Right to make a fuss?

[Dave Leason]

Hi all, would really appreciate any feedback on this issue.
I work with children in a respite home and while I was on holiday, i came
back to find we had some fish and an aquarium.
I was delighted by this until I took a closer look.
There was a comet, a common goldfish and another with a fancy tail, all
together which i disaproved off.
They are only in a 12 gallon tank, with a disgusting looking filter and no
air pump.
" of the fish has about half their scales missing and the one with the fancy
tail swims a bit oddly.
I was upset by seeing these things and pointed them out to the other staff
who told me to write down what people could do to help take care of the fish
and what my reasons for being concerned were.

well i did this.
but now half the staff are laughing and bitching at me whle a few more of
the others took offense really badly and said that if i knew so much about
fish then i should take care of them!
which would be fine if i didnt only work 2 shifts a week there!
was i right to raise these issues!!

Kellie

[Donald K]

Dave Leason wrote:

> was i right to raise these issues!!

For the fishes' sake, yes.

My guess is that it is good that they are in a healthcare facility cuz
they probably aren't going to last very long.

If there are children about, see if you can get one of the local LFSs to
donate a used 20 gallon tank. "We need it for the children..."

Who ever donated it / brought it in probably thought they were doing a
good deed. When/if the goldies croak it, might consider adding a
heater, some neon tetras, perhaps a male betta and a couple of cories.
(Donald counts on fingers) Yeah, the loading comes out about right...

My $0.02US.

-Donald
--
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy
enough people to make it worth the effort." -Herm Albright

[Elizabeth Naime]

Quoth "Dave Leason" > on Tue, 16 Mar 2004
20:02:47 -0000,

Of course you were right to raise these issues. Right for the sake of
the fish, and honestly, I don't know if it's that good for the children
either to have "pets" that will be sickly and die too soon!

I like the idea of asking for donations from a local fish store. A
bigger tank, and, a moby filter.

Who takes care of the fish? Maybe, if folks were serious about asking
why don't you take care of them then, you could work something out. Take
the goldies home to a bigger, better-filtered tank, and have this tank
stocked with a heater and some easier-to-care-for tropicals. Fish that
won't strain the filter and will only need a weekly or even less often
water change. Ration out fish food in cups labeled "monday," "tuesday,"
and so forth and re-stock every time you're in, to prevent overfeeding.
The more I think about this, the more I think they could have a really
nice, fun, HEALTHY tank if you are willing and they went along with
this!

Also, my sincerest regrets that I'm not in the UK. If you were a bit
closer to "home" for me, i.e. driving distance, I'd offer to donate a
used 50 US gallon "for the children" if you could provide a filter.

You might want to ask around, not just at LFS but at the local aquarium
society and local newsgroups. A lot of people do outgrow medium sized
tanks or just get out of fishkeeping, and usually sell the tanks for a
good deal less than the going price. I have just enough faith in
humanity left to think that surely one of these "getting rid of my tank"
people would be willing to donate it to a good cause rather than sell
it.


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

[Dave Leason]

You all have a lot of good ideas.
as I work with very ill children we have a lot of people do fund raisers for
us, i will bring this up in our next fundraising meeting, although i know a
lot of people will be more in favour of new bath supports etc (which is
needed , but fish should also be kept healthy not just to be looked at!)

If i had a bigger tank at home i would of brought one of the fish home, but
I have 2 goldies in a 20 gallon and its just about right, no room for any
more!

Not sure who really loks after them, but I am ona shift tomorrow, so im
ready for al the abuse i get off people as i have really annoyed a few
people by raising the points i did.

I would do the same for any creature! i think they thought fish were easy
haha!

Kellie

Ps thank you for the generous thought, as you said shame im in UK!


"Elizabeth Naime" > wrote in message
...
> Quoth "Dave Leason" > on Tue, 16 Mar 2004
> 20:02:47 -0000,
>
> Of course you were right to raise these issues. Right for the sake of
> the fish, and honestly, I don't know if it's that good for the children
> either to have "pets" that will be sickly and die too soon!
>
> I like the idea of asking for donations from a local fish store. A
> bigger tank, and, a moby filter.
>
> Who takes care of the fish? Maybe, if folks were serious about asking
> why don't you take care of them then, you could work something out. Take
> the goldies home to a bigger, better-filtered tank, and have this tank
> stocked with a heater and some easier-to-care-for tropicals. Fish that
> won't strain the filter and will only need a weekly or even less often
> water change. Ration out fish food in cups labeled "monday," "tuesday,"
> and so forth and re-stock every time you're in, to prevent overfeeding.
> The more I think about this, the more I think they could have a really
> nice, fun, HEALTHY tank if you are willing and they went along with
> this!
>
> Also, my sincerest regrets that I'm not in the UK. If you were a bit
> closer to "home" for me, i.e. driving distance, I'd offer to donate a
> used 50 US gallon "for the children" if you could provide a filter.
>
> You might want to ask around, not just at LFS but at the local aquarium
> society and local newsgroups. A lot of people do outgrow medium sized
> tanks or just get out of fishkeeping, and usually sell the tanks for a
> good deal less than the going price. I have just enough faith in
> humanity left to think that surely one of these "getting rid of my tank"
> people would be willing to donate it to a good cause rather than sell
> it.
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Only know that there is no spork.

