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process of adopting from a shelter/rescue - Page 2

post #31 of 43
2/21/08 at 11:44am
Thread Starter 
Yes, there are still a number of avenues I can pursue.

- I asked my vet to let me know if they know of any cats up for adoption, or litters of kittens.

- I filled out and sent an application to another rescue group who claims to adopt to indoor/outdoor homes.

- I sent an email to another local humane society to ask if they will adopt to indoor/outdoor homes.

- I've checked craig's list. In my immediate area there's only like 3 postings for cats up for adoption, and none sounded very good. I may have to look in areas further out.

- Petfinder.com also has classified ads. I checked those for my state and there might be something there. I'll have to take a closer look.

- I'll see if I can go out Sunday and buy some local papers to see if there's anything in the classifieds there.

- A co-worker of mine mentioned at one point that she might know someone who has kittens. I can follow up with her.

- I can put in a call to my local animal control and see if they have any cats/kittens up for adoption and if they have an indoor-only policy. They may work with the shelter I was just rejected at, however, since it is located in my town.

There's probably more...
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post #32 of 43
2/21/08 at 12:17pm
I think that I got an eye-opening from this post. Do shelters really interview you? Our shelter didn't really ask us anything. I am not sure if they asked us about where we lived, but we may have checked somewhere that it was a private residence. They did not ask about indoor/outdoor. We would have had to have her spayed if she wasn't but she was. We could not leave without agreeing to put the chip in her, but that was it. Maybe it was because I bypassed the kittie department and went straight to the adult cats.
Oh, we had to agree to take her to a vet but they gave us the names of the vets who provided the first visit free for shelter cats. Our vet was one of them.
We had our Butzie in about 1 hour.

So
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post #33 of 43
2/21/08 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Yes. The ones around where I live, at least, all have:

- applications to fill out, which includes indoor/outdoor, if you would declaw, what other pets you have, if you own/rent, if it is a condo, if you're planning to move soon, and more

- interviews

- they want ID to prove you're at least 21 years old

- they want proof you own your own home (if you do)

- or proof from your landlord that you're allowed to have cats (if you rent)

- and/or a copy of the condo bylaws (if you own a condo) saying you're allowed to have cats

- they want references and/or the name of your vet, who they call

- some have a contract for you to sign (some don't)

- etc

for example:

MetroWest Humane Society

MetroWest Animal Awareness Society
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post #34 of 43
2/21/08 at 12:32pm
Don't be disheartened, I think contacting vets is a great idea, I am sure you will find your perfect companion eventually. I had the opposite problem, here you have to have a garden so a cat can be indoor/outdoor, you can only adopt an indoor only cat from a shelter if it is elderly or special needs. Your views are the norm here But I live in an upstairs flat with no access to the outdoors - I ended up finding Radar through an online classified ad, so keep checking sites regularly as I am sure the cat of your dreams will turn up eventually
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post #35 of 43
2/21/08 at 8:56pm
Thread Starter 
I'm pursuing a lead on a couple of cats.

Gypsy
Pierre

I've sent email to their owner. We'll see if it works out...
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post #36 of 43
2/21/08 at 9:50pm
I adopted Mischief from a Humane Society in my city and they have tons of rules posted on their site yet when we went in we filled a very small form out and they just skimmed over it very quickly and showed us to the kitties right away.
The rules and all that seem like alot but when we went through it here it really wasn't that bad and fairly simple.
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post #37 of 43
2/22/08 at 10:24am
I adopted mine from my county's animal care and control (county outside of Chicago) and they did have some questions/rules regarding lease/condo restrictictions (I had to provide my association by-laws), keeping the cat inside (which is actually a county law, anyway), etc. I don't think they asked about a vet, but I was so busy running vets' names by them for a reference, I guess they figured I'd have a vet immediately.

I honestly didn't think any of the questions were intrusive or irrelevant. My animal control office is the only shelter in our county that accepts all animals, unlike others that will be full. I think they do an excellent job of working with potential adopters, as well as other local shelters, in trying to find all the animals home.

Good luck in finding your kitty - I know he or she is out there.
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post #38 of 43
2/23/08 at 7:20pm
Thread Starter 
The adoption of Gypsy and Pierre is looking good. I'm going to go and meet them at their house tomorrow to see if we hit it off.

So I've learned a few things during this whole process:

- Don't try to adopt from a shelter/rescue operation unless you want to have indoor-only cats.

- But go ahead and look at their lists of cats because they sometimes do courtesy listings for private individuals looking to re-home their cat(s), who may not be so picky about the potential adopters.
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post #39 of 43
2/24/08 at 9:58pm
Hello fellow massachusettett.

There is a great shelter in Salem Ma. They prefer keeping their cats indoor only but they also have made allowances depending on the temperment of the cat and even where you live. If it's not a high traffic area it's usually okay with them.

There was a cat i fostered for a VERY SHORT while. She was SOOOOOO unhappy being inside. She was finally adopted by someone who lived away from high traffic areas and had a barn....so she could mouse to her hearts content!

I was really put off by the hoops I felt I needed to jump through and the fear of rejection. I too can be weary of anyone asking too many probing questions. But once I did it it wasn't so bad! 3 precious kitties later and 3 different shelters! One was the one in Salem-Northeast animal shelter -Ms. Fiona, the other was a local petsmart-Ray Ray, and my most recent was through the MSPCA in Methuen-Rocko...but the MSPCA have a metrowest shelter too.

Good luck getting your new babies! I am sure they will be well worth the wait and whatever means to adopt them!

I realized it was all for the good of these animals who have usually been bounced around so much it just isn't fair to take their placement in new homes lightly. Trust me, these people know what they are doing and are very interested in both the animals and the owners happiness.

Please let us know how it all goes! and pictures too! My first kitty was a tuxedo too. He died when he was 13....i miss him everyday. His name was Sydney. You picture and story of Rascal brought back some nice memories of my first kitty. Thank you
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post #40 of 43
2/25/08 at 12:05pm
Thread Starter 
I have adopted Gypsy and Pierre (who I have renamed to Misty and Harry). I've had them for about 24 hours now. Hopefully this will work out. I'll post pictures in the picture thread.

I adopted them from a private couple, not through the shelter, although the shelter did post the two cats on their "cats for adoption" page, as a courtesy.
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post #41 of 43
2/25/08 at 1:19pm
Congratulations on the adoption.
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post #42 of 43
2/25/08 at 2:51pm
Congratulations on finding your new babies! Misty and Harry - sound like great names to me!
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post #43 of 43
2/25/08 at 3:04pm
Congratualtions! I love the name Harry for pets! Pics please asap!
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