Sorry if this is long or incoherent, i’m writing this on my phone. This happened a few months ago and i don’t need any particular advice, only to know if i was really wrong in this situation.

So, in my country, as a part of a final project to finish high school, we need to volunteer. I chose to volunteer in a cat shelter that my friend had done her project at a year before, and she had a good experience. She gave me a number of the manager and we started going over the details. That is when she gave me the number of another woman, “Anne”, and told me Anne would be my overseer.

Me and Anne scheduled the first meeting when i would come in. 2 hours before, I called to confirm the location (on Google maps there was only one location and my friend confirmed that is where she went), but Anne told me that i should come to another location. She sent it to me and it was located in a gated residential community, upon checking on maps there was nothing but private residences. Obviously this threw me off and i did not feel comfortable going, which i expressed. I informed Anne that i would prefer going to the shelter and to let me know when i can go there, to which she agreed.

Months passed with nothing from her and my project deadline was approaching, so i called her and asked if there was any availability in the shelter, and she said i could come next week. When i got there, it was locked and no one was there, so i called Anne, and she informed me that i was supposed to come to the location she sent me months ago, and said she would come pick me up. I was stunned by this, but i had no choice since i would not be able to do my project otherwise. She picked me up, looked normal enough, and we got to chatting. She then told me that we are actually going to her house, since she keeps some of the cats there. She also let me know that there is a section where she keeps very sick cats and referred to it as “the hospital”. When we finally got there and she opened the door, the smell hit me. Now, i’m aware that cats smell and that i should expect it, but i actually gagged, and i wasn’t even inside yet.

To set the scene, this was a big house, and every square inch was occupied by a cat, i’m not even exaggerating when i say that there was more than 80. The real issue was that there were feces EVERYWHERE. The place was filthy and not just from the cats, it was so cluttered you could barely get around. And this was just the living room. She then showed me around and the whole house was the same, more cats, more feces and more of her clutter. And don’t forget the smell, this whole time i am genuinely trying not to throw up.

She then told me that today i would be cleaning. She took me to the “hospital” area and there were about a dozen cages there. This was probably the dirtiest part of the house. The litter boxes looked like they haven’t been cleaned in ages, there was puke in all the cages (looked old so i assume she saw it and ignored it) and the cats looked feral. They were hissing and pawing at me through the bars. She then left me there and told me to start.

When i opened the first cage, the cat swung at me immediately, scratching me, but i went on, you know, it’s expected, but then it almost bit me , and to be fair he looked like the calmest one of the bunch. I understand that it’s a cat, but she explicitly told me that these cats had various diseases and that is why they were separated from other cats. Mind you after this, I was expected to clean the floors. This lady literally brought me here to clean her house under the guise of volunteering. This was my breaking point. After an hour of trying not to puke, evading stepping in shit (or a cat) and dodging her stuff everywhere on the floor, I gave up. I told her as much and she didn’t look that fazed and i left.

Some half and hour later, she started bombarding me with messages calling me spoiled and privileged, saying no one had given up before (which i HIGHLY doubt), how i wasted her time etc, she told me she prays i never have kids or pets since i am obviously suited for neither and finished of by calling me pathetic.

To be honest, i felt bad for the cats, they were obviously neglected and the whole place was a bio hazard, i am sure that this was not normal or standard when it comes to animal care. Was i really in the wrong for leaving? I really did expect to clean litter boxes and cages, obviously, but this was not exactly what i signed up for.