We have those issues in my area--the ones you didn't go into detail about. It's sickening. Dog fighting here is a problem they cannot seem to eradicate due to lax laws. Unfortunately, shelters are a big source of both dogs and bait animals.
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Attitude of Rescue Staff Discourages Adoption
- Thread starter thegreystalker
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@hbunny
Just to be clear the questionnaire didn't ask me how much I made but how much I was willing to spend on a vet per year if need be. It is rather easy to say you would spend thousands and not spend a dime. Along with the people that @Kittens Mom was referring to I wouldn't be surprised that in the future people have to show a pay stub or bank statement.
I however won't go to a Humane Society for any more cats. Not that I don't want to show my finances, I would if I had to. Not that I am worried about getting scammed by someone, that would not stop me from getting a cat. I will get two feral kittens and socialize them myself. I have Kitty and Rusty at work and it has been a very rewarding experience converting them from feral to pet. It was well worth my time. My cats are indoor-only and I expect to be approx 60 - 65 years old when my two house cats cross the Rainbow Bridge. I should be healthy enough to do two more feral cats when I am 60 - 65. I would get feral cats because there are fewer people that would.
Just to be clear the questionnaire didn't ask me how much I made but how much I was willing to spend on a vet per year if need be. It is rather easy to say you would spend thousands and not spend a dime. Along with the people that @Kittens Mom was referring to I wouldn't be surprised that in the future people have to show a pay stub or bank statement.
I however won't go to a Humane Society for any more cats. Not that I don't want to show my finances, I would if I had to. Not that I am worried about getting scammed by someone, that would not stop me from getting a cat. I will get two feral kittens and socialize them myself. I have Kitty and Rusty at work and it has been a very rewarding experience converting them from feral to pet. It was well worth my time. My cats are indoor-only and I expect to be approx 60 - 65 years old when my two house cats cross the Rainbow Bridge. I should be healthy enough to do two more feral cats when I am 60 - 65. I would get feral cats because there are fewer people that would.
It looks like I was very lucky with the rescue I adopted Casey and Apollo from. Their adoption contract is not very intrusive. They ask if you have a vet. They state on the contract that they may call the vet for a reference. They did not do that with us. They asked questions about how you would handle issues like re-directed aggression and litter box issues. They also asked for personal references. One of my references was my cat-sitter who has done private rescue. I adopted on of her rescues. My other references were friends who also have cats and have known me for a long time. They asked if we rented or owned the place we lived. The contract did state that they would contact landlords for approval. I understand why they would do that though. I do vaccines for my cats when I first adopt them but after that only do what is required by law since they are strictly indoors. I was surprised that the rescue did not have an issue with this. They appreciated I was honest with them. They also were fine with the fact that I do not do annual exams but I am quick to treat my cats when it needs to be done. This rescue was a dream to deal with. They only called my first reference. I called her to let her know they may call since she does not always have her phone on her. She kept her phone with her and called me after she spoke to them. My friend told me the questions they asked her followed the contract she used for her adoptions and she was very comfortable talking to them.
There is another local shelter in my area that has much stricter adoption rules. I looked at their contact online and could tell right away they would never approve me. They actually require vet records for all your cats as proof of care. They also required financial proof I owned my home and pay check stubs to prove we could afford vet care. They are a no kill private shelter. The funny thing is the rescue I adopted from actually pulls cats from this shelter if they get full. The adoption contracts between the two places are complete opposites.
When I adopted the 2nd cat from the same rescue they only had me fill out the contact information on the contract and sign it. They follow-up about a week after adoption to make sure things are going well and see if you have any questions they can answer. You can contact them about questions or issues for the life of the cat. They follow-up quickly too. When I adopted Apollo the copies of his vet records were not very clear. They became un-readable when the vet tried to make copies. I called the rescue and got voice mail while I was at the vets. While the vet was doing the exam the rescue contacted the vet's office per my request and faxed over a new set of records immediately. The vet's office was surprised by the quick response from the rescue. They also followed up with my later in the day to make sure the records were clear enough for the vet to read. They also mailed me a 2nd set of records for myself even though I told them the vet was able to provide me with a clear copy,
There is another local shelter in my area that has much stricter adoption rules. I looked at their contact online and could tell right away they would never approve me. They actually require vet records for all your cats as proof of care. They also required financial proof I owned my home and pay check stubs to prove we could afford vet care. They are a no kill private shelter. The funny thing is the rescue I adopted from actually pulls cats from this shelter if they get full. The adoption contracts between the two places are complete opposites.
