an adopter declawed even though its against policy

i recently found out that one of the cats adopted from our rescue was declawed 10 days after being adopted. the owner lied on the application and signed a contract that they would not declaw her and we could take her back if she did.

this is the first time we have had to deal with it and i really dont know what to do now.

on one hand she should be taken back because its policy and i dont trust them anymore since they have lied from the start. they were recommended by a vet that provides us service and knows our policy. the vet also did the procedure. we arent working with them anymore. so not only did she declaw the cat and lie but ruined our relationship with the vet which will cost us lots financially.

on the other hand if we take her back she is just going to do this to another cat. petunia (the kitten) would come to my house if we do take her back so a space for her is not the issue. finances are not an issue either. i adopted 2 of her sisters and her mother is even still here waiting for a home.

if you have any advice or have been through this please let me know. i am doing a visit tomorrow to check on petunia. thanks.

how did you find out they declawed?

IMO, i would take her back, its policy... i personally wouldnt trust them either if they lied about something like that...

if they wanted to declaw the cat that bad, there are a lot of places they could get a cat that doesnt care if you declawor to get one that is already declawed, they dont need to lie to an organization that is against declawing (i hope that came out right, i dont want to offend)

i cant believe the vet either, i dont know if i am more surprised by the vet or the people going against the policy...

thanks for your opinion.

i found out just by chance. the kitten had been pulled from our local kill shelter on her last day. the called saying they needed verification she had been spayed. i called the vet up and they could not find her as Petunia. i gave them the owners name (they changed the kittens name- not an issue for me by any means) and the lady at the vet said, "well she has two listed that are declawed was she declawed?" i said no and she better have not been.

i have all of my cats microchipped and had her number with me and they matched up. so i called the owner and calmly asked if she had declawed Petunia. she was really quiet and then asked why was i asking so i asked her again. she finally admitted to it and then started going on how i couldnt take her it would break her heart and she started crying.

i have been a mess since. if she had just told me we had cats that were already declawed and i would have helped her. the other part is that one of the other rescues that works with our vet allows declawing. i just dont see why they wouldnt send her to them since they have no problem with it.

i feel so betrayed on so many levels right now. it broke my heart letting her adopt her because Petunia was my foster baby. i thought i had a good feel on this woman and was comforted because our vet and tech vouched for her. i just feel sick over it.

if you feel sick about it, go get her, you can always tell them that it will be determined at a later date by the organization if they can keep her...

personally, i wouldnt want them to sit at home and say 'see i told you they wouldnt do anything about it' people need to realize that when the sign something it is for real, not just a suggestion. policy is policy

if they wanted a declawed cat that bad, i agree, they could have said something and you could have helped...

Really though, if you think about it, why take her back? What is the worst they can do to her- they have already done! I would instead look toward a financial donation towards your rescue for their infraction of the rules. The only thing worse they could do, is kick her outside to live, so monitoring her living conditions would be a definite isuue to persue. You can't put her claws back on, or take her out of the pain she had to endure,

Personally, I would take the cat back and I would also write a letter to the vet's office about how disgusted you are. I am sure you can find another vet to work with you. I would not trust the adopter either. I have known a few girlfriends that could cry on cue....They could have just as easily asked for declawed cats.

Edited to add. word spreads.....this is one of those cases that if the foot isn't put down, or the contract enforced..it is very easy for this girl to tell a friend, to tell a friend. A contract is a contract and if they aren't going to be enforced...there is no point in having it.

Really though, if you think about it, why take her back? What is the worst they can do to her- they have already done! I would instead look toward a financial donation towards your rescue for their infraction of the rules. The only thing worse they could do, is kick her outside to live, so monitoring her living conditions would be a definite isuue to persue. You can't put her claws back on, or take her out of the pain she had to endure,

Click to expand...

true...good point

Edited to add. word spreads.....this is one of those cases that if the foot isn't put down, or the contract enforced..it is very easy for this girl to tell a friend, to tell a friend. A contract is a contract and if they aren't going to be enforced...there is no point in having it.

Click to expand...

good point too!

sorry, i am probably not helping

hissy- i thought about it that way too. the damage has already been done. i know i cant do anything about it. my worry is that if they can so easily lie about that and then declaw what else are they going to do? is she going to get booted out, are they just going to decide that they dont want her anymore? you know?

i hadnt thought about asking for a donation of some kind as a penalty. if she does stay there i was going to see about doing check ups on a regular basis just to make sure she is okay. i dont want to make a rash decision because i think they really do love her.

hopefully i will feel better tomorrow but when someone lies like that and then less than 2 weeks later does that knowing that if we found out they could lose her? i just dont know. i'm taking lots of information on declawing to her and sitting with her while she reads it. i want to make sure she knows exactly what she did to her kitten. maybe it will help.

i do plan on writing the vet. i have another vet that is more expensive that we have been going to and just got a letter from one of the vet schools that she had made a donation in the name of one of the cats that we lost to FIP. she had only spent maybe 20 minutes with him but she cared enough to do that. i bawled when i read the letter. even though she is more expensive i know she really cares and would not betray my trust like that thanks again everyone for your advice!!! its hard trying to sort all of it out on your own (i'm the only decision making person here since other than foster homes in our rescue i'm it). anna

Dear Anna,


First, let me say how sorry I am that you are having to go through this with your adopter. People are jerks sometimes, what can you do?

