My friend got rejected to adopt a cat!

Sad news guys, he is 100% rejected as of now. He is a student but unemployed at the moment, but he has thousands of dollars in savings. They rejected him for being unemployed. It astounds me that they never mentioned to him the requirements yet told him to "Come back tomorrow" yesterday with a vets name.

He is seriously depressed, he bought all sorts of cat supplies today thinking today was the day. He told me he was looking forward to it for weeks, and how it's the only thing he had to look forward too and now he has nothing. It's pretty messed up.

He has an apartment, pays rent, bills..ect...he HAS plenty of money. This is ridiculous.

He could try another shelter, or check craigslist. Believe me, there are plenty of shelters and cats out there who need a home.

We have adopted pets before and I did not have a job.
I have never been rejected.
We did have to answer 200 questions though and they were very strict.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

He could try another shelter, or check craigslist. Believe me, there are plenty of shelters and cats out there who need a home.

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He was set on Odessa, I am trying to point out to him that many other cats need homes, but he wants Odessa.

He wants to try to find someone to adopt Odessa for him, sorry if that sounds irresponsible and wrong to you guys....but I agree with him. He is very responsible and caring and I've known him for a while.....this shelter is really stupid and way too strict. Odessa has been in there exactly a year this month. Most people want to adopt kittens

Also, Odessa is 10 years old, not 8 like the shelter website stated.

Originally Posted by Degu_2009

He was set on Odessa, I am trying to point out to him that many other cats need homes, but he wants Odessa.

He wants to try to find someone to adopt Odessa for him, sorry if that sounds irresponsible and wrong to you guys....but I agree with him. He is very responsible and caring and I've known him for a while.....this shelter is really stupid and way too strict. Odessa has been in there almost exactly a year this month. Most people want to adopt kittens

Also, Odessa is 10 years old, not 8 like the shelter website stated.

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I was actually going to say that Odessa, while a dear beautiful small cat, looked older than 8. My guess would have been 12 years.

Does she have special needs?

I think craigslist is only in the USA? which is too bad, because, I'd like to know someone other than a torturer or laboratory was answering a "free pet" craigslist ad.

I'm sorry your friend is not willing to be more flexible about his choice of cat. However, I think shelters have to have limits, and most rules about active employment and having a vet already lined up are probably made based on experience to the contrary.

Originally Posted by Degu_2009

Sad news guys, he is 100% rejected as of now. He is a student but unemployed at the moment, but he has thousands of dollars in savings. They rejected him for being unemployed. It astounds me that they never mentioned to him the requirements yet told him to "Come back tomorrow" yesterday with a vets name.

He is seriously depressed, he bought all sorts of cat supplies today thinking today was the day. He told me he was looking forward to it for weeks, and how it's the only thing he had to look forward too and now he has nothing. It's pretty messed up.

He has an apartment, pays rent, bills..ect...he HAS plenty of money. This is ridiculous.

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When I asked all the questions that you didn't like/understand before, I was looking for a missing link, to make sense out of this situation. The fact that he is unemployed is the missing link. It might not make a difference for you or me, but it does for them... and it explains why he got rejected. I knew it had to be more than simply not having the name of a vet...
I know he is set on Odessa, but there are sooooo many kitties out there waiting for help!!
He can look for one at Craigslist, or at petfinder.com, or at a rescue place... It is sad that Odessa will be there, but since she has been there for a year, lets hope she will find a loving family soon.

Originally Posted by mews2much

We have adopted pets before and I did not have a job.
I have never been rejected.
We did have to answer 200 questions though and they were very strict.

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They were probably not your first one though?

Originally Posted by Degu_2009

He was set on Odessa, I am trying to point out to him that many other cats need homes, but he wants Odessa.

He wants to try to find someone to adopt Odessa for him, sorry if that sounds irresponsible and wrong to you guys....but I agree with him. He is very responsible and caring and I've known him for a while.....this shelter is really stupid and way too strict. Odessa has been in there exactly a year this month. Most people want to adopt kittens

Also, Odessa is 10 years old, not 8 like the shelter website stated.

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This breaks my heart. I agree with finding someone to do the deed for him. I understand that shelters have standards, but clearly this kitty is not easy to place or she would have been gone long ago.

The employment thing is clearly stupid. He should just tell those snobs that he is independently wealthy, and the source of his wealth is none of their business! I mean really, what if some heiress wants a shelter cat? They would deny her too?

Originally Posted by carolinalima

When I asked all the questions that you didn't like/understand before, I was looking for a missing link, to make sense out of this situation. The fact that he is unemployed is the missing link. It might not make a difference for you or me, but it does for them... and it explains why he got rejected. I knew it had to be more than simply not having the name of a vet...
I know he is set on Odessa, but there are sooooo many kitties out there waiting for help!!
He can look for one at Craigslist, or at petfinder.com, or at a rescue place... It is sad that Odessa will be there, but since she has been there for a year, lets hope she will find a loving family soon.

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They did not ask him if he was unemployed at the first interview, they rejected him because he didn't have a vets name.....they told him to come back the next day with a vets name.

Well next day he goes there "I have a vets name!" "Good, do you have a job?" "No" "REJECTED!"

