Why I'm a shelter volunteer...

rubsluts'mommy

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Being a shelter volunteer has its benefits. I get my ‘third kittyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] fix without adopting (I can only have two pets, which I already have, in my apartment). I get to share my love of cats with those lonely felines, as well as any soul who comes in to look at the cats (whether theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re adopting or not!!!). Then I have those cases where all seems difficult, if not nearly impossible. I had one of those recently.

A beautiful girl came into our shelter recently. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a two year old tortie/tabbie (torbie, right?) mix, with plenty of orange. I had a lady with two small kids come in last week to look at her. They werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t the first ones to fall in love with her markings. We soon discovered her issues: She hates other cats. She also couldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t relax with the kids around. She tolerated them, but that was the best she could do. Now, when I say she hated other cats, this was discovered as I was putting her back in her cage after seeing that family. She saw the other girl in the cage below hers and flipped out. She jumped back into her cage and promptly turned and swiped at my hand, drawing blood. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s also done this with at least two other volunteers. We marked on her cage card that she should be an ‘only catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] in an adults only home. Thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a difficult one to place. Most people who come in to look at the cats are either adding to their brood or have children…

I had hope anyway. I went back in for my normal day, this last Thursday, only to find my temperamental Torbie was still there. They even made her pet of the week in the newspaper. No luck. No one rushing in to adopt this girl.

On a side note: We are a kill shelter, but only based on behavior before they go into the Cattery (adoption room). I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think I could abide volunteering for a kill shelter that kills based on time.

Thursday, sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s still there. We get people coming in, ignoring her. Then, about a half hour before I left, a lady came in, single, lives alone, no kids. She recently lost both of her cats, sisters. One last fall at 16, the other last month at the age of 17. She first fell in love with one of the kittens, a feisty little girl. But this one already has two adopters on her. Not much chance of her getting this kitten. She was about to leave, heartbroken, but I went back out and reminded her of this Torbie (she was very focused, tunnel vision for one cat). She came back into the Cattery with me and looked at her. I told her they would be a perfect match. I told her about the feistiness of this Two year old. She said she wanted to do the application process for her. She agreed that they would be a good match. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d have a good home, large space to roam, her own room to play in, and would be the ONLY cat. A pampered life. Just what this Torbie needs. She recognized that I am there to help cats find their right match. And Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m there for the welfare of the cat.

When I left for the day, she was headed in for her interview. I sincerely hope all goes well. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a good cat, loves head scritches, just doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t do well with other felines.

This is what makes it all worth while. Seriously.
 

jamasmom

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Fingers, toes everything crossed that this kitty gets adopted. Please keep us posted.
 

lsulover

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Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

Being a shelter volunteer has its benefits. I get my ‘third kittyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] fix without adopting (I can only have two pets, which I already have, in my apartment). I get to share my love of cats with those lonely felines, as well as any soul who comes in to look at the cats (whether theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re adopting or not!!!). Then I have those cases where all seems difficult, if not nearly impossible. I had one of those recently.

A beautiful girl came into our shelter recently. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a two year old tortie/tabbie (torbie, right?) mix, with plenty of orange. I had a lady with two small kids come in last week to look at her. They werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t the first ones to fall in love with her markings. We soon discovered her issues: She hates other cats. She also couldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t relax with the kids around. She tolerated them, but that was the best she could do. Now, when I say she hated other cats, this was discovered as I was putting her back in her cage after seeing that family. She saw the other girl in the cage below hers and flipped out. She jumped back into her cage and promptly turned and swiped at my hand, drawing blood. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s also done this with at least two other volunteers. We marked on her cage card that she should be an ‘only catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] in an adults only home. Thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a difficult one to place. Most people who come in to look at the cats are either adding to their brood or have children…

I had hope anyway. I went back in for my normal day, this last Thursday, only to find my temperamental Torbie was still there. They even made her pet of the week in the newspaper. No luck. No one rushing in to adopt this girl.

On a side note: We are a kill shelter, but only based on behavior before they go into the Cattery (adoption room). I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think I could abide volunteering for a kill shelter that kills based on time.

