Attitude of Rescue Staff Discourages Adoption

thegreystalker

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My recent visit to the local municipal Rescue Center to consider adopting a second cat left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

The recent experience was completely different from my first visit earlier this year, when I ultimately came home with a kitten whom has been a joy from day 1.  I went back to search for a companion for my girl.  This time I was waited on by a young male who was persnickety and found any excuse he could envision to discourage me from adopting the cat I picked out.  In addition to the usual and expected questions, he wondered aloud whether or not I had the financial wherewithal to afford a second cat.  He also wanted to speak to my vet about my present pet.  Well, my girl is in perfect health and has been since day 1.  It was clear to me that he wasn't interested in sending me home with a cat that day.  He was very different from the young woman who set me up with my current pet.

I understand that the staff and volunteers at shelters have a difficult job.  And I don't agree with the very mean and unfair criticism and whining that they have to contend with from time-to-time.  But frankly, I have met cat folks who just do not have the personality to be handling adoptions.  Such people fit the stereotype of oddball cat owners.  Workers at shelters and rescue centers need to be a bit less authoritarian and a bit less intrusive in their questions.  This whole thing about "references" so to be allowed to adopt a cat has gone overboard, in my opinion.  Animal lovers want orphan pets to end up in secure homes with loving pet owners, but honestly the staff people at the cat shelters and rescue centers can too easily turn off ordinary but eager people.

If the adoption process is bureaucratic, people will be discouraged from taking a cat home and the problem of feral, lost and abandoned sickly cats will continue to exacerbate.  That won't serve animals in need.
 

hbunny

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I live in Tennessee and there are very, very few shelters that handle cats here.  There are a ton of dog rescue groups and shelters, but almost no cats.  The two that I am aware of are over an hour drive from me, I have heard the same types of stories about that you are telling.  They make it extremely difficult to adopt, and are gaining bad reputations. 

I had a pregnant female pitched out at my house, a drop-off I guess because she was pregnant, and I called many rescue groups in the area only to be spoken to very rudely and was even hung up on by one.  That one just told me "we are full, we can't take anymore" and hung up.  What a way to help!  Jeez!  If they speak to prospective adopters in that manner...ugh.
 

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I see this same foolishness on Facebook. I tried to adopt a cat in NJ and they wouldn't let me adopt because mine are indoor and outdoor supervised. They continue to complain about not having money to buy food and just general you know what I mean. I also applied to adopt a cat at these smaller rescues and the contract is redicilous. I told them call my vets office and they will tell you I take good care of my cats to the point I am obsessive about any illness and don't wait weeks. Evidently that is not good enough. I don't understand the attitudes from some of these women.

There was a big argument on facebook about someone in Maine and I still don't understand why there is a mob mentality and I just stepped away from it all. It started with the cat getting put down for health issues and people spreading rumors. I decided I don't want anything to do with rescues. Its just too stressful. I help out by sending health recommendations and food but that's it. I don't play well with others. And I really think people are missing the main point-we are supposed to work together to adopt the animals out so we don't have any put down anymore. But there is always drama and whispering going on and I just refuse to associate myself with that foolishness.

my honeybee I got from a coworker. No baloney. no vetting bs. No contract. I send him pictures all the time of the Bee Kitty. and she is happy. He is happy. She has a good home and that's all we should want for these animals instead its texting and facebook baloney and ruining people's lives with bullcrap.
 
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thegreystalker

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Foxxycat said:

"My honeybee I got from a coworker. No baloney. no vetting bs. No contract. I send him pictures all the time of the Bee Kitty. and she is happy. He is happy."

Sounds like the ideal situation to me.  Congratulations!
 

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thank you! she came with a bad case of smokers lung and took a few vet visits to figure out why she couldn't play and run around and why she was lethargic at times. She has asthma and we use inhaled steroids to control it. This is the first summer she hasn't had any issues with breathing knock on wood. we also changed pharmacies and no longer use the other pharmacy we used for 3 years. So I got a fabulous love bug but I also got a best friend who climbs on top of me and give me biscuits if I am crying or upset about something. She really is a good little cat. I can't imagine why anyone would toss her outside but I am so blessed to be her mommy now.(she was tossed outside in the middle of winter)  I will never toss her outside for any reason.
 
