To be a little upset that my boss was annoyed

[Mumof2NDers]

DH phoned me to say our dog was shaking and being sick and couldn’t/wouldn’t walk. DH doesn’t drive. I managed to get an emergency appointment at the vets and there were staff to cover me so I asked if I could leave work (I’ll make the time up) He was a bit annoyed. I‘ve worked with him for 36 years have had 2 kids in that time and rarely done anything like this.
I’m very easy going at work, he runs late a lot (dentist) and into my lunch and after work. I never complain. We worked into lunch today because an elderly patient turned up (late) at 1 which is our lunchtime and I just couldn’t send her away.
AIBU to be a bit upset about this?
Don’t get me wrong there’s no fuming going on I just feel there should be a bit of give and take.

I agree with you but I think it's often the case that if you are always available and don't say no to things like working through lunch, people will get annoyed and think you are unreasonable when you do say no

Importantly, is your dog ok?

Wow 36 years and he got annoyed? I would be quite upset at this and really would have to let him know. Trust me he depends on and needs you more than you think.

Oh yes and sorry , hopefully your dog is ok?!

The thing is, some folk think of a dog as a dog and others think of a dog as a member of the family.

Your boss clearly doesn’t accept that the health and comfort of the dog is entirely your responsibility.

Your boss is a tit. I hope your pooch is ok.

Boss sounds like a tosser.
Is your dog okay?

There's a fine line between easy going and doormat. People never acknowledge or thank a doormat, but they sure do get pissy when the doormat does something mildly inconvenient to them. Maybe time to start going on your lunch at lunchtime and making sure you're not too easy going?

Is your dog doing ok?

I can see both sides of this. Yes, it sounds like this was a one off thing, you are a long standing, good employee and you didn't leave him in the lurch as enough staff was there to cover your absence. So he shouldn't be annoyed and you would expect to be able to go home for an emergency. However, playing devil's advocate you had another adult available to look after the dog. He doesn't drive, but could potentially take a taxi (most will accept pets and most places have a pet taxi/ambulance service available) to the vets. Depending on the size of your dog and the severity of course (much harder to move a 40kg dog that cannot move/stand/walk on your own compared to a 5kg one). So I can also see why your boss might have thought this wasn't "emergency" enough to leave work for.

In any case I hope your doggy is doing ok!

Your boss shouldn’t have been annoyed but your husband could have taken a taxi. I used to do this all the time before I could drive.

Hope your dog is ok!

I’m sensing a boss who takes advantage of a long-standing employee but gets peevish when it’s her turn to want a bit of leeway.

But tbh I think it could be too late to turn the tide after all this time. You either carry on carrying on, or you find a new role and start as you mean to go on ie a little more assertive.

I think it depends on what your role at the dentist is and whether he could carry on fulfilling people's appointments without you or not. I tend to think someone's pre-booked root canal is a little bit more important than your DH's inability to get a taxi to get your dog to a vet (or walk, I run/walked 3 miles carrying one of my pets to get them to the vet in an emergency once when I had no car, I was exhausted when I got there but needs must).
But if he could have done his appointments without you then he was just being a churlish twat.

Maybe he thought you should have been firmer with the elderly patient and made her rebook?

At any of my workplaces you would have been told to go and take as much time as you needed, especially in more recent years. Your boss is an arse.

However, why couldn't your DH have taken a taxi? I don't drive and that's how I take my furry friends to the vet.

Thanks for your replies.
Another nurse was free and stepped in for me.
The vets is 8 miles away and the dog weighs 3 and a half stone.
I don’t think I’m a doormat as such but he does take the piss sometimes.
The dog is doing much better after an antibiotic injection and a painkilling injection.

Maybe but she comes by taxi that waits for her so I wasn’t going to turn her away.

I think this is probably the issue. He doesn’t like animals, he can’t see the point in having them.

There was another dental nurse free. She stepped in for the afternoon. DH had to carry him from the car and was staggering by the time we got to the door 😀. The dogs 24kg. DH is a bit shit in a crisis (which is an ongoing issue tbf.

Next time anything happens with the dog that you need time off for, just tell a white lie and say you have a doctors appointment/ a human family member has an emergency. Boss sounds sour and mean against animals and you said he doesn't care for them. (his choice, I wouldn't want my dentist to bring a dog to work, lol) He could be more compassionate though.
The dog weighs 3.5 stone! I'm surprised two of you could shift him if he couldn't walk the poor thing. Glad he's on the mend.

I think I’d have to mention that. I’d ask if we can talk and say I hope you’ve noticed I generally do everything I can to make things work here, I work late, I work into my lunch break. After asking to take my dog into the vet last week I felt you were annoyed about giving me that flex. I thought we respected each other but maybe that was a one way street. Could you please think about it, and I’m not necessarily available to work late or in lunch anymore. I have a life and it has to fit in somewhere.

Quick update: dog is much happier and is eating and drinking well.
My feelingometer swung from upset to a bit peed off this morning when I was told by a colleague that he’d said that me leaving wasn’t fair to his patients! It made absolutely no difference to the patients whatsoever so I’m a bit confused by that! So… I’m going to take it as a compliment. I’m so fucking fantastic that it matters if I’m not there 😂😂 and in the words of Elsa I’m going to let it go (this time!)