Fired for calling animal control

I am an ex-groomer now. I was fired for calling animal control on a dog that came into the salon. is that wrongful termination? i can go into details but im not sure if i sould, IF it is something i need to get a lawyer for.

Yes, we're going to need the details and your State name.

My state is California. My boss was in Vegas for a grooming trade show, she left a groomer "Lisa" in charge. "Lisa" has been there for 4 years. I started there in Jan of this year, coming from another grooming shop. They had been talking about this particular dog a few days before. It is a 14 yr old shih tzu kept in long coat. I have seen this dog come in numerous times. Everytime the boss usually does it straight through so that we can get it in and get it out asap. The dog usually has poop stuck to its butt, boogers around the eyes and a very foul smell coming from its mouth. I believe the dog comes in about every 2 or 3 weeks. I remember the last time we did the dog, before it came in that day, they mentioned how skinny it was becoming and that they should do something about its mouth. My boss has said many times that she wishes the dog would die before it came in for its appointment, she mentioned that also this week that it came. That day it showed up and when "Lisa" was ready to do the dog, she went to get it out of the kennel. She gave a disgusting face and a sigh. She wasnt happy about doing the dog. She picked it up and was shocked at how light it was. I was looking at it when she was holding it and she ran her thumb and pointer finger down its spine. Its spine was purtruding about an inch or inch and a half off of its body. It was horrible. I continued to groom the dog i was working on, and she took the dog to the tub. A few moments later i hear "Lisa" say my name. We have two bathers in the bathing area, and one of them looked at me and i mouthed, (because the dryers are pretty loud) did she call me? And the bather said yes. So i went in there and she showed me the dog. She had started to spray it with water so its hair was damp and i swear all the poor thing was was skin and bones. perfect outline of the hips! I was floored. I said we should call animal cops or whoever. The bather said i am spca, get me the number and i will call! I said ok. I dont think "Lisa" knew or thought we were serious. I didnt think i should have told her i was going to call. I called my husband at home and told him about it and asked him to get me the number for the animal shelter. He did and i called and asked if this is the number for animal control. They said yes and i told them about the dog. I havent called on an animal before. They asked me my name and i told them, they asked me the name of the salon, and i told them. they asked if the address was .... and the phone number was..... and i said yes. and they asked me for the dogs address and phone number and name. So i got the animals folder and told them the vet and address and all they asked. I asked them if it would be annonymous and they said yes unless the owners ask in writing. and i said ok my boss isnt here i just dont want her to get pissed if they find out who reported them. They asked if they could send an officer to the salon and i said im not sure if they could, and they said that they are just like the police that they can come in and look at the dog, but i asked them to just go to the cliants house instead. After i called them "Lisa" came out with the dog and i told her i called. She was like OMG! Please tell me you didnt. Our boss will be so mad! She doesnt handle stuff like that. And i said what? That dog needs help and she wouldnt call? "Lisa" said she has some client confidentiality thing so she doesnt get into stuff like that. I thought thats just with doctors. She told me i would have to call our boss and tell her. She was affraid that she would get fired because she was incharge. So after work i called my boss on her cell phone and told her what i did. She was shocked and didnt speak so i asked her if she wanted to call me at a better time. We were off sat, sun and on monday she called me and asked me questions. I answered them. and she told me that my response wasnt what she was looking for, but she didnt know what kind of response she wanted. So i asked her if im coming to work the next day. she said yes just come in like you would go to work and if anything changes she would call me. So i come in for work and she said dont start prepping in any dogs i need to talk to you. so we went outside because she didnt have an office. asked me the same questions as on the phone. she still told me that my response wasnt what she was looking for. she said something about defending myself or something like that. she said the two main things she was upset about was calling and giving out te information of the client and saying the businesses name and that i didnt apologize. So she said she would have to let me go. so she fired me. so i belive thats it. thanks

Okay, thanks for all the facts. Unfortunately, nothing you've said comes anywhere close to being "wrongful termination." Nothing in your post even hints at a "Title VII" violation on the part of your employer.

California is one of 49 States that is "At Will" employment. This basically means that you can quit (even without notice) on a moment's notice, and your employer has the same right to fire you. You work at "the pleasure" of your employer. You may have, in fact, done the correct thing in relation to the dog and it's owner. However, if what you did "displeases" your employer, then your employer can, under these facts, fire you.

Under these simple rules and laws, your employer can fire you for any reason, or even, no reason at all. You have the same rights, and you can quit at any time. Just to be clear, there is no "2 Week Notice" law. That's merely a "courtesy," and a "custom." So, unless you have a written employment contract, your employer can immediately fire you.

awesome thanks so much for the info. I was just wondering because friends have said oh you sould sue to get ur job back.. nah i dont want it back!

The next time someone tells you to sue, ask "On what legal theory and grounds would make you suggest that?" If they can't answer this question, then you should seek a consultation with a local attorney about the situation, whatever that situation might be - - not your friends.