When I adopted the 2nd cat from the same rescue they only had me fill out the contact information on the contract and sign it. They follow-up about a week after adoption to make sure things are going well and see if you have any questions they can answer. You can contact them about questions or issues for the life of the cat. They follow-up quickly too. When I adopted Apollo the copies of his vet records were not very clear. They became un-readable when the vet tried to make copies. I called the rescue and got voice mail while I was at the vets. While the vet was doing the exam the rescue contacted the vet's office per my request and faxed over a new set of records immediately. The vet's office was surprised by the quick response from the rescue. They also followed up with my later in the day to make sure the records were clear enough for the vet to read. They also mailed me a 2nd set of records for myself even though I told them the vet was able to provide me with a clear copy,
My youngest son is upset by the invasive questions on applications, too, and refuses to get a cat from a shelter. He gets his cats from Craig's List. He says the same thing - the shelters complain about all the excess animals and beg for donations, and then make it so hard to adopt a pet. I realize they don't want to give an animal to dog fighters or abusive and irresponsible people, but most people are not like that; they are just looking for a companion. If the shelters want their animals adopted out, they need to tone down their applications.
Shane, at one of the cat rescues in the Memphis area, they make you show proof of income via tax return or pay stub--it's already happening.
And I share your love of ferals---I have one that just came inside in February to live out the rest of his life as a pampered baby! It took me nearly 2 years to get him to that trust point, but it was an enjoyable ride, and he is a loving baby and perfect gentleman in the house now. It is trust and love like no other! My other baby was born in a barn behind my home on my neighbor's property, he wandered up to my house as a little kitten with a botfly in his neck. I nursed him through that and he has been my forever love ever since (that's him in my avatar getting his belly rubs, my old grumpy dude). It develops a special kind of trust and relationship, don't you think?
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I will never supply financial records no matter what. I got hacked 3 times this year already. I since closed some of my accounts and combined into one. I also only use one card for online purchases and NEVER my bank card. I am glad the banks are onto the games but still there are tons of scammers out there who will try to steal every penny you earn. I have this in my own family. so no I wont adopt from those who ask for all the records. all they need to do is call to speak to my vet-one of the 6 I have. Any of them will say I am always quick to bring them in if theyare ill and half the time there is nothing we can do as it is a virus and we just have to wait for it to run its course.
I think rescues will slowly open their eyes and realize that they need to step back from the strict rules if they want to get these animals rehomed. I always got mine from the free section in the union leader. that was in the 1980s and 1990s.
I suppose if I fell in love with an animal I could make up fake documents without giving them access to my bank statements. they don't need to know that. I am employed-that should be enough. And there are those who don't have jobs who are just as good pet parents as people who work so that's not what I meant-just don't like nosey people
I think rescues will slowly open their eyes and realize that they need to step back from the strict rules if they want to get these animals rehomed. I always got mine from the free section in the union leader. that was in the 1980s and 1990s.
I suppose if I fell in love with an animal I could make up fake documents without giving them access to my bank statements. they don't need to know that. I am employed-that should be enough. And there are those who don't have jobs who are just as good pet parents as people who work so that's not what I meant-just don't like nosey people
@hbunny
"It develops a special kind of trust and relationship, don't you think?"