As for what you should do ... I think you are pretty much forced to take this kitten back. Even though the damage has been done, these people lied on their application ... heck, they lied to your face and I wouldn't trust them again as far as I could throw them! If you have a policy of no declawing, then you must stand by it come what may. To do otherwise is to undermine the confidence that others place in your organization. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the whole "she cried" thing - if she was so darn concerned about the cat, she wouldn't have lied to you and she certainly wouldn't have declawed the cat anyway.

As much as I hate this for you, I hate the fact that people will do anything - ANYTHING - to get around the rules. It is just plain wrong.

Take back the kitten and put the word out to the other organizations in your area not to adopt out to this person.

Again, I am so sorry you are having to go through this but I don't see any other recourse for you.

Best of luck,

~gf~

What you can't do is just let it ride. Or the word will get out, as has been said. So there has to be a penalty of some sort. You can't just demand a donation, as that is not in any contract you have and they might simply refuse. It has to be a trade-off, that is if you decide to let the cat stay. If you are going through an education process with the adopter, then maybe you can say that you will take the cat back unless she shows real remorse, in the form of helping other cats avoid this procedure. Then ask her for a donation. But I think what the vet did is worse.

I TOTALLY agree with what was said here...plus, how in the world would you ever enforce a financial penalty?? If you work hard enough at building a good rescue org...you have to stand by your policies that are this serious..IMO.

Originally Posted by gayef

Dear Anna,


First, let me say how sorry I am that you are having to go through this with your adopter. People are jerks sometimes, what can you do?

As for what you should do ... I think you are pretty much forced to take this kitten back. Even though the damage has been done, these people lied on their application ... heck, they lied to your face and I wouldn't trust them again as far as I could throw them! If you have a policy of no declawing, then you must stand by it come what may. To do otherwise is to undermine the confidence that others place in your organization. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the whole "she cried" thing - if she was so darn concerned about the cat, she wouldn't have lied to you and she certainly wouldn't have declawed the cat anyway.

As much as I hate this for you, I hate the fact that people will do anything - ANYTHING - to get around the rules. It is just plain wrong.

Take back the kitten and put the word out to the other organizations in your area not to adopt out to this person.

Again, I am so sorry you are having to go through this but I don't see any other recourse for you.

Best of luck,

~gf~

Click to expand...

It is a tough one....the rescue I volunteer with also has a no declaw policy....we tell potential adoptors that if they are considering declawing to adopt one of our already declawed cats. However, there is no way to "know" once the cat has left our premises, whether the adoptor will keep their promise and not declaw the cat. Something else that I consider is that since we do not microchip....even though we are willing to take a cat back at any point in it's life...if someone does declaw our cat...they probably won't bring it back to us if it isn't working out. That being said....our contract is our agreement with an adoptor...if they break the contract, we are obligated to take our cat back. It is a matter of principle.

Katie

I can understand your desire to go with your policy. First of all, I would certainly not blame the adopters in this case for "ruining your relationship with this vet". If you work with them on a regular basis then they know your policy and they should be held accoutable if they are the ones that go against your will. If you choose to not work with them anymore that is your decision, and potentially your loss.

We have a billion other threads dedicated to debating declawing and I dont really want to go there, but please do keep in mind that many people who declaw their animals care a great deal about them and give them loving homes. It is unfortunate that these people did lie to you about their intentions, but I dont see what good bringing her back to your shelter would do. Especially noting your feelings on declawing cats, dont you think that these people would just end up bringing another declawed cat into their home? By taking back this cat, you would essentially ensure another cat will go through this process.

I think it is more likely that they wanted this cat so badly that they were willing to lie to you in order to get it. Doesn't excuse it, but might help to explain it and think about it in some other way than just assuming they are monsters. If I were you I would take the advice and ask for a donation to the shelter, and maybe check in on this kitty more often to make sure that she is being well taken care of.

I think you should take the kitten back. If it's part of your policy that your cats not be declawed when adopted out then you have no choice but to take the cat back and abide by that policy.

I feel badly for the little kitty.

If they signed a contract re not declawing and they broke that contract then they should indeed lose the privilege of having the cat.

I agree with Gayef - your reputation is on the line and if you don't pursue this then word may spread that your contracts are worthless.

Folks really need to know that if they commit to something they must abide by that commitment IMO.

This is a very difficult situation. How will you feel in 6 months? Will you be happier if you repossess the kitty, or let her stay with them? Will this impact your ability to adopt out to other people? If you do not take the kitty back, will you be more fearful to adopt to others?

What would be best for kitty? I agree that people who lie and then declaw can still make good kitty parents, but will you spend the next 20 yrs worrying about this baby?

I would be more inclined to forgive the vet than the adopter. Isn't is possible that since other agencies don't mind declaw, he didn't realize it was one of your kitties? And the vets office IS how you got the info.

Please, listen to your heart. Do not take the kitty back to teach a lesson, or out of anger at being lied too. But if your heart says-this is not a safe home for my baby-go get her!

Good luck!

Originally Posted by SharonKay

I can understