u/IAmJacksImage

This is a little messy. I'm hoping I've included all the relevant information.

I am in SW England. My friend works at a vet surgery. An abandoned kitten was brought into them. Apparently, a client of theirs fosters cats so he went to stay with her, whilst they looked for somebody who would be interested in homing him. She had a holiday booked, so asked the surgery to look after him as he had diarrhea and she didn't want to risk a pet sitter if there was something wrong.

Whilst she was on holiday my friend made me aware of this kitten, and I was very interested. She messaged the fosterer as she was still away to say she'd found someone, and then when she'd brought the kitten to mine.

Apparently she returned from holiday and asked when she could have him back, because she met someone on holiday who is interested and took a deposit. This person is in SCOTLAND.

My friend has told her that she clearly misunderstood, and that he's settling well and bonded with us. That the surgery were under the impression he was still looking for a home, and that's why staff were asking around.

She is insisting that he is taken back, so she can give him to this home in Scotland. Where do we stand?

My friend is feeling awful, and raising concerns with management about whether she was properly vetted, as it seems more like she's trying to sell fostered animals. When asked what she had taken a deposit for, apparently she said it was for his food and what's she paid for for his care.

The fosterer originally said to my friend, that she currently has a pregnant cat and if I wanted a kitten I would be first on the list. My friend isn't sure, but believes this is also a fostered animal, found pregnant. Whether she would expect payment for this is unclear.

EDIT: apparently the surgery is calling the VSA (veterinary specialist association) tomorrow to see where they stand.

EDIT 2: Thank you all for your comments and advice. I felt confident we were right, at least morally and for the sake of our kitten, but was unsure of the legality. I'm hopeful the VSA will say similar to the vets tomorrow, and that will be the end of it. But at least I have guidance to work from if that isn't the case. Again, thanks a lot, it's all really helped.

Sorry if I'm being stupid or naive, I moved out at 18 and went straight into private renting as I couldn't wait several years for a home so know very little.

My understanding is that it's there to house people who are somewhat struggling/vulnerable, hence why it's so difficult/takes so long to get a house. I'm referring to working people, not those with disabilities or other reasons they cannot work.

Can someone explain why it's permanent? When I was younger, I thought it was temporary to sort of help people get on their feet (for those who can work). It made sense to me that you'd get there, get a job, pay half what private renting would be, and that way it would be easier to save up for a mortgage. Once you're financially stable off you go, you get to buy your own home!

I feel frustrated paying £1k a month in rent, and hearing my 50yo colleagues talk about how little their rent is as they've lived in a council home all their lives. Why do they get to stay there so long and live cheaper than so many others, if they don't currently need support? (and haven't for years)

How does it work? How is it meant to work?

Hello!

I recently started working in the reception at a GP surgery. At the end of each day I'm expected to go round the whole building and make sure all the windows and doors are shut (fine) but also pick up all the mugs and glasses people have left around, taking them to the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher, which is normally full, so I have to wash them up by hand.

I hate this. To me, grown adults should clean up after themselves. Nobody's job is so important they can't put a mug in a dishwasher when they finish work, which takes a minute. It takes me between 20 and 40 minutes to do this. Phone lines are still open and patients can still come in.

I can't get my head around it. In every other place I've worked, making sure everything is clean and tidy is fine, and if someone has left a mug out I'll deal with it. But this is actually expected and accepted. Nobody needs to take stuff to the kitchen because reception will do it at the end of the day.

Recently, it hasn't just been mugs and cups. It's been people's dirty bowls from lunch. The kitchen has a chopping board with bread on and used knives that people have just left.

Is this normal? Is this an expected duty for reception staff at all surgeries? Am I being ridiculous to think this is ridiculous for grown adults to do?

Edit: thank you for the comments. I have requested a meeting as there are various things I'm unhappy about. This was the one thing I wanted to know about other places first. I understand in any job employers can be vague with "additional duties" but I do intend to raise this as an issue.