I lost my job for doing the right thing

[MamaRoo]

I don't think you did the right thing. You made a demand, like a child, and you were treated like a child in response. The right thing would have been to remain in a position to provide care to the animals and begin the process of finding the authorities to deal with the situation. Now you can't do anything to help them.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
this is right, and where I'd put my efforts.
contact the national/regional humane society as well, they may be able to direct you to the right folks to help.

also contact the nearest major zoo and ask them who they might refer you to... they certainly know who they're answerable to, and it may be the same for these folks. could be a good lead.

and if you find no help there, I'd be on to the papers next. if you can't get help from the county or state, an investigative reporter is good leverage. animal welfare stories, especially those about baby animals being mistreated, play effectively in the press. visibility is leverage.

I might contact them about buying the joey, however check all your other avenues before threatening them with consequences (legal, public disclosure or otherwise.) they're obviously not above bad behavior and they've no doubt got more money than you do. they will not think twice about sending a lawyer after you if you are not *very* wise in what you say publicly. you already know they'll call you on it (as they already have.)

when I was 18 I worked for some folks like this - they were arabian horse breeders. they did not provide adequate care for their animals, and actively refused veterinary care for sick or injured horses if they didn't "like" the animal... including boarding client's horses. the vet and I worked behind the scenes to do what could be done without their knowledge, but like you, there was a limit to what I could fix and what I could tolerate and after a year I quit.

my only regret is that I was very young and inexperienced in worldly things, and didn't know how to involve the appropriate authorities or the press. now I know something more about how things work and I *might* be able to do something else for them.

sounds like you still have a few options you can research, run them to ground. when you've pulled every thread, you'll at least know there really was nothing else you could have done.

and a big

because some days, having a spine is harder than others. I wouldn't want to be without one, but having one means sometimes you have to use it, and that isn't always fun.

 

[Okie Amazon]

I feel for you; I once quit a veterinary clinic for far less than what you've witnessed. Since they are going to be looking for another employee, maybe you can send in a ringer to get some documentation on some of these things for fuel for the news and animal welfare organizations.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I hope that Gilbert will be alright, and that you find peace. If you didn't stand up for them, no one was going to. I would contact all the agencies I could find in order to stop their operation. No animal deserves a bad life.

 

[theoldchick]

I'm right there with ya! I recently quit a job of 14 years due to an ethical predicament. I had no demands, just wanted our clients pets to be treated by professionals who were educated and trained in the veterinary field. In my eyes the veterinary clients are paying to have a professional take care of their pets not some wanna-be who declared they were supposed veterinary technicians without having the credentials to call themselves a veterinary professional.

If you had documentation you could have made contact with the American Humane Society and let them handle the situation. I've known technicians who blew the whistle on major research companies for something as 'simple' as mouse euthanasia-slamming them against a wall is not ethical or legal. They took the time to document (video) the act, and hand the evidence over to the correct authorities.

 

[perolane]

To all of you offering support & advice...I thank you! I have started the procedures of reporting them for animal cruelty. I won't get Gilbert back, but there's nothing I can do.

 

[MamaRoo]

deleted by staff

 

[Beekissed]

I've quit jobs before for ethical reasons.....and I quit my job today for the same reason. I don't know of any better reason to quit a job, really. Either you love money so much that you'd compromise your moral code to get it in order to pay for your lifestyle/bills or you won't. Some of us won't.

Roll on doing good things and being uncompromising, Pat!

The world needs more people who won't compromise to make a buck.

 

[MeatKing]

Quote:

Pat

All the best in your new job.. Standing by and watching the animals not get the right care is not helping them either.. Enough people tell them what they think, and maybe they will change!!

 

[Elite Silkies]

She is grieving right now, and we are here for emotional support. She did the only thing she felt was right, to try and force someone to care about an animal as much as she did. She was trying to save the animals life. It's hard to set back and watch an animal suffer. She is doing her best to get these people reported to anyone that can help at this point.