Written by Kasey Cleland, Animal Technician at Greensburg Decatur County Animal Shelter
What it means to be a kennel tech:
A kennel tech is more than someone who cleans out kennels. It’s even more than someone who “plays with puppies and kittens all day.”Being a kennel tech is like having parts of your heart wandering around outside your body. It’s loving every single animal that comes through the door — literally all of them. Even the ones with bad behavior. Every year that is around 900 animals, give or take a few. Being a kennel tech is carrying the weight of all those lives on your shoulders.
It’s showing up every single day and giving everything you have to every animal in the building. Even on days when intakes are in the double digits. When we’re wondering where on earth we’re going to put these animals, but somehow we make it work.It’s spending weeks getting the feral cat to like you enough for one head scratch… because maybe if they come around, they can live in a house and not a barn.It’s stopping every single time you walk past the “aggressive” dog’s kennel so he knows he can trust people because he can trust you.It’s wondering why the best dogs are sitting in kennels instead of laying on couches.
It’s giving everything you have to the sick and injured animals… and wondering why they didn’t make it. It’s hoping you gave them enough love in their last days.It’s seeing animal abuse and neglect firsthand and still wondering why those animals are so full of love. How they can look at you with eyes full of hope.
It’s having to control your words and actions when the words and actions of other people ignite your anger. It’s remaining calm on the outside when people say:“I’ll just dump it then.”“If you don’t take it, I’ll go home and shoot it.”“You should give every animal two weeks and then euthanize it.”“I’ll pay for euthanasia, but not vet bills.”…and on and on.Its being hissed and growled at. Being scratched and bitten. And not holding it against the animals.
Being a kennel tech also means forming strong bonds with your coworkers. These girls I work with are my family. Don’t get me wrong, we have our disagreements. In this field, no one will agree 24/7. But in the end, we always do what’s best for the animals. No matter what we have to do to get there. Even if that includes pissing each other off.It’s listening to people slander your hard work and dedication because they don’t ask how things work. They choose to believe what people tell them. It’s facing that adversity and STILL showing up.
We swallow the horrible things people say to us and continue to be true to our mission.The mission will always and forever be saving lives. One day at a time. 🐾