You are so right, Rusty treats me like no other cat I have ever had. When I trapped Rusty he had a upper respiratory infection and an eye infection. I took him to the vet right away and they got him fixed up. Kitty was a little sick but not as bad as Rusty, Kitty went to vet as well. Rusty watches over Kitty and I watch over Rusty so I don't have as strong a bond with Kitty. Rusty is a much bigger cat than Kitty, he watches over his little sister really well. Rusty comes to me no matter what he is doing, I sure wish his sister Kitty was the same. I can pet and pick up Kitty but she is like my house cats, it feels like they own me and will come when they are good and ready. I am OK with that, they are your typical cat. Rusty snuggles with me like a sleeping baby without a care in the world.
@foxxycat
Sorry to hear you got screwed over by scammers. I would like to call them something else but I don't think Anne would appreciate it.
I would not like to do it but I would give up my financial records if it was the only way I could get a cat. It is kind of crazy when getting a cat is like financing a car and it is rather sickening the way that society is headed. More people seem to be out for themselves compared to when I was a kid, it makes them less honest.
"It develops a special kind of trust and relationship, don't you think?"
You are so right, Rusty treats me like no other cat I have ever had. When I trapped Rusty he had a upper respiratory infection and an eye infection. I took him to the vet right away and they got him fixed up. Kitty was a little sick but not as bad as Rusty, Kitty went to vet as well. Rusty watches over Kitty and I watch over Rusty so I don't have as strong a bond with Kitty. Rusty is a much bigger cat than Kitty, he watches over his little sister really well. Rusty comes to me no matter what he is doing, I sure wish his sister Kitty was the same. I can pet and pick up Kitty but she is like my house cats, it feels like they own me and will come when they are good and ready. I am OK with that, they are your typical cat. Rusty snuggles with me like a sleeping baby without a care in the world.
@foxxycat
Sorry to hear you got screwed over by scammers. I would like to call them something else but I don't think Anne would appreciate it.
I would not like to do it but I would give up my financial records if it was the only way I could get a cat. It is kind of crazy when getting a cat is like financing a car and it is rather sickening the way that society is headed. More people seem to be out for themselves compared to when I was a kid, it makes them less honest.
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On the flip side of things is this: what's to keep anyone else who has less than stellar motives toward pets, or who is a collector, from doing the same thing? Plus, just having enough money and answering all the questions right doesn't mean the prospective parent is truly a good one who will actually DO the right thing when the time comes. I honestly don't know how these places make the decision to adopt out to anyone because there is no perfect home, and the ones who seem so perfect could well be pure fabrications. To them, all people kind of look the same. They can't tell an abuser or a hoarder from an honestly good person just by looking at them.
@Ginny
That is so true, just because someone has a good job and lots of money in the bank does not guarantee they won't be too cheap to take the cat to a vet. In fact, I have met some fairly cheap people in my life that have money and a good job. I know people that are shocked that I paid to take Kitty and Rusty to the vet when I could have TNR'd them through the Humane Society for far less money. I told them I did it because that means there are two other cats the Humane Society can help seeing they have a limited budget. Some people admire me for that and others looked at me like I am a sucker. I am no sucker as I don't think Kitty and Rusty are out to swindle me out of my money.
That is so true, just because someone has a good job and lots of money in the bank does not guarantee they won't be too cheap to take the cat to a vet. In fact, I have met some fairly cheap people in my life that have money and a good job. I know people that are shocked that I paid to take Kitty and Rusty to the vet when I could have TNR'd them through the Humane Society for far less money. I told them I did it because that means there are two other cats the Humane Society can help seeing they have a limited budget. Some people admire me for that and others looked at me like I am a sucker. I am no sucker as I don't think Kitty and Rusty are out to swindle me out of my money.
All in all, there are so many that need homes, both in and out of shelters and rescues. If you think of it this way, if you pick up a homeless one off the street, or take one in that is dumped or wanders up, you are probably saving it from a fate often worse than euthanasia by a kill shelter. I tend to view it that way, and I sometimes think they are more urgent cases than those in shelters or rescues. It's a rough life out there for them. I have to tell Wurp every morning as he glares at me carrying a bowl of food outside, that I am simply feeding the homeless. Although I tend to think of the crazy ferals as my cats, that just haven't come around yet to my way of thinking
@hbunny
Lol.