[Morten]

"Dave Leason" > wrote in message
...
>
> Ps thank you for the generous thought, as you said shame im in UK!

So am I, Where are you, I'm in essex, and have a tank / filter /stand that
might suit you...

Is your email valid?


/Morten





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[E.Otter]

No matter where I have worked if you point out a problem, convince others
that it is important, and act as if you know how to fix it, it is expected
by everyone that your job now includes fixing that problem regardless of
what your job description or workload happens to be. It is also expected
that you try to find out if anyone is currently working on that problem and
join forces with them. If no else is, you go it alone or try to build a
team, make a plan, and start working. You don't have to see it all the way
through, but everyone is expecting you to get the ball rolling and to
"champion" the issue.

You saw a problem, convinced some people that its important, and acted as if
you know how to "fix it", but at this moment you are not willing to do the
work. So, put up or shut up. Yes "put up" requires a lot of work taking
care of a new fish tank and you won't necessarily get paid for it. It may
even cost you some of your own money to get the right equipment. Probably
the cheapest route is to convince the place you work at to "trade" the 3
goldfish for a school of minnows or danios which are better suited to a 12g
tank.

Until you are willing to do some work you are not in the right to make a
fuss.
E.Otter

[Dave Leason]

Of course im willing to do the work, i just merly pointed out that as a team
of 30 people, most of which work full time, surly others should be able to
help out , especially as i was not included in the decision to get fish!
I love fish but dont like the thought of them having to suffer. I only work
2 shifts a week as im a mother so i cant just pop into work every day to
feed their fish as well. i have my own to look after.
I live in hull by the way Morton.
I'll ask around everyone at work (well , i'll have to put a message in our
communications book) to see if anyone knows anyone with a bigger , more
equiped aquarium that we can get our hands on.)

I will also suggest about getting different fish also. As the few staff who
agreed with me , a couple said they could take away one away if it made me
more happy!

thanks for all help and advice, just wanted to make sure i wasnt being over
petty with things as thats how ive been seen to be at work!

kellie

"E.Otter" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> No matter where I have worked if you point out a problem, convince others
> that it is important, and act as if you know how to fix it, it is expected
> by everyone that your job now includes fixing that problem regardless of
> what your job description or workload happens to be. It is also expected
> that you try to find out if anyone is currently working on that problem
and
> join forces with them. If no else is, you go it alone or try to build a
> team, make a plan, and start working. You don't have to see it all the
way
> through, but everyone is expecting you to get the ball rolling and to
> "champion" the issue.
>
> You saw a problem, convinced some people that its important, and acted as
if
> you know how to "fix it", but at this moment you are not willing to do the
> work. So, put up or shut up. Yes "put up" requires a lot of work taking
> care of a new fish tank and you won't necessarily get paid for it. It may
> even cost you some of your own money to get the right equipment. Probably
> the cheapest route is to convince the place you work at to "trade" the 3
> goldfish for a school of minnows or danios which are better suited to a
12g
> tank.
>
> Until you are willing to do some work you are not in the right to make a
> fuss.
> E.Otter
>
>
>
>
>
>

[E.Otter]

As I said your options are to "go it alone or try to build a team, make a
plan, and start working". You don't have to do all the work or even the
majority of it. You do have to build a team, make a plan, and start doing
some of the work. Your work is going to include teaching others how to do
things right and making sure the plan is being followed through.

When you think of it, good coaches and leaders do just that: they build a
team, make a plan, teach others how to do things right and make sure
everyone is doing their part. They often do very little of the actual work.
E.Otter

[Dave Leason]

Thank you

Since my original posting I have got other staff together (when I am on
shift- work 2 or 3 shifts a week)
Ive shown them how much to feed, what signs of illness to look out for, how
to clean the filter and vacuum the gravel, how to treat water etc etc.

There are still days where noone feeds the fish or even thinks about feeding
them or checking on them which I am unhappy about but I have told all
collegues that if they want to keep fish they must look after them.

Kellie

"E.Otter" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> As I said your options are to "go it alone or try to build a team, make a
> plan, and start working". You don't have to do all the work or even the
> majority of it. You do have to build a team, make a plan, and start doing
> some of the work. Your work is going to include teaching others how to do
> things right and making sure the plan is being followed through.
>
> When you think of it, good coaches and leaders do just that: they build a
> team, make a plan, teach others how to do things right and make sure
> everyone is doing their part. They often do very little of the actual
work.
> E.Otter
>
>