People suck

I try not to spend too much time on the front desk

Honestly though, I think at least they are giving them up to a no-kill shelter and not dumping them on the side of the road or worse. We are not animal control so can say no too, which we may have to do with this one because there are so many strays and animals in real need right now that have no one when this cat is safe - at least until its owner travels.

I think we are offering her a foster adoption where she can advertise it in the shelter but we are not taking it in.

They just need to hire a pet sitter. Retired persons are some of my best clients.

Originally Posted by howtoholdacat

They just need to hire a pet sitter. Retired persons are some of my best clients.

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Uh they didn't even want to pay a release fee for us to bring its vaccinations up to date they laughed when all the other suggestions (boarding / pet sitters etc) were brought up.

People make me sick.

I don't know for sure but I think the two cats I mentioned in the beginning of my post were euthanized. I'll know tomorrow when I go in for sure but I do know several cats were put down this week. I've been off since Monday so I'm not totally sure who the cats were. I'm glad it will be Saturday and I'll be the only person there so when I cry no one will be there to see me. It's so hard to care for them and coax them to be comfortable and happy only to see them destroyed when there isn't enough room.

I hope their former owner is very happy getting ready for her new baby. I wonder if she even thinks about them.

I dont think I could ever work at a shelter that euthanises, the few euthanisations we do hurt me as it is without dealing with it on an ongoing basis

I'm not sure I can either. However, I try to remember that I can help the animals and that's the most important thing. I've a large number of contacts at local no-kill rescues and have been allowed to contact them about certain animals. Also, I think I'm the only person there who works with the animals who's not afraid to handle cats so I'm able to give them good contact and help them relax which makes them more likely to be adopted. I don't like euthanasia AT ALL but there are far more animals than can be financially supported in this world. If people would spay and neuter I would happily be out of a job.

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

Our calls this week to surrender include a 12 year old they have had since a kitten because 'we are retired and want to travel now'

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That sounds like my sister's MIL! In the 15 or so years I have known her in-laws they have gotten rid of 2 dogs, a ferret and at least one cat so they could "travel". Funny thing is they go no further than the local casinos. After they got rid of the 1st dog (MIL wanted to tie him to a tree because she didn't want to pay the shelter a fee) one of their sons got them ANOTHER DOG! Almost all the kids (unfortunately including my BIL who can't understand why I have 4 cats) have picked up the attitude of disposable pets.

Plenty of retirees around me that live year round in their RVs and travel the entire country with their cats.

I think instead of release fees, shelters aught to require owners who surrender for frivolous reasons to volunteer a month in a high kill shelter.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

I think instead of release fees, shelters aught to require owners who surrender for frivolous reasons to volunteer a month in a high kill shelter.

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I would rather they were nowhere near an animal ever again

Last week at the shelter where I volunteer 2 cats were brought in by a donor who had recently adopted 1 of our dogs. ( They also have adopted 2 of our cats and have given generous donations in the past so we believe their story) Every day they walked their dog on the same route, on this particular day the dog wanted to take a different way so they obliged. After walking about a 1/4 mile down a gravel road the dog went down into the ditch and started pawing at a taped up box. They heard noises in box so they peeked inside and found two large male cats. TAPED INSIDE A BOX AND DUMPED ALONG THE ROAD TWO CATS!. Both of these cats were long haired beautiful neutered males and very tame. One of them was even front declawed. They were in pretty good health so must have been dumped fairly recently.We named them Ringo and Lennon and put their story in our local paper and were able to find good homes for them right away.

Last week at the shelter where I volunteer 2 cats were brought in by a donor who had recently adopted 1 of our dogs. ( They also have adopted 2 of our cats and have given generous donations in the past so we believe their story) Every day they walked their dog on the same route, on this particular day the dog wanted to take a different way so they obliged. After walking about a 1/4 mile down a gravel road the dog went down into the ditch and started pawing at a taped up box. They heard noises in box so they peeked inside and found two large male cats. TAPED INSIDE A BOX AND DUMPED ALONG THE ROAD TWO CATS!. Both of these cats were long haired beautiful neutered males and very tame. One of them was even front declawed. They were in pretty good health so must have been dumped fairly recently.We named them Ringo and Lennon and put their story in our local paper and were able to find good homes for them right away.

Originally Posted by jkat62

Last week at the shelter where I volunteer 2 cats were brought in by a donor who had recently adopted 1 of our dogs. ( They also have adopted 2 of our cats and have given generous donations in the past so we believe their story) Every day they walked their dog on the same route, on this particular day the dog wanted to take a different way so they obliged. After walking about a 1/4 mile down a gravel road the dog went down into the ditch and started pawing at a taped up box. They heard noises in box so they peeked inside and found two large male cats. TAPED INSIDE A BOX AND DUMPED ALONG THE ROAD TWO CATS!. Both of these cats were long haired beautiful neutered males and very tame. One of them was even front declawed. They were in pretty good health so must have been dumped fairly recently.We named them Ringo and Lennon and put their story in our local paper and were able to find good homes for them right away.

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Gaw! People make me sick! I believe you.

The shelter where I work is at an old farm house where the cats have free roam of the place ( we of course have a quarantine room for sick or new cats and a separate room for kittens or timid cats) but the adult cats have a kitchen, living room and dining room open to roam at will. We recently had a couple come in who wished to adopt a cat. They spent about 2 hours picking out a cat and filled out and application and left. After checking out their app. we called and 2 days later they came to pick up their cat. They spent about an hour chatting with us and left. While they were they they spent most of the time in the kitchen area where the cats were sleeping and playing. Cats were up on the counters and kitchen table and drinking out of the sink where we always leave stream of water running. 5 days later they came back to return the cat and wanted their money back. We asked why they were returning the cat. Their reason for returning the cat was because it kept jumping up on their kitchen counters and table! We were dumbfounded! I mean how stupid were these people. We tried to explain that there were things they could do to keep/train the cat off the counters or to take a kitten instead but they said no. Our policy was to take the cat back but they did not get their money back. We did not really care that they were pissed off as they are to stupid to be a reponsible pet owner anyway.

There was a lady down here I remember who dropped her dog off at the humane society because she redecorated the house and the dog didn't match the color scheme.

People do suck. I've known that for years.

It's just too heartbreaking. People do suck.

Laurie

We have had a few drop off animals because of redecorating and some potential adopters looking for animals that match their decor

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

We have had a few drop off animals because of redecorating and some potential adopters looking for animals that match their decor

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Honestly, people are unbelievably superficial. Pets to match the decor: \t

I don't mind people adopting a pet that matches their decor as long as they are adopting a pet as a pet and not as a decoration at the end of the day and will not be giving up the pet should they change the color scheme.

On the other hand, if your color scheme is white, and you get a white cat, good luck finding him/her in the house. It would be even worse if the color scheme was black with a black cat. Look up the term "Black Art Magic" if you don't get it.

and what happens when they get bored of the colour scheme?

or when they realise that even brown tabby fur on brown furniture shows?

they end up back at the shelter with the stigma of being a 'returned cat'

That's why I said:

as long as they are adopting a pet as a pet and not as a decoration at the end of the day and will not be giving up the pet should they change the color scheme.

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