My cat Taz plays with the change when we put it on the table. He pushes it off the table and under the furniture. In Canada we have $1 and $2 coins. My wife and I figure he is saving to have a big party when we are out some time.
If he ever gets a hold of the bank card we will have to check our statement for questionable pet store purchases
Lol.
My cat Taz plays with the change when we put it on the table. He pushes it off the table and under the furniture. In Canada we have $1 and $2 coins. My wife and I figure he is saving to have a big party when we are out some time.
If he ever gets a hold of the bank card we will have to check our statement for questionable pet store purchases
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I just want to offer another view.
I volunteer at a no kill shelter. No one in our rescue is paid. I clean and feed at the shelter, show cats and answer questions on adoption days, and foster. As a foster mom, I have the final say on who gets to adopt my fosters. I have turned down applicants who the rescue had approved. I have driven 150 miles to take back two kittens after they were in their new homes just 48 hours. (with the new owner's consent after some discussion) And I firmly believe I have the right to do these things.
The rescue pays for basic vetting (spray/neuter, shots, testing) and the foster mom/dad pays for everything else. I have two fosters right now that were trapped as 6 month old semi ferals. I have had them for 6 months and have spent hundreds of dollars on food, litter, Revolution, toys, beds. I spend 2 hours a day working with them. They live in a 275 sq. air conditioned room and have access to the other parts of the house at times. I love them like my own.
The rescue asks the basic questions: vet reference, place of employment, 2 references, do you own or rent (permission needed from landlord) and you must promise: indoor only, no declawing, and to return the cat to our rescue if for some reason you can't keep it. I require an extended phone interview.
Then I always ask myself: is this cat better off in this home or with me? I want my cats to have a family who loves them, but I am willing to wait until I find right home.
I volunteer at a no kill shelter. No one in our rescue is paid. I clean and feed at the shelter, show cats and answer questions on adoption days, and foster. As a foster mom, I have the final say on who gets to adopt my fosters. I have turned down applicants who the rescue had approved. I have driven 150 miles to take back two kittens after they were in their new homes just 48 hours. (with the new owner's consent after some discussion) And I firmly believe I have the right to do these things.
The rescue pays for basic vetting (spray/neuter, shots, testing) and the foster mom/dad pays for everything else. I have two fosters right now that were trapped as 6 month old semi ferals. I have had them for 6 months and have spent hundreds of dollars on food, litter, Revolution, toys, beds. I spend 2 hours a day working with them. They live in a 275 sq. air conditioned room and have access to the other parts of the house at times. I love them like my own.
The rescue asks the basic questions: vet reference, place of employment, 2 references, do you own or rent (permission needed from landlord) and you must promise: indoor only, no declawing, and to return the cat to our rescue if for some reason you can't keep it. I require an extended phone interview.
Then I always ask myself: is this cat better off in this home or with me? I want my cats to have a family who loves them, but I am willing to wait until I find right home.
I work at a no-kill shelter and see pets dumped there in terrible condition because they haven't received proper care. The "behavioral problem" all too often is a physical one which could have been prevented if the owner had provided regular vet care. I'm not talking about treatment running to thousands of dollars, quid or euros, but basics like spaying/neutering, dental cleanings, inoculations, flea/tick treatment and the like. A few of these animals have been beyond help and there has been no choice but to have the vet euthanize them. Others have needed very costly, intensive care at the shelter for months on end, with ER vet visits at 7 a.m., forced feeding, daily medication, or wound care. Do potential adopters have any idea how much in the way of blood, sweat and tears is - literally - invested in the shelter animals? How heartbreaking it is to learn that a kitten you bottle fed to keep it alive or spent months taming has been run over by a car or put to sleep because the "good home" couldn't or wouldn't have a UTI treated? Left yarn or dental floss around it swallowed, or didn't have an abscessed tooth extracted?
It never ceases to amaze me how many people fall in love with a photo and insist they have to have a certain cat or kitten for example as a buddy for their other cat(s), even though you tell them that particular cat is a loner because (s)he had to be separated from littermates and handraised due to an illness or injury, or lost the first home because of bullying, all-out physical battles or stress-related inappropriate elimination. People don't want to hear that a very shy former feral isn't going to do well in their noisy, busy household; they have their heart set on that red tabby, etc. and often become abusive when you tell them no, whether it's outright or by being picky about references, home visits, or pet ownership histories.
"Any" home is definitely not always better than living at a shelter. So much time, love, work and money is invested in the well-being of the shelter residents that those who work there want the best possible home for a particular charge, even if it means waiting weeks, months or maybe years for it to be found. Our first obligation is to the animals, so references, pre-adoption home visits, intrusive questions about employment, vacations, health, family and so on are necessary.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people fall in love with a photo and insist they have to have a certain cat or kitten for example as a buddy for their other cat(s), even though you tell them that particular cat is a loner because (s)he had to be separated from littermates and handraised due to an illness or injury, or lost the first home because of bullying, all-out physical battles or stress-related inappropriate elimination. People don't want to hear that a very shy former feral isn't going to do well in their noisy, busy household; they have their heart set on that red tabby, etc. and often become abusive when you tell them no, whether it's outright or by being picky about references, home visits, or pet ownership histories.
"Any" home is definitely not always better than living at a shelter. So much time, love, work and money is invested in the well-being of the shelter residents that those who work there want the best possible home for a particular charge, even if it means waiting weeks, months or maybe years for it to be found. Our first obligation is to the animals, so references, pre-adoption home visits, intrusive questions about employment, vacations, health, family and so on are necessary.
I don't think anyone is disputing the right of a rescue to ask questions and have the right to refuse anyone. It's when as someone looking for a family member and you choose a rescue that fosters in homes because you have other cat(s) and it lessens the chance of bringing a URI into the house and you get the distinct feeling the person offering the cat for adoption is never going to let it go.
The exact reason I am not a foster mom. Nobody would ever walk off with one of MINE.
The exact reason I am not a foster mom. Nobody would ever walk off with one of MINE.
@Theyremine and @jcat
First off, thank you for being volunteers. I don't know how you do it. I have to fight back the tears when I go to the Humane Society, not that I go often. The two little kittens that ended up at my work tugged on my heart as soon as I seen them. I can understand why you do it just not how you do it. I would have a really hard time letting go and an extremely sick cat would crush me. I can't look at an extremely sick animal, I can't fight back the tears on that and I get the feeling like I can't breathe. I literally get choked up. I figure people like you are much better at fighting back the tears but I would not be surprised if you are just really good at crying on the inside.
I said it in an earlier post. The problem is the people that abuse the system / pet that are making it difficult and not the system itself. It is unfortunate that some people have to ruin it for the rest of us, like so many other things in society. I was brought up to never ask a person their age or how much money they make so I consider both to be touchy subjects. Must be difficult to want the person to have the cat and at the same time make sure the person is capable of having the cat. Not much point in rescuing a cat only to turn around and give it someone that will be the same or worse than where the cat came from.
With the two cats I have at work I can understand the blood and sweat but thank God for me there are no tears. Four vet visits each and no real trauma from the visits. It was almost like they enjoyed going on the fourth visit. Healthy and almost completely socialized now. Three people at my vet volunteer at Ottawa Humane Society and they were awesome to deal with because Kitty and Rusty started out feral and the staff at my vet dealt with them amazingly.
Again, thank you for being volunteers.
First off, thank you for being volunteers. I don't know how you do it. I have to fight back the tears when I go to the Humane Society, not that I go often. The two little kittens that ended up at my work tugged on my heart as soon as I seen them. I can understand why you do it just not how you do it. I would have a really hard time letting go and an extremely sick cat would crush me. I can't look at an extremely sick animal, I can't fight back the tears on that and I get the feeling like I can't breathe. I literally get choked up. I figure people like you are much better at fighting back the tears but I would not be surprised if you are just really good at crying on the inside.