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thegreystalker

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By the way Foxxycat, when I visited an all-volunteer rescue center several weeks ago, I got the same reaction that you did when I said that I planned to take my gal to the park for a walk on a leash.  I got that idea from a video of a cat and cat parent stroll stroll on the NY Times website.  Well, the woman in charge of adoptions that day was aghast and chastised me for even considering taking my indoor gal for a walk in the park.  Made up my mind then and there that this rescue group was a dead end for me and I wanted no further contact with them.  Funny thing is, two days later they notified me that my "application" was approved.  I politely declined because I could guess that the remainder of the adoption process (the "home inspection") would be a pain in the caboose.
 
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thegreystalker

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By the way, my spring gardening plans, which turned into a "mid-summer gardening" plan hit a roadblock when my baby nibbled my eggplant and sweet pepper seedlings down to their stalks.  Had no idea that the cat might be a scourge to my garden.  Got a tip to place citrus peels around the remaining seedlings to discourage the diva from chomping on the leaves.  Planting Cat Grass next year for sure as a diversion.  LOL.
 

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wow I never heard of that! my honeybee LOVES nibbling grass. I planted indoor cat grass and you know none of them would touch it. They wanted WILD grass.

I can understand your reaction to those hens in the hen house. good grief. All they have to do is call your vet and ask if you are a good or bad parent.
 

hbunny

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Oh Foxxycat I feel the same way you do!  Apparently I must not play well with others either, because I couldn't stand the application process some of these groups put people through.  I've seen on FB one of these local dog groups (we just don't have cat groups near here) that have allowed a dog to go home with people, then so many weeks later they go out and do a home visit, see that they have no fenced yard and snatch the dog back up, even though they are avid dog walkers!  I know a lady that was turned down who had a fenced yard, just because she said she would take her dog to the dog park and walk her around her neighborhood on a leash.  They told her it was dangerous, they could be attacked by another dog, and that the dog might get a disease at a dog park. 


One of the cat rescue centers about an hour from me only allows you to adopt if you sign their contract saying you will ONLY use one particular vet clinic.  I don't know how they could hold you to that, or how they would know if you go somewhere else, but it's in their contract.  The particular vet clinic may fund the rescue, I don't know, but I know that vet office charges $200 for a simple office visit--and boarding is $25 a day.  Most people aren't going to agree to going to them.  I saw on their website they have cats there that are adorable, but have been there for years because nobody will agree to their terms.  It's ridiculous.

BTW, your Honeybee is a babydoll!!!
 
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StefanZ

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My recent visit to the local municipal Rescue Center to consider adopting a second cat left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

The recent experience was completely different from my first visit earlier this year, when I ultimately came home with a kitten whom has been a joy from day 1.  I went back to search for a companion for my girl.  This time I was waited on by a young male who was persnickety and found any excuse he could envision to discourage me from adopting the cat I picked out.  In addition to the usual and expected questions, he wondered aloud whether or not I had the financial wherewithal to afford a second cat.  He also wanted to speak to my vet about my present pet.   Well, my girl is in perfect health and has been since day 1.  It was clear to me that he wasn't interested in sending me home with a cat that day.  He was very different from the young woman who set me up with my current pet.

I understand that the staff and volunteers at shelters have a difficult job.  And I don't agree with the very mean and unfair criticism and whining that they have to contend with from time-to-time.  But frankly, I have met cat folks who just do not have the personality to be handling adoptions.  Such people fit the stereotype of oddball cat owners.  Workers at shelters and rescue centers need to be a bit less authoritarian and a bit less intrusive in their questions.  This whole thing about "references" so to be allowed to adopt a cat has gone overboard, in my opinion.  Animal lovers want orphan pets to end up in secure homes with loving pet owners, but honestly the staff people at the cat shelters and rescue centers can too easily turn off ordinary but eager people.

If the adoption process is bureaucratic, people will be discouraged from taking a cat home and the problem of feral, lost and abandoned sickly cats will continue to exacerbate.  That won't serve animals in need.
Now, these are standard questions in many shelters.  So this young man wasnt pesky, he followed the formular.

If some of such a screening may be overdone, and if the personnel in question is always diplomatic and have the fingertop feeling, is an entirely another question.

Its possible they overdo somewhat, but I suppose they dont want cats returned or "disappeared,"...

Better to find ONE forever home, than three to the same cat.   Which does happens.
 
