It turns out the job of dog-kennel assistant is even less glamorous than it sounds...

[Subdivisions]

There are bad hours (lots of weekends and holidays). There's low-as-it-goes pay — as in minimum wage, $8.55 an hour.

But mostly there's the poop, says Guy Palumbo, owner of Roscoe's Ranch, a 24-kennel outfit north of Woodinville.

You want to be the kennel helper? You're on the hook for the poop. You'll spend part of every day scooping it up (if all digestive systems work as designed) or mopping it (when they don't).

"It's not most people's dream job," Palumbo laughs. "Usually I get high-school kids applying. Or maybe a college kid for the summer.

"I've never seen anything like this."

Two weeks ago Palumbo posted a want ad on Craigslist for a part-time dog-kennel assistant. The ad does say that working with dogs can be fun but then goes into some gory detail about the hardships — including the poop.

So far, 260 people have applied.

And they say the recession is over?

...snip...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2011421840_danny24.html">The rest of the applicants read like a recession roll call.

[Egnever]

1. Well a real recessions story would be

Him laying off the poop guy.

Just sayin.

[Subdivisions]

5. Yea, the fact he was hiring occured to me to. But not so lucky for 259 others, unfortunately. I'm

hoping the President's plan for jobs is a rousing success for those people.

[aquart]

2. And, honestly, NOT the worst job in the world.

[Subdivisions]

3. I can attest to that =) n/t

[OnyxCollie]

6. I applied for a job at a mink farm.

It looked like something out of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I saw a guy drive by in a golf cart with what I guess was a tub of rendered minks on the back. The owner was in an electric wheelchair and for some reason, his legs were tied together with rope. He asked me, "You ain't a drinker, are ya?" He handed me an application with cat pawprints all over it. I filled it out with fake info, turned around and never looked back.

[aquart]

14. Really, not quite the same.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Meh, I volunteered at a shelter and scooped for free. Also spent years as a nurse and

an aide--human poo is worse. But you get used to it. That said, I have officially retired from all jobs involving poop.

[flvegan]

7. Unfortunate, but try doing it for free.

I wish those 260 folks well, and I hope those jobs are filled and helps folks.

[OnyxCollie]

8. I do it every day.

Today I got to cut out a large section of family room carpet due to loose doggie bowels.

[flvegan]

9. So do I.

I run a rescue. Bless you for your work.

[OnyxCollie]

10. I don't run a rescue.

I just have a pack of dogs. (The blessing's nice, though.)

Pickin' up the poobie is a part of life. It keeps ya thinking; scoop or shovel?

[Missy Vixen]

12. We live less than ten miles from the city limits of Woodinville, WA

Microsoft's main campus is ten miles in the opposite direction. Woodinville is one of the more affluent areas of Western Washington. For those who might be curious, for instance, Woodinville is home to over thirty wineries. Redhook's brewery is there as well.

If there are 260 people willing to scoop poop for the minimum wage here, I can't even imagine how desperate it is in other parts of the country.

I hope those 259 others find a great paying, lasting job sooner than later.

[upi402]

11. yeah yeah but the DOW is at 10,850, recession is over!

why do you hate 'mericuh?

j/k

[old mark]

13. $8.55 an hour? I thought the minimum wage was still around $6...

My wife and I used to take care of people-including cleaning up THEIR poop - for under $7 an hour.
I prefer the dogs.....


mark

[blindpig]

15. Ha! I shoveled elephant shit for $5/hr

And that was a union gig, way back in the day.

If ya really like animals ya tend to put up with a lot to work with them. That said, there ain't so many people like that, and this story illustrates the depths of desperation that many find themselves in. Every week I meet people from Michigan, Ohio, etc who have moved to SC looking for work, 12.5% unemployment(official, probably more like 20%). It's heartbreaking.

k&r