I said it in an earlier post. The problem is the people that abuse the system / pet that are making it difficult and not the system itself. It is unfortunate that some people have to ruin it for the rest of us, like so many other things in society. I was brought up to never ask a person their age or how much money they make so I consider both to be touchy subjects. Must be difficult to want the person to have the cat and at the same time make sure the person is capable of having the cat. Not much point in rescuing a cat only to turn around and give it someone that will be the same or worse than where the cat came from.
With the two cats I have at work I can understand the blood and sweat but thank God for me there are no tears. Four vet visits each and no real trauma from the visits. It was almost like they enjoyed going on the fourth visit. Healthy and almost completely socialized now. Three people at my vet volunteer at Ottawa Humane Society and they were awesome to deal with because Kitty and Rusty started out feral and the staff at my vet dealt with them amazingly.
Again, thank you for being volunteers.
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I greatly appreciate the thoughtful perspectives shared on this thread.
That said, I agree that a happy medium must be found. Maybe this situation is like a favorite saying that an old professor of mine used to utter about his specialty; "it's art, not science!"
In other words, getting a feel for whom could possibly be a great pet parent probably is a skill, like art. Sure, objective minutiae is important (economics, home ownership, family status etc.), but one has to know how to utilize information. Maybe not true in every case, but personal intuition is often on the mark. You can't complain about un-adoptable pets but then antagonize potential parents who ostensibly appear to have a solid foundation, and most of all, SELFLESS MOTIVATION.
One comment here made me think again about my last visit to the shelter and remember something else that happened that day. Just ahead of me in line was a woman engaged in a contentious conversation with the lead staff person. As best as I could eavesdrop, she was insisting on getting another cat, after once again returning a cat to the shelter. Apparently she was a multiple time "bring it back" customer. The staffer (not the fellow who eventually waited on me) was diplomatic but firm, explaining to the woman that they could not guarantee that any cat she brought home would be in perfect health. It seems her latest choice had some problem with ear mites. And her habit of returns had exceeded the staff and volunteers' patience. I agree that shelter workers probably get real frustrated with these 'buyer's remorse' type of people, and therefore they need to ask maybe more than a few sufficiently probing questions. It was clear to me that that woman ahead of me was a pain in the caboose.
One last thought. I do appreciate the opinions and experience of the shelter staffers and volunteers. When I first visited the shelter, neither of the two cats I wanted to adopt were agreeable that day, so I was resigned to coming back days or weeks later to look again. I had my heart set on particular kittens based on their looks. Well, as I was about to depart, a volunteer vet asked about my visit. She then began to talk about another kitten that had been bypassed by most prospective parents. I went over to the kitten's cage. Not the prettiest date at the prom, but she came forward to sniff me and then lick me. Well, the rest of the story is that she has been home with me for 7 months now!
That said, I agree that a happy medium must be found. Maybe this situation is like a favorite saying that an old professor of mine used to utter about his specialty; "it's art, not science!"
In other words, getting a feel for whom could possibly be a great pet parent probably is a skill, like art. Sure, objective minutiae is important (economics, home ownership, family status etc.), but one has to know how to utilize information. Maybe not true in every case, but personal intuition is often on the mark. You can't complain about un-adoptable pets but then antagonize potential parents who ostensibly appear to have a solid foundation, and most of all, SELFLESS MOTIVATION.
One comment here made me think again about my last visit to the shelter and remember something else that happened that day. Just ahead of me in line was a woman engaged in a contentious conversation with the lead staff person. As best as I could eavesdrop, she was insisting on getting another cat, after once again returning a cat to the shelter. Apparently she was a multiple time "bring it back" customer. The staffer (not the fellow who eventually waited on me) was diplomatic but firm, explaining to the woman that they could not guarantee that any cat she brought home would be in perfect health. It seems her latest choice had some problem with ear mites. And her habit of returns had exceeded the staff and volunteers' patience. I agree that shelter workers probably get real frustrated with these 'buyer's remorse' type of people, and therefore they need to ask maybe more than a few sufficiently probing questions. It was clear to me that that woman ahead of me was a pain in the caboose.
