For the Animals, For Yourself

"Don't set yourself on fire trying to keep others warm."

- Penny Reid

Happy National Zoo Keeper Week!  I mean, there have definitely been happier NZK week's in our past, what with the absence of a deadly global pandemic, festering racial violence, and a withering economy that saw many of our colleagues fired, but hey, here we are.  It's been a brutal year, and if you've made it this far in it, congratulations!  Keepers should enjoy this week to celebrate themselves and all that they do for their animals.  They should also consider doing a little more for themselves.

I often hear keepers relate themselves to teachers, one of the more mainstream careers with closer parallels to their job (perhaps even more so than veterinarians, which would seem the obvious choice).  Both are careers that are passion-driven in the service of others, require education and specialization, pay little, and call upon their practitioners to go far beyond the job description in order to do an exemplary job.  Not surprisingly, both often lead to stress, burn out, and career changes.

As the debate about whether or not to reopen schools in the fall continues, I saw this post circulating on Reddit, though I have not found the original author.  The feelings are a bit harsher than mine (and pardon the swearing), but still relevant.  

At past jobs, I've worked 12 hours a day voluntarily because I wanted to do the best for the animals - but in those cases, it was my choice.  I've also worked at places that were practically abusive, certainly exploitative, with zoo owners (these were all private facilities) who would take any push you made for, say, better pay, more reasonable hours, safer working condition, etc, and throw it back at you, saying, "Oh, and here I was thinking you actually cared about the animals... guess I was wrong, all you are about is you" - which was a great way to shame a bunch of young, inexperienced kids into keeping their heads down.

Thankfully, most zoos and aquariums I've worked at have been nothing like that (at least at the organizational level) - but you can still bully a keeper into doing almost anything by telling them "it's for the animals."

This National Zoo Keeper Week, take pride in all that you do for your animals - but remember to also take care of yourself.  If not for you then for, you guessed it, the animals.  You're no good to them - or anyone - burnt out and beaten down.