12/20/2025
I recently had a surrender appointment with two truly kind, lovely women. The conversation was emotional, and full of care for the animal they loved. As they were leaving, one of them said something that was meant to be harmless.
“We’ve got to go to our real jobs, but we wish we could just play with puppies like you do.”
They didn’t mean any harm. Not even a little.
But that sentence has sat heavy on my chest
Because animal shelter work is one of the most misunderstood jobs there is.
Yes, we love animals.
Yes, we absolutely treasure the moments where we do get to cuddle a puppy, watch kittens romping around.
But that is the smallest sliver of what we do.
What people don’t see are the hours spent making impossible decisions. The intake rooms filled with heartbreak. The animals that come in neglected, injured, or shut down. The conversations where we absorb someone else’s grief, guilt, anger, or desperation all at once.
They don’t see staff cleaning kennels constantly Advocating for animals that don’t have voices. Fighting burnout while still showing up with compassion. Being screamed at, thanked, ignored, blamed, and relied on all in the same day
Shelter staff don’t “just play with puppies.”
We carry the weight of lives every single day.
And we do it because we believe animals matter.
Because communities matter.
Because even on the hardest days, saving one life,or giving one animal a chance makes it worth it.
So the next time you think of shelter work, know this.
Behind every wagging tail is a team holding up an entire world you rarely get to see, All while facing personal battles every single day.