One last thought. I do appreciate the opinions and experience of the shelter staffers and volunteers. When I first visited the shelter, neither of the two cats I wanted to adopt were agreeable that day, so I was resigned to coming back days or weeks later to look again. I had my heart set on particular kittens based on their looks. Well, as I was about to depart, a volunteer vet asked about my visit. She then began to talk about another kitten that had been bypassed by most prospective parents. I went over to the kitten's cage. Not the prettiest date at the prom, but she came forward to sniff me and then lick me. Well, the rest of the story is that she has been home with me for 7 months now!
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Awww! I love stories like that! I've always been one who likes the underdogs better (or undercats). My mom was too. I once took her to get a kitty from the same breeder where I got Sammy and Garfy. She said no! Until the breeder brought out Cissy. Cissy had an underbite and was in no way shape or form a show quality cat! But my mom fell in love instantly! I mean hopelessly in love! It was so heartwarming to behold.
On the flip side, I've always loved black cats. In fact, I told this breeder I wanted a black cat. And I got him, Sammy, but honestly I did not bond with him the way I did with his little brother Garfy, who was a red tabby Persian. I loved Sammy and his cute personality, but the bond was tighter with Garfy. So in the end, color and looks don't even matter in the long run. There are just these inexorable bonds that happen spontaneously.
@TheGreyStalker
That lady is creepy to me. How the heck could you take back a living animal like buying shoes is beyond me. Has ear mites, take it to the vet seems like the appropriate thing to do. Makes you wonder if the lady would ever take a pet to the vet.
When I got Zoe they told me I could bring her back. My first thought was, if I bring her back you can kick me in the head. I guess they meant if I lost my job, etc. but I didn't think of that at first.
That lady is creepy to me. How the heck could you take back a living animal like buying shoes is beyond me. Has ear mites, take it to the vet seems like the appropriate thing to do. Makes you wonder if the lady would ever take a pet to the vet.
When I got Zoe they told me I could bring her back. My first thought was, if I bring her back you can kick me in the head. I guess they meant if I lost my job, etc. but I didn't think of that at first.
Probably the biggest problem is that local all-volunteer shelters don't really have a lot of control of their own volunteers. They aren't hired, but rather sign up to be there, and the organization can ask volunteers to be more personable if they get complaints but at most places the volunteer has to make a lot of enemies and cross significant lines before they can be kicked out. It's hard, because sometimes the person with the ugliest attitude is also the one who fosters the most kittens or TNRs the most ferals and it would feel morally gray to get rid of someone who does so much good and also is really a big help otherwise.
Also there are people who just do not have good rapport with other people, whether they can help it or not, and when they choose to volunteer somewhere, they're going to go somewhere that they imagine will have less people interaction and more animals. But actually a very large portion of shelter work is working with the public.
And then, if you work at a shelter for long enough, you see the absolute best and the absolute worst of humanity. It is amazing how some people treat animals, and you would not believe all these people lived in your town until you spend a few weekends working adoptions and observe.
And most rescues, especially in smaller towns or areas with less funding, are always fighting an uphill battle from all sides. The adoption fees never cover the basic veterinary fees of shots, spay/neuter, and medication for each cat, and that's just if they're healthy otherwise, which is so often not the case, but people complain every day about how the fees are too high. There are always more cats than there is room for, and volunteers that can't say no stretch themselves thinner and thinner trying to save more cats and snatch up cats from kill shelters before they're scheduled to be put down, and they are not always successful and it takes an emotional toll and burnout is common.
So it's a deeply flawed system. That said, some of the most selfless, sweet, kind hearted people I've ever met worked for years at the local rescue. And I think more of the serious volunteers are like that than not, but the bad attitudes stick out. I worked with one woman for a long time that had such a difficult life and worked so hard to help the cats so if anyone deserved to be bitter it was her, but I could not stand being around her. Everything she said felt like an attack. I even had a nightmare about her the other day!