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I agree that the questions weren't bad, however, the way he asked the questions needs much improvement and much less attitude.  I wonder why he was acting that way?  Could the reason be that this rescue had recently had some kitties returned or worse found out they adopted out to "parents" they should have screened more carefully?  I'm not excusing his behavior because seeing that you've already been through the adoption process once means you've passed before.  And he should have known that.  I'd have been glad to give him my vet's number even if he did have an attitude.  He would find out soon enough he was barking up the wrong tree.  Please don't let their attitude keep you from adopting another lucky kitty.  Just ask for another person to help you.  If they are the same way, ask them:  why the third degree? 
 

kittens mom

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I see the cat rescue that I was working with before seeing Mercy at the city shelter web site still has many of the cats they had a year ago.  I really got fed up with their vetting process. I think the question wanting to know if Mook would kill a kitten was about the last straw. We offer our pets a lifetime home and love. No I may not, even with pet insurance be able to afford or decide to pursue any treatment available to save their life. I have seen the suffering attached to that mentality.  They have some adorable little tortie kittens. Young enough for Mook to accept and wonderful for Mercy to have a playmate more her speed. She is so gentle in her play. But I can't stomach the invasiveness of their process.
 

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When I got Zoe from the Ottawa Humane Society they were a little overbearing but very diplomatic about it. I can't say I fault them for it, lots of people get pets thinking it will be easy when in fact a pet is a big responsibility. You have to admit it would be bad for them to rescue a cat only to turn around and give it to someone that will neglect it.

When I was at the Humane Society there was a couple wanting to get a large dog, they would not allow them to take the dog. The people lived in a garden home with no back yard and were told that a large dog needs lots of space. That made a lot of sense to me, they were talking them into taking a smaller dog. The people seemed a bit upset at first but once it was explained to them they were fine with it.

I had to take my cat Taz in for FIV testing, etc. before they let me take Zoe home. Zoe was clear and they wanted me to make sure Taz was also clear of infectious diseases. Taz was about 4 1/2 months old and at the time I thought he needed to be 6 months to get neutered. They told me he was plenty old enough provided he was not under weight and that he was healthy. I had to get him neutered before I could take Zoe home. They also recommended I get Taz an id chip as Zoe was chipped by them. It was highly recommended to me but not required. I got him chipped as I was planning on it anyways. They also questioned me on my finances.

At the time it felt like they were being a bit difficult but after thinking about it I don't blame them. Unfortunately some people in society ruin it for the rest of us. However, in your case it sounds like the person could have been more diplomatic about it. If they are new it likely takes a bit of time to learn to be diplomatic when it comes to touchy subjects like a persons finances.
 
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ginny

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This kind of puts me in mind of nursing school.  Some of the professors were brutal in clinicals.  They wanted to know how bad we wanted it, how much
 we would take off them and still remain standing.  I suspect this might be the same reasoning behind their behavior at the rescue.  

And I wanted to point out that to a rescue staffer, all people look alike.  They don't know who might be abusive to animals in their care or not.  
 

kittens mom

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This kind of puts me in mind of nursing school.  Some of the professors were brutal in clinicals.  They wanted to know how bad we wanted it, how much
 we would take off them and still remain standing.  I suspect this might be the same reasoning behind their behavior at the rescue.  

And I wanted to point out that to a rescue staffer, all people look alike.  They don't know who might be abusive to animals in their care or not.  
Very true. There is a tipping point though. I really considered taking both Mercy and the other kitten. There was nothing casual or easy about their application. We fully realized they were going to vet us thoroughly. The idea is to home the cats. There is no perfect home. I still follow up with the shelter about Mercy.
 

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I am really torn about this. I wish people would realize that there is a happy medium.

I am in the process of maybe adopting another cat but I may just go with a free ad to avoid all the 3rd degree bullcrap. I monitor the yard sale ads in my area all the time and see free cats daily. I rather adopt a kitty that got pulled from a kill shelter.

I almost drove to NYC and adopted one of their kill list cats but in the end I wasn't sure if I could provide a decent enough home. Since I do let them go outside I know this is a deal breaker for many rescues. The difference is I don't let them roam. I go outside with them and most of the time they stay in the back yard. I planted a ton of grasses and cat nip in different areas to entice them to stick around.

I think we will start to see some changes to their policies when they realize that they cant rehome as many cats as they wanted to. Its not that I am an unfit parent I just don't think I need to provide all the paperwork and answers to many of their invasive questions. On the other hand I could just shut my mouth and play the game. But that's the problem with me. I don't shut my mouth. I just go elsewhere as we have several people in this area who don't fix their cats so I know I will always have access to more cats without the headaches.

