Its fair to say I recently started working at a pet shop. My probation period ended in June, and Ive since become a permanent member of staff. Let me explain what that entails.
At this particular pet shop, staff whove secured permanent positions are allowed, at the end of each month, to take goods that have been decommissioned. For instance, food in damaged packaging or nearing its expiry date, and pet accessories if theyre slightly faulty.
The way it works is, we agree amongst ourselves wholl take what. I dont actually have pets myself, but I still end up picking out something for me or family each month.
So, for the first time, I took a bag of cat food. My wifes parents have a cat at home, so I gave them the food.
After that, it dawned on me that Id always be on the lookout for cat supplies from now on.
The next time, I brought home a scratching post for cats. It was a little bit torn, but my mother-in-law managed to sew it up easily.
However, when I delivered it, they werent happy about it at all. Theyd already run out of cat food, so instead of a thank you, I got:
You should have picked the cat food! Why did you bother bringing this instead?
I admit, that stung a bit, because last time I explained how we get these pet shop items. This time, I reminded them again, and they just pretended to understand and listen.
On the way home, I suggested to my wife that Id buy good-quality cat food for her parents cat every month. If I could get it free from work, Id stash it for them. Thats how we settled it.
The only odd thing was that, after a month, theyd somehow run out of 10 kilos of cat food. I asked my mother-in-law about it and she admitted that shed promised her neighbour shed bring her some cat food as well.
She knew Id bring more the next month, so she gave away some of her stock. And then my wife and I had to buy them some very pricey cat food. I had to explain yet again that I was only bringing food for their own cat.
And yet, what I got back was this bit of outrage:
Well, you work at a pet shop, dont you?!
They genuinely believed I was refusing, on purpose, to bring enough food for the cat.
Thats when I realised it was time to put a stop to this madness. I told my wifes parents, point blank, that on principle I wouldnt be bringing them anything from the shop anymore. It was a bad idea. I explained they shouldnt expect anything else from me, going forward.
