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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kahuna Burger" data-source="post: 1589900" data-attributes="member: 8439">So a lot of the time I like my job. I work at a veterinary clinic as a receptionist/tech, and I get to talk to puppies, coo over kittens, help people who call up in a panic relax, etc. Its not perfect, some of the customers are cranky, but its a job so much better suited to me than standard office jobs.But then there's a problem. One of the unpleasant roles of a veterinarian is some times to end a pet's life when there is nothing more that can be done. Its hardest on the vet who has to do it, but its hard on the whole staff to take the calls, make the appointment, try to figure out what to say when handling the invoicing, and just seeing an owner bring in their beloved pet (who you may have gotten to know and like yourself) and then leave alone. But here's the thing. The clinic I work at only has one full time vet, and we are incredibly busy. So when clients come in for whatever reason, its usually one of the techs who sets them up in the exam room, goes over what's needed, draws up shots, and makes sure that everything is pretty much ready for the vet to get in and do his thing. Euthanasia is no different - the vet doesn't have time to sit down with every client and discuss the remains (cremation, burial, private etc) help them decide whether to stay with their pet or not, prepare them for the proceedure, take care of the billing beforehand so that they can just leave after, etc. And guess which tech at the office gets to do all that? Me. I've somehow become the default grief counselor of the vet clinic. Why? I dunno. I guess I'm just good at it for whatever reason. I'm gentle with them, I present them with their options and don't judge them for their choices, I try to show some honest attention and sympathy directly to the pet, which people really seem to appriciate, and apparently I'm good at preparing them for the proceedure itself so that nothing suprises or distresses them. For people who haven't decided fully, I'm pretty good at asking them questions that help them clarify the issues and my 'playing god' speech is generally well recieved and helpful. I'm just gentle and kind and caring and the right person to help people through this.Well, I'm sick of it! I want to be a big jerk who is given something else to do the moment a potential euthanasia client walks in the door! I want to be an insensitive and disrespectful clod who shouldn't be allowed within twenty feet of a grieving pet owner! And I want to honestly NOT CARE about the people or their animals! I want to not be emotionally worn out by assisting the owners of at least six euthanised animals in the last week. I want to be selfish and care about myself and my pets and my incipent baby and let less competent people take some of the emotional burden at work, but I can't.So help me out here. Teach me how to be insensitive, or if you already think I am when I post here, help me bring those qualities out into the real world. Help me, because if this pace keeps up, I don't have the emotional reserves...  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" /> Thanks for listening.Kahuna Burger</blockquote>

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