Thursday, sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s still there. We get people coming in, ignoring her. Then, about a half hour before I left, a lady came in, single, lives alone, no kids. She recently lost both of her cats, sisters. One last fall at 16, the other last month at the age of 17. She first fell in love with one of the kittens, a feisty little girl. But this one already has two adopters on her. Not much chance of her getting this kitten. She was about to leave, heartbroken, but I went back out and reminded her of this Torbie (she was very focused, tunnel vision for one cat). She came back into the Cattery with me and looked at her. I told her they would be a perfect match. I told her about the feistiness of this Two year old. She said she wanted to do the application process for her. She agreed that they would be a good match. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d have a good home, large space to roam, her own room to play in, and would be the ONLY cat. A pampered life. Just what this Torbie needs. She recognized that I am there to help cats find their right match. And Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m there for the welfare of the cat.

When I left for the day, she was headed in for her interview. I sincerely hope all goes well. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a good cat, loves head scritches, just doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t do well with other felines.

This is what makes it all worth while. Seriously.
I do hope that this lady is able to adopt this cat, please keep us updated on this story.
 

leto86

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Cats getting a home is the best part of volunteering.


Though I prefer straight adoptions right away. We talk to the people, and know within a few minutes if it's going to be a good home or not. You can take a cat home the same day if it's a 'good' home. I say good meaning that it follows are policies.. cat stays indoors, is fed a good food, etc etc.
Like today, an older couple came in wanting to adopt one of our older cats. (cats 1 year and up that are spayed/neutered and vaccinated are $50 + $4 PST.) they specifically wanted an oler one because they didn't want to pay alot for a kitten. Which I understand.
But when I told them how much we charge for a kitten ($140 + PST, i'm not sure how much it is) she got mad at me and told me that she could get a free kitten out of the paper. After telling her that there is no such thing as a free cat, that it still needs to be spayed and vaccinated. She then told me that she wouldn't get it spayed or neutered and vaccinated. Well that closes the deal right there.. we aren't going to let our cats go somewhere where they will be deprived of vet care. Especially if it needed to be altered still. We are working to minimize the population, not create one.
Though we do get alot of people that take very good care of theeir kitties. Some people took home 2 kitten to foster, and after rushing one of them to the emergency vets when it suddenly got sick, and spending ALOT of money in vet bills, we offered her the cats with the adoption fee waived, as we knew she was going to take very good care of them.

Since volunteering I have brought 3 more kitties and a dog into our family.
It becomes impossible to turn down a cute face when you foster.


Thanks for helping out animals in need! We need more people in this world that are willing to help out.
 
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rubsluts'mommy

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i don't have confirmation yet, but Pippy's profile has been pulled down from the website, which usually means the cat has been adopted... This is the right timeline... Thursday was when I met the lady, Pippy could have been spayed as early as yesterday, (we typiucally don't spay until an adopter comes up) but possibly this morning... which means she would have gone home today!!!

I'll get confirmation next week... Unless I email my supervisor... which she probably won't get until Monday... but that's still sooner than Thursday.

I'll keep you all informed...

Amanda
 

booktigger

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Fingers crossed for her, it is wonderful when the harder to home cats find somewhere good. There are some very rewarding moments when working in cat rescue - I foster, and that is the way I get my kitty fix at times - I can help more, but know that they aren't here to stay. I also think it helps me be able to take on oldies, as I can foster young, playful friendly cats that help take your mind off the stress of dealing with poorly oldies. I have only adopted two though, both have been temperamental oldies that would have been hard to home, and only when losses have meant I have had space.
 
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rubsluts'mommy

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WOOHOOO!!!


Pippy was adopted... the lady I talked to was listed as first adopter so she got Pippy. So a happy ending for this lovely girl...

As I said in my initial post: THIS is why I do this... the kittens are great... getting purrs in my ears from 3 month old fuzzles is great, but to see a hard-to-adopt cat get a home is worth everything...

Now, off to 'reward' myself...

Amanda
 

booktigger

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That is excellent news, and yes, one of the most rewarding things about working in rescue - I adopted a cat out yesterday that had been here about 6 weeks, and he was terribly lonely here (got him a friend, and he wasn't sure!!) - spoke to his new owners today, and he is spoilt already, and made good friends with her daughter and other pets, and hasn't had the issues that he had here, so I was incredibly pleased.
 
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