Awful rescue experience

My sister Jamie just had an awful experience with a Chicago-area rescue organization.  A month ago, she adopted a 9-week-old kitten from them.  She was told the mom had given birth to the kittens in a shelter, which kept them till they were weaned, and then the rescue outfit took them and fostered them out.  They told her the mom and kittens had all been seen by a vet, whose contact info they gave her, and that the mom had tested clean for FeLV/FIV and so the kittens did not need to be tested.  Leo joined the household and was sweet, loving and thoroughly adorable if a bit small and quiet.  Their own vet said he seemed to be healthy.  Christmas Day, he became quite lethargic and stopped eating.  They took him to the vet the next day, who started antibiotics.  He perked up a little, but this morning Jamie discovered a big swollen lump on his side.  She took him in right away today - he was jaundiced, all his lymph nodes were enormously swollen and he could barely hold up his head.  The vet believed he was in fact infected with FeLV or FIV, and they put the poor little mite to sleep.  The whole family is just heartsick, and now very scared that their beloved older cat has been put at risk.  They are waiting on test results on Leo, and will test Charlie in about 6 weeks.  Jamie then called the vet who had seen the mom and kittens - they do see some cats for this organization, but had NOT ever seen or tested that mom or her litter.  So this rescue organization took their money and gave her a sick kitten who didn't live more than a few weeks, lied to her about the vet screening, and broke their hearts.  I have now gone online (which Jamie should have done in the first place) and discovered numerous issues with this particular group misleading adopters about health problems: kittens with coccidia, puppies with distemper, grossly wrong ages, etc. 

Aside from just venting about this terrible story, my question(s) to the group would be: (1) is there any recourse, reporting agency, any suggestions for how to get word out about this particular group's bad practice?  Anywhere to file a complaint?  I've already vented to my Facebook friends and Yelp... and you!  (2) Are there any guidelines out there to help people scout a rescue organization before adopting, to help be sure they are dealing with good, honest people?  We adopted our border  collie mix through a wonderful group, but I had connections in the agility world and got several recommendations from people I knew that they were great and did fine work - all true, and our dog was a perfect addition to our family.  This has been so upsetting and sad.  At least poor little Leo had five weeks of great love and spoiling.  May he rest in peace.

Julie S and the Pride of Lyons

Oh, that's awful. Can you contact the state attorney generals office or state office for consumer affairs? That's a crime to take money u der false pretenses. Perhaps if you contacted a local TV stationir newspPer they could make a story of it. This sounds like animsl abuse as well.

Do wait for the test results. . .sometimes kittens get sick and it may have nothing to do with the rescue organization, especially 5 weeks later. IF he had FeLV or FIV, then perhaps more should be done, but I hate to see a group maligned for something that isn't their fault.

Has the rescue group been contacted at all? Try to get the actual vet records for the mother cat. Rescue groups tend to use a lot of vets and they might have forgotten which one she went to.

My sister has tried repeatedly to contact the rescue group and they simply have not  responded - I know it's the holidays, so maybe they still will. But  I mentioned this to my own vet and she said she had also heard bad stories about this particular group, so that with the other online comments I found about them increases my bad vibes.  It was just so sad and upsetting, and I worry about the other kittens in that litter too - I would think the rescue group ought to be following up on that if they do care at all.  I guess the moral of this story is: before adopting, check out the rescue group as thoroughly as they check out their adopters!  Ask vets, pet stores, people who may have a connection or experience with them, etc,. BEFORE you bring that little lovable creature into your home and your heart.  

Julie on behalf of Angel Leo 

Julie, I am so sorry that your sister has had such an awful experience. I myself work for a rescue and there are unfortunately some that just don't follow protocols as well as others. We have very strict protocols we follow and absolutely will not place a cat we feel is sick into a home (there are VERY few exceptions to this rule and we talk extensively with adopters about issues prior and we cover all vet care until the cat is healthy.) We know of several "rescues" that adopt our cats/kittens with herpes, coccidia and giardia without telling the new owners. This is appalling to me as we fully disclose all medical information, needs and any dietary restrictions (we have several with IBD and/or food intolerances.)

I would offer the same suggests you did to those looking to adopt. Ask around, call the vet(s) they say they use and do your own research. If a group is hesitant to give you vet references or cannot correctly tell you which clinic a cat was seen by I'd be very leery.

Our rescue combo tests each and every cat/kitten that comes into our care (just like you test each dog for heartworm.) We have had an experience where a momma cat and one kitten tested negative for both FIV/Leukemia and the other kitten tested positive for Leukemia. We rechecked all 8 wks later and their status remained the same...we're since rechecked the pos one several times just knowing she had a false positive result.

I also agree with a previous poster about waiting to see what Leo's results come back showing. There's always the possibility he had a genetic condition or FIP. Neither pose a threat to your sister's resident cat.

Please give your sister our condolences and I hope she finds herself in a position to adopt again!