They are running him in circles, it's totally unfair.

Originally Posted by otto

I was actually going to say that Odessa, while a dear beautiful small cat, looked older than 8. My guess would have been 12 years.

Does she have special needs?

I think craigslist is only in the USA? which is too bad, because, I'd like to know someone other than a torturer or laboratory was answering a "free pet" craigslist ad.

I'm sorry your friend is not willing to be more flexible about his choice of cat. However, I think shelters have to have limits, and most rules about active employment and having a vet already lined up are probably made based on experience to the contrary.

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Naw, Odessa doesn't have special needs. Just an old, scared cat.

And yes, Canada has craigslist.

can't he get his parents to adopt her for him? a friend with a job?? I was going to adopt from a shelter and since I didn't have a job, I was sure I was going to put my ex boyfriend or parents' name on the application and have them go in with me to get the cat, since I knew they'd reject me for that reason...

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

This breaks my heart. I agree with finding someone to do the deed for him. I understand that shelters have standards, but clearly this kitty is not easy to place or she would have been gone long ago.

The employment thing is clearly stupid. He should just tell those snobs that he is independently wealthy, and the source of his wealth is none of their business! I mean really, what if some heiress wants a shelter cat? They would deny her too?

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Exactly. Which is why I find this to be completely unfair and stupid. He is trying to find someone on Craigslist to adopt her for him. He IS looking for work (not that he even needs it right now!).

Originally Posted by ut0pia

can't he get his parents to adopt her for him? a friend with a job?? I was going to adopt from a shelter and since I didn't have a job, I was sure I was going to put my ex boyfriend or parents' name on the application and have them go in with me to get the cat, since I knew they'd reject me for that reason...

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His parents live far away, and he has no real friends. He's kind of depressed and lonely at the moment which is why he wants Odessa so bad. But he is stable and not crazy LOL. So enough of this "bad vibes" talk.

Yeah, I can see why he is frustrated....

have he look at www.petfinder.com - I am sure he can find his soul kitty in there!

Originally Posted by carolinalima

Yeah, I can see why he is frustrated....

have he look at www.petfinder.com - I am sure he can find his soul kitty in there!

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Petfinder doesn't work in Canada I don't think. Either way, he is dead set on Odessa and won't listen to me about getting another cat.

Originally Posted by Degu_2009

Either way, he is dead set on Odessa and won't listen to me about getting another cat.

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Then he's being unreasonable. I mean no disrespect to your friend and I understand you are worried about him. But his attitude is not.....stable. A cat lover needs to have some flexibility. For whatever reason, the shelter rejected him. Odessa is not for him.

As cats age they get sick. Many of these illnesses are very costly to maintain. I'm sure this shelter is just doing what they think is best for Odessa's future.

I don't remember seeing the story of how he became involved with Odessa in the first place? Would you share that with us?

I wouldn't adopt a cat out to an unemployed person either. I put a lot of time and money into making the cats I pick up adoptable... certainly more than I would make back from an adoption fee. Unless he wants to share his financial background with the shelter, I really don't blame them for turning him down.

In my area, there are many people out of jobs, and losing their homes, and the number of pets being abandoned is increasing. Even those who have no abandoned their pets, are declining treatment at vet visits (this part I overheard at my vet's office).

I think your friend ought to calm down and be reasonable. Maybe he can provide some references, or pick up a part time job. I would suggest he stay in contact with the shelter and maybe they'll see how serious he is about adopting this cat. If he doesn't have a job, does he have time to volunteer? You attract more flies with honey...

Originally Posted by Going Nova

In my area, there are many people out of jobs, and losing their homes, and the number of pets being abandoned is increasing. Even those who have no abandoned their pets, are declining treatment at vet visits (this part I overheard at my vet's office).

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You don't even need to go very far... how many times A DAY we see this right here at TCS? Or even worst - they can't take their kitty to the vet at all....

Originally Posted by otto

Then he's being unreasonable. I mean no disrespect to your friend and I understand you are worried about him. But his attitude is not.....stable. A cat lover needs to have some flexibility. For whatever reason, the shelter rejected him. Odessa is not for him.

As cats age they get sick. Many of these illnesses are very costly to maintain. I'm sure this shelter is just doing what they think is best for Odessa's future.

I don't remember seeing the story of how he became involved with Odessa in the first place? Would you share that with us?

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It's not really unreasonable....he fell in love with Odessa, and he doesn't want to let her stay in the shelter alone and scared all because he has no job right now.

He wanted a Maine Coon, but when we went to the shelter he found Odessa instead....and they told him that shes been in there for a year alone and scared, and he said that he relates to Odessa and wants to socialize her and gain her trust and make her into a great cat and make sure she has a great "retirement".

He might not have a job, but he has thousands of dollars in savings and has never been broke, and plus, he is looking for a job. That is a lame reason to deny a cat a home. It was made clear that he lives in an apartment and pays rent and bills WITHOUT a job. You'd think they would be less picky about that after a cat has been in a shelter for a year. I find THAT inhumane.

You don't just go out buying a cat like it's a grocery store. You fall in love with one and want to give it a great home, you don't simply "get over it" and "get another one", when hope isn't 100% lost.