Shelters and neglect (long)?

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

I think, in my opinion, that this is a very sensitive subject on many levels. For one, you're posting this on a forum which is filled to the brim with members who are cat owners and who are invested in their care and the care of cats around the country and the world. Many of us, if not all, will have strong feelings when someone discusses the possibility of cats (or any animals, for that matter) being in a situation which may be unhealthy or unsafe. We are all advocates for cats and animals since they are innocents -- they cannot protect themselves. But, that being said, while it would be easy to say that yes, the cat you adopted does seem to have come from a negative situation, it's important to not lose sight of the fact that we don't know the entire story and, at first glance, it doesn't appear that you do as well. This is not to knock you and is, in fact, quite the opposite -- I commend you for caring enough about your cat and cats in general to ask questions, do research, and ultimately want to ensure the safety of the cats in this individual's care. It just strikes me that it would be best to have more information before taking drastic action.

You've shared that the individual you adopted your cat from had 40 or more cats in their care. You've also stated that they are a part of a feral cat rescue organization. If that is true, is the organization a recognized rescue group? Is it comprised of individuals who are doing foster for a larger scale operation or is it one person calling themselves a rescue? And, even if it is just one individual, that does not necessarily mean that they are not legit. Are they a not-for-profit organization (501c3)? Do they have records that can prove this? Also, if they are a legitimate, do they have other paperwork available to be seen and discussed should an issue present itself? And, if they are part of a larger organization, I would be asking the same questions. Can you ask for a contact person to discuss the issues at hand with? Is their a chain of command, so to speak? I'd definitely suggest doing some research on the organization as a whole before calling the authorities on them. However, the situation changes completely if there are cats or other animals at risk currently. But, that, too, would take some time to determine.

When you adopted your cat, did you have to fill out an application and/or a contract? If so, you should have that contract in your possession. What does it state about the care the animals should have received while in foster care? What does it say about assuming risk and any liability should the animal become sick or injured? I've worked with rescues before as well as shelters and can say that cats can become ill after being adopted. Sometimes the issues could have been avoided or treated beforehand, but things like upper respiratory infections and other illnesses are sometimes brought about by stress and therefore are not things that could have been prevented. Just because your cat has some health issues now does not mean that he or she had them while in foster care. But, on the same token, things did seem awry when you first went to adopt the cat and those issues should have been brought up at that time -- both on the fosterer's part and your own.

Not every person has positive intentions. Many will try to dupe others in order to get what they want -- be it on the current owner's part or that of the prospective buyer. That's why, first and foremost, it is important to trust your own instincts. If something didn't appear right when you first went to visit with the cat, why didn't you say something then? I'm not blaming you -- I'm just trying to see where your frame of mind was then as well as now. How did the cats in her care appear at the time when you first met them? Were they underweight? Overweight? Did they have adequate food, water, and shelter? Were there toys available? Cat trees? Scratchers? Were they all receiving vet care? Did the house smell badly? Did the individual know which cat was which? Did he or she seem to have a bond with any of the cats? Was their paperwork available on the vet care the cats were being given? Was their deceit going on? Or, rather, was there transparency? All of these are things that you should have been able to notice at first glance or with the aid of simple exploratory questions. Unfortunately, the fact remains that for most anything, and pets and animals are included here, that "let the buyer beware." As I said, there are people who are dishonest in the world and not everything is what it should be expected to be. It sounds as though there was some naivety on your part and that's okay, but it also means that you need to think hard about what you did witness. Your anger and frustration is warranted because that is how you feel. But, is it because you feel duped or because the cats in this individual's care really are in harms way?

I have a cat that I got from the shelter who has gingivitis -- bad breath and red gums. I found this out after taking her to the vet. In most cases, shelters and rescues provide the basic, minimum care for their charges. The paperwork I signed when adopting Cassidy stated that I would be held responsible for any health concerns that became apparent after her adoption. The gingivitis should have been caught by the shelter's vet, but it wasn't and I am now dealing with that. However, just because they didn't catch it does not mean that she was neglected or abused. Another example is my other cat, Delaney. I adopted her from another shelter and she had giardia which resulted in smelly, frequent diarrhea. This, too, should have been caught, but when I discussed her with the shelter after the adoption, it was decided that her symptoms were not severe enough or apparent enough at the time for them to have treated her. I do feel she got the short end of the stick there as she did wind up suffering with something for longer than necessary, but I don't hold them responsible. URI's are much of the same. Many cats become ill when in foster care. But, others don't begin showing symptoms until they are adopted. That is why quarantining is so important -- as is getting your new cat or kitten checked out immediately. Things can and will crop up. Sometimes it is a little negligence on a shelter or fosterer's part, but it's usually just bad timing.

From an objective standpoint, it does seem like I'd have questions for this organization or individual. But, I wouldn't necessarily blame them for what has transpired. If you feel strongly that the cats under their care are in danger, then, by all means, discuss your concerns with them. If they're not willing to listen and/or provide basic information to you, then I may discuss other possibilities (such as reporting them). I'd certainly expect them to be defensive and I don't think that automatically makes them guilty. I do think some of this is your responsibility as well. We all make decisions and you took the cat despite your concerns. Now that cat is your responsibility and you need to be willing to do everything possible for him or her (which I understand you are doing). But don't let your frustration with yourself feed your anger with the organization. That's where it becomes very tricky, in my opinion...

Good luck with your kitty and try to focus on what you can do now to ensure his or her health and happiness. If you feel your other concerns are serious enough, by all means, begin a dialogue. But, remember, it's not always as cut and dry as it appears. And, I'd use that as a bit of caution regardless of what you do -- both in your dealings now and in the future.

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