adoptions dogs and cats, rhino cats and euthanasia room, we are able to go eat. Our lunch break lasts an hour, paid in full.

Once we finish our break, we feed the animals on the first floor at 8:00pm which consists of adoptions dogs and cats and kennel cough. After everyone has ate, we pick up the empty dishes from all the cages. In order to do the dishes, we have to clean them all by hand first, to remove any residue of food then put them in a dishwater to finalise the cleaning process.

We spent the remaining of the shift cleaning the cages of any messes and once 10:00pm hits, we go into the clinic and get the medication to distribute to the dogs who need them.

Once thats done, we do a final check and the day is over!