I adopted one of my cats from a local shelter. It was very painless and I didn't need a home inspection and other invasive things. I think the home inspection is well a bit over the top. Now I know people who are prestine in their houses but I can't tell from that if they are a beater or a lover. So maybe I don't understand the point of a home inspection other than if it was a kitten or puppy to make sure the house is kitten proof. and sometimes we have people who don't know enough to put away certain household chemicals etc and I do get it. Personally I just give them the name and number of every vet I use which is now at 6. So to me if I have 6 people vet me then I would think that is more than enough.
 

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@foxxycat

"I wish people would realize that there is a happy medium."

Unfortunately I think what I experienced at the Humane Society was the happy medium. It could have been a lot worse. They asked me to fill out questionnaire but at least they didn't demand to see a pay stub and bank statement. They asked me where I lived but didn't demand to see a utility bill as proof. I would guess some people will abuse the system they have in place and in the future I will have to show a pay stub, bank statement, credit check, utility bill, mental health assessment, a note from my vet and whatever else they would require.

Like most things in society, a small group of people ruin it for the rest of us. I will call them a small group of people but that is not really what I would like to call them.
 
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kittens mom

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@foxxycat

"I wish people would realize that there is a happy medium."

Unfortunately I think what I experienced at the Humane Society was the happy medium. It could have been a lot worse. They asked me to fill out questionnaire but at least they didn't demand to see a pay stub and bank statement. They asked me where I lived but didn't demand to see a utility bill as proof. I would guess some people will abuse the system they have in place and in the future I will have to show a pay stub, bank statement, credit check, utility bill, mental health assessment, a note from my vet and whatever else they would require.

Like most things in society, a small group of people ruin it for the rest of us. I will call them a small group of people but that is not really what I would like to call them.
One thing this group was fixated on was what would you do if your cat needed veterinary care. They were really anti euthanasia. Well welcome to the real world where sometimes it's the only option rather that letting an animal suffer. So if someone provided a loving home, good food, regular vet care but can't afford to add pet insurance or pay thousands out of pocket should that preclude them from adopting a pet. Keep in mind there are mounds of dead pets at the landfill who never knew a day of love. Some rescues become hoarders. I have seen it happen twice with horse sanctuaries.
 

Shane Kent

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@Kittens Mom

The small group I am referring to are those that abuse the system / pet and make it harder for the rest of us. Such as people that get a pet thinking it is easy when in fact having a pet is a big responsibility. They don't take the responsibility and the cat ends up getting dumped or neglected. People that get the cute little kitten for their kids but later dump or neglect the adult cat it becomes. And by neglect I also mean not giving it attention. People that want a pet but would never take it to a vet because they are too cheap. The people that have far too many pets at home but yet they want more, and the ones they have already are neglected. Then there are the sick twisted people that I will not go into detail about.
 

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I fully agree with you all, but I guess I am bit more private about my personal information that what they would like for an applicant to be.  I would flip out on someone if they asked to see my bank statement.

I have problems with letting people not involved in my financing activities know my bank balances.  I do not want to become a target.  You do not know if the volunteer (and most shelters are operated by volunteers, few are paid unless they are government animal control, at least in my area of the country) has even had a background check done on them, since most volunteer groups/agencies accept any warm body they can get.  Volunteers are in short supply these days, as people don't want to do anything for nothing anymore.

Most volunteer agencies don't do background checks, and I have had this said to my face-- if they did that, they would have no volunteers. A lot of riff-raff (sorry to use those words, I don't know another way to put it) are volunteers because it is a perfect position for an opportunistic person.  I know of felons (for theft offenses) working as volunteers in agencies (for people, not animals) that are able to do so because there is a huge lack of people volunteering, so they take just any warm body they can get.  You don't think about it, but volunteer fire stations, rescue workers, etc. have access during emergencies to documentation available in your home/vehicle.  Just something to think about.  You could even black out account numbers and other bank-relevant information, but that person would still know your name, address, and how much $$ you have.  Bam, you are a potential target for a thief or identity thief.  You could be followed home, or someone lie in wait for you since they know your employer, home address, and how much money you have.  And whether or not you have a large dog in your house.

Nope. 

We were robbed last week.  My husband's truck was broken into while we slept.  Eleven homes near us were hit that same night. (We now have a camera system in place!)  I may be paranoid, but I am not going to give out that kind of info to someone that may or may not be trustworthy.  I hate that it may one day prevent me from saving an animal, but there are a ton that need homes and are in danger that aren't in rescues too. 
 
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