Sunday, August 1, 2010

Stress Relief

My arrival from work is greeted with much jubilation and exultation.  And sniffing.  My entire person is sniffed thoroughly, every inch of my scrubs thoroughly examined.  As some of you know, I'm a vet tech, or veterinary nurse, so just being at work covers me with smells of all kinds.  They range from the soft, soothing aromas of puppy breath to the harsh, fearful smell of anal gland excretions.  It's nothing if not glorious, folks.

Really though, I love what I do.  I love being able to provide comfort to the pets in my care.  At times they're scared, anxious, hopeful and sometimes painful.  Every last, little one of them wants to be well.  Every last, little one of them is a fighter.

When I was a social worker, I found myself lending my ego to the patients in my care.  Human brains are experts at behavioral rationalization.  We can explain away our mistakes and flaws - blaming anything from timing, parents, our environments, to our astrological moon and sun signs.  I'd come home exhausted and spent, frustrated by the poor choices of my patients.  Not now, though.  My furry patients are tough.  They're little warriors.  They just want to keep going -  eating, drinking, scratching, playing - living.  Even pain is masked when possible.  Impressive.

So I come home wearing all these odors.  I'm some kind of other-worldly pet ambassador, as far as Arwen and Nyxie are concerned.  In a single day they don't even see that many other animals.  What must they think?  All I know is both girls are riveted by these smells, taking them all in usually with tails wagging wildly.  The tails wag more slowly when there's a particularly sick patient I've held that day.  As though excited to "meet" them, but sad for their predicament.  They just know.  But how?  I suppose it doesn't really matter.

I've learned from the girls to live in the moment, so that stress stays at work.  And it feels good to be reunited with my family, furry and otherwise.  The girls greet and then examine me with such ardor - I'm kind of like their super hero.  But stinkier.


12 comments:

  1. That's how I greet Mom when she returns from her transport!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  2. Wooos! Hi and Thanks fur visiting with us, nice to met woo! I do that every time Mom comes home from Dog school (she is a teacher there) She smell like all these cute little puppies, and how dare she go there without me!
    ~husky kisses~
    -Kira The BeaWootiful

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  3. What a nice post! Isn't it nice to have a job that you enjoy so much. Thanks for visiting our blog. We have to go back and read some of your older posts so we can meet your pups too.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  4. I came across your blog and wanted to say hi. I loved this post - there is nothing better than doing something you love. I look forward to reading more post.

    Wags
    Kari
    haylie and Fred

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  5. Hello there! Thanks for visiting our blog! Great post. I usually do my doga stretch first then run and greet mom with a big kiss when she arrives home!

    Cheers,
    Maxx

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  6. I need to take a lesson in that case. My work stress follows me all the way to bed. :)

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  7. Thanks for visiting my blog! :)

    I always sniff mom when she's been around other dogs and didn't take me with her!

    Mochi

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  8. Hi there!! Thanks for stopping by my blog and following! I always love meeting fellow animal people. It's so awesome that you're a vet tech and you get to work closely with animals all the time! I'm jealous.

    My dogs are also big sniffers! Whenever i come back from an adoption drive they sniff me from head to foot. They're very enthusiastic about it and i'm not sure if they're just excited or maybe a little jealous as well.. They might think i've been "cheating" with other dogs? :)

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  9. Why have I only just found your blog when it is so FAB! and also, with such a handsome specimin of a black shepherd that I hope I look a tiny weenie bit like (ok, so at least I'm black and I have one ear that sticks up). My human is now stressed because she is gonna have to read all your backdated blogs and she says she is supposed to be cleaning the house...

    Thanks for calling at our blog and inviting us here :)

    Beanz

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  10. Thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower! I'm following you back now. :) Great blog you have here - I look forward to reading more.

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  11. Hi. We love your blog description. Our dog never cease to amaze us and are always teaching us life's lessons. Sometimes all at once! I love how you relate to your dogs and the way you describe your relationship with them. I'm always impressed on how keen they are when it comes to the pain of another, be it animal or human.

    Thank you for following our blog and we are follwoing you back. Already been checking out past post. Love it even more.

    24 Paws of Love

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  12. Truly wonderful post I really enjoyed reading it and I love your blog!!! Awww Precious picture of your furbaby too!!!!! Animals and Pets are so wonderful!!!!! I remember like yesterday my beloved Timber greeting me with her precious chewbacco happy welcome woooo woooo woooo home greeting that she always gave me when I returned home anytime, sometimes even if I had just been out in the yard for a few minutes hehe, it was such a special adorable thing and such pure love. If I had been pet sitting or around any other pets she would also be smelling me all over nose pressed firmly, loud sniffing sounds, It was wonderful!!! I love dogs and think they are AMAZING!!! I am currently living right now where I am not able to get a dog and it is incredibly hard for me to deal with, I am working on trying to move very soon where i can have canines, since i am someone who can not live without them!!!! Thanks so much for sharing your fantastic blog and everything you do for the animals!!!! I really look forward to reading your post!!!! ~Big Hugs~ Lauren and the fuzzy gang

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