But at the end of the day, rescues do need some kind of vetting process, and most places do allow fosters to apply additional rules to their own cats, which makes sense. Some cats have very particular personalities that need a very particular environment to be a good fit, and some have difficult health issues that need to be addressed. All the rules at the shelter I was at and all the individual rules fosters had existed because there had been problems before the rule was made. And we were always told that if you ever had a bad feeling about someone, any volunteer could deny an adoption. This sounds like a weird rule, but it also came from past experiences of feeling uneasy about an adoption and then regretting it later.
All in all, the system is supposed to be based around what is best for the animal, not what is best for the customer, which is not how most businesses work, and that's where customer service has the opportunity to go awry.
Also there are people who just do not have good rapport with other people, whether they can help it or not, and when they choose to volunteer somewhere, they're going to go somewhere that they imagine will have less people interaction and more animals. But actually a very large portion of shelter work is working with the public.
And then, if you work at a shelter for long enough, you see the absolute best and the absolute worst of humanity. It is amazing how some people treat animals, and you would not believe all these people lived in your town until you spend a few weekends working adoptions and observe.
And most rescues, especially in smaller towns or areas with less funding, are always fighting an uphill battle from all sides. The adoption fees never cover the basic veterinary fees of shots, spay/neuter, and medication for each cat, and that's just if they're healthy otherwise, which is so often not the case, but people complain every day about how the fees are too high. There are always more cats than there is room for, and volunteers that can't say no stretch themselves thinner and thinner trying to save more cats and snatch up cats from kill shelters before they're scheduled to be put down, and they are not always successful and it takes an emotional toll and burnout is common.
So it's a deeply flawed system. That said, some of the most selfless, sweet, kind hearted people I've ever met worked for years at the local rescue. And I think more of the serious volunteers are like that than not, but the bad attitudes stick out. I worked with one woman for a long time that had such a difficult life and worked so hard to help the cats so if anyone deserved to be bitter it was her, but I could not stand being around her. Everything she said felt like an attack. I even had a nightmare about her the other day!
But at the end of the day, rescues do need some kind of vetting process, and most places do allow fosters to apply additional rules to their own cats, which makes sense. Some cats have very particular personalities that need a very particular environment to be a good fit, and some have difficult health issues that need to be addressed. All the rules at the shelter I was at and all the individual rules fosters had existed because there had been problems before the rule was made. And we were always told that if you ever had a bad feeling about someone, any volunteer could deny an adoption. This sounds like a weird rule, but it also came from past experiences of feeling uneasy about an adoption and then regretting it later.
All in all, the system is supposed to be based around what is best for the animal, not what is best for the customer, which is not how most businesses work, and that's where customer service has the opportunity to go awry.
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Oh, I wholeheartedly agree that the work at animal shelters and rescue operations can be a trial. On another blog I felt it was imperative to call out the whiners who unfairly demean such workers. And yes, I include the so called "kill shelter" workers among the people who deserve our respect. Clearly, euthanasia is an unwanted result, but no one that I met at my local shelter wanted euthanasia to occur. It's clear to me that the people where I adopted my gal go the extra mile. Yes, the local municipal laws place a lot of requirements upon the shelter's operation, but with the unsurprising and perpetual minimalist funding. They are committed and compassionate nevertheless. They have even accepted a cat from out-of-state (which probably was some kind of violation of their charter).
In the final analysis, maybe I should characterize my negative experience as an example of one staff person who was just not "on his game" the day I visited the shelter. But but again, he was not the only shelter/rescue person I have met in my brief time as a cat parent whose oddities left a sour taste in my mouth.
In the final analysis, maybe I should characterize my negative experience as an example of one staff person who was just not "on his game" the day I visited the shelter. But but again, he was not the only shelter/rescue person I have met in my brief time as a cat parent whose oddities left a sour taste in my mouth.
