I have so many mixed feelings about this. Since my son was a little kid, I made him do volunteer work because I wanted him to learn compassion and empathy. I think it might have backfired. He's a little too compassionate, I've decided. So compassionate that he would lie. He insists this wasn't lying and actually called it creative Story Telling. I know he did this because he has a good heart. Maybe I shouldn't punish him. But, he needs to know he can't do stuff like this and get away with it.
This probably sounds kind of funny. Definitely not a serious offense.
He brought home yet another cat from the animal shelter. He has volunteered there for years. The difference with this cat is that I didn't give written consent like I had for the other cats he decided to adopt. I wasn't there when all of this went down. Basically, he filled out the cat adoption application himself and lied that he was eighteen because he knew I wouldn't let him have a sixth cat! The lady who took his application was new so she didn't know he wasn't eighteen. My son is tall enough to be eighteen, but he doesn't look that old in his face. He is fourteen.
He took the cat and walked home. He admitted to me that he lied because this is a geriatric cat who was about to be euthanized. We have this discussion quite frequently about how hard it is to work at a shelter and not be able to save all the animals. I should have never let him take in more than two cats.
My son wants to be a veterinarian, so I don't want to forbid him from volunteering at the shelter. He's great about changing their litter boxes, etc. We've discussed the cost of food, litter, vet visits, deodorizers, etc. We also have three fish tanks, which his father encourages. And, they're both very good about cleaning the tanks also. Fish food is cheap, but the filters are adding up.
I don't have the heart to send the cat back. None of this is the cat's fault.
I expect the shelter director will fire him the next time he goes. She found out by now, surely.
This probably sounds kind of funny. Definitely not a serious offense.
He brought home yet another cat from the animal shelter. He has volunteered there for years. The difference with this cat is that I didn't give written consent like I had for the other cats he decided to adopt. I wasn't there when all of this went down. Basically, he filled out the cat adoption application himself and lied that he was eighteen because he knew I wouldn't let him have a sixth cat! The lady who took his application was new so she didn't know he wasn't eighteen. My son is tall enough to be eighteen, but he doesn't look that old in his face. He is fourteen.
He took the cat and walked home. He admitted to me that he lied because this is a geriatric cat who was about to be euthanized. We have this discussion quite frequently about how hard it is to work at a shelter and not be able to save all the animals. I should have never let him take in more than two cats.
My son wants to be a veterinarian, so I don't want to forbid him from volunteering at the shelter. He's great about changing their litter boxes, etc. We've discussed the cost of food, litter, vet visits, deodorizers, etc. We also have three fish tanks, which his father encourages. And, they're both very good about cleaning the tanks also. Fish food is cheap, but the filters are adding up.
I don't have the heart to send the cat back. None of this is the cat's fault.
I expect the shelter director will fire him the next time he goes. She found out by now, surely.