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I feel... Sick? (Just got an email from the shelter)

post #1 of 11
8/31/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
I adopted a new cat named Jinkers last Friday from the local animal shelter. I found him through a rescue group who had posted him for the shelter, since they didn't have enough room to adopt and foster him. Friday was supposed to be his last day, they were full to capacity.

I am so glad I adopted him he is a joy. Today I emailed the volunteer from the rescue I had talked to about Jinkers with pictures of him at home and letting her know how well he is doing here. I got a reply that she was so glad to hear this happy ending, because apparently today the county shelter where I adopted him Euthanized ALL of the cats there. I am not sure if she meant just the adults or the kittens too. I think it was just the adults because those are the ones missing from their adoptions page now. The rescue said they got some out, but almost all of them didn't make it.

Jinkers had been in a room full of other adult cats, I think there were 7 or so in that room total. There were also cages but the already neutered cats were in that room. Since I spent quite a bit of time in there getting to know him before making a decision to adopt, I got to meet and spend time with all of them too. I took a bag of treats with me to bribe him with, and ended up passing them out to everyone (with permission).

I know this is probably naive but I feel... wrong. Ill or sick maybe? More than sad, it made me nauseous. I just spent time with those cats, most of them were very friendly and I would have taken more with me if I could have given them all a good home. They didn't mention that there was a mass euthanasia coming up. The shelter workers were really excited for me to take Jinkers because they said he was next up on the "list" but... I had no idea everyone else was up too.

I don't know what else to say or the point of this post. I just had to talk to somebody about it.
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post #2 of 11
8/31/10 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CruiserMaiden View Post

I know this is probably naive but I feel... wrong. Ill or sick maybe? More than sad, it made me nauseous.
Oh gosh. I would feel about the same I think. In addition I would probably feel angry, maybe even angry at them for telling. They must know you contacted them to share your joy about successful adoption, and information like that certainly would not make anybody feel too great.

I am sure they wanted to make you feel good that you saved Jinkers, so don't ever let survivor guilt play into this. He is so lucky he got out in the nick of time, and in no way it is your or his fault that those other poor cats did not. Just embrace him even more. Unfortunately this is the reality for so many unwanted animals




..but what really was the point of the e-mail. Would it not have been more sensible to try to reach as many people as possible before the mass-euthanasia to see if anyone knew anybody who could maybe take on at least one more cat.... sigh
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post #3 of 11
8/31/10 at 8:03pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not sure. Maybe the rescuer also just needed to talk to someone to share her grief and saw me as a kindred spirit since I had been there at that shelter to help save a life? Maybe she was trying to make me feel happier about Jinkers because I got him in time. I know the people at the shelter were fighting to get him adopted because they didn't want him to be put down. Since I was paying attention to him and not the others as much maybe they thought it might lessen the chances of him getting a home if I thought the others were going to be put down too.

So many maybes. I guess I just needed to get this out.
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post #4 of 11
8/31/10 at 8:11pm
I feel your pain!!

Every one of my cats was saved on their euth date!

Sooooo many animals, not enough homes, too much irresponsible breeding and ownership.... and a broken animal welfare system. Jinkers is your "starfish". What you did means the world to HIM. You cannot save them all.
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post #5 of 11
8/31/10 at 8:20pm
That's so sad! My Hurley boy was going to be put down because he was a stray.. but he was so nice they were able to transfer him to the Humane Society (no kill shelter). Hurley sat there for 3 months before we adopted him. It's horrible that so many wonderful babies get put down just because. It really upsets me.
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post #6 of 11
9/1/10 at 5:24am
Aw that brought tears to my eyes. I hate hearing about stuff like that.
Sometimes, I think Billy knows that he was not going to be around much longer had we not taken him....just in the way he curls up on my husbands chest and licks his face like he is so grateful to have him and to be in this house. Maybe that's me reading too much into it but the love from a rescue cat is just amazing.
(I should not be biased against rescue dogs either...when I was 12, I adopted a shelter dog as a christmas present to my brothers. That dog was attached to me for her entire 13 yr life..she was the sweetest dog in the world, and I don't think I could ever get another dog. She has been gone for almost 2 yrs and I still cry when I think about losing her, and the amazing memories I have of her & how I didn't get to say goodbye)

I just hate the thought of animals being put down. I know there is an overpopulation and all but it just makes me so sad...especially when those cats were at a shelter, waiting for a loving home and family, and then just gone...So glad you got your kitty and he was able to be rescued.
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post #7 of 11
9/1/10 at 5:36am
Awww hun, I also completely understand how you feel. I took Pria in from the shelter along with 5 boys, Waldo, Rio, Ernest, Filbert and Watson. They were ALL scheduled to be put to sleep by end of day if someone didn't agree to foster them because they all had URI. They were all older kittens, with full lives ahead of them! We nursed all back to perfect, adopted miss Pria ourselves and so far have found GREAT homes for Watson, Filbert and Ernest. Rio & Waldo are still here, but I know they will find great homes eventually as well.

As incredibly sad as it is, they can't all be saved, but I WILL save as many as I can, and I will continue to be incredibly vocal about responsible pet ownership and spay/neuter.
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post #8 of 11
9/1/10 at 7:04am
You have every right to feel sick - anyone with a heart would. And that worker probably did see a kindred spirit in you, and felt better confiding.

This is why I can't do rescue. I can contribute, donate, but can't get that involved. I'm too weak for it, and I hugely admire those who do it.

What I am feeling most is ANGER at the ignorant folks out there who refuse to spay and neuter.
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post #9 of 11
9/1/10 at 6:46pm
it is sooooo sad. Bru was saved by a woman I know that rescues kitties from NY. With all his spunk & personality I can't imgine that was his fate. I tell him at least once a week how lucky we are( Bru and ME) LOL. Brady I got from the same rescue and Callie and Manny were strays. It is true you can't save them all. I wish I could save more.
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post #10 of 11
9/2/10 at 4:49am
I think i'd feel sick as well I bet it's going around your head "What if i hadn't adopted him when i did?!".

When we have new members who come on saying they don't agree in spaying and neutering, share your heartbreaking story with them. The more the message gets across to people the better

Give "Lucky" Jinkers a hug from us all at TCS, because he is one lucky little boy
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post #11 of 11
9/8/10 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by threecatowner View Post

What I am feeling most is ANGER at the ignorant folks out there who refuse to spay and neuter.

\t ...................
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