Hi Cosmickid,

I'm really sorry she treated you that way
All I can say is that maybe she's extremely stressed or struggling and just "lashing out" at anybody, or perhaps she's losing the passion for the actual work at the facility and becoming cold/indifferent to the nature of it/others there??
But I can completely understand how her attitude towards you "coming out of the blue" when you had such natural feelings of shock/grief about the kittens must have hurt a lot
And especially from someone you would have thought, if anything more than anyone, would/should understand and offer you empathy and support!! I am sorry.

And the volunteering...........well firstly massive kudos to you for the devotion and commitment you've put in for such a long time!!!
But it must be awful for you to experience so many of the kittens you've looked after dying, so if you wanted to quit and find other voluntary work then that would be completely understandable. I'd just say maybe give yourself a little more time to really think about it as this has mattered so much to you and you have only just found out about this virus.
And in thinking about it, try your best to take this person out of the equation, they clearly aren't "helpful or supportive" to you right now.
And I think, from your caring nature, you can do what you do without the need for their supportiveness. And if you need support with your feelings about the kittens.......then maybe you can turn to a colleague, maybe a friend or family member or maybe us.
Instead consider the work and how you feel about the work itself. Please, as far as you can, try not to let this person taint how you feel about what you do.
If you need to move on, absolutely do that (!!!) but worth reflecting on a bit??

And the depression..........I can see how all of this...........the kittens........her..........could be so triggering for you
So try to look out for yourself in all of this, hey?? And put top of the list what you might need e.g. "time out", time to do things that might help you a little, a break, some self-care, getting some more help/support with that.........just make sure you're thinking of yourself plenty in all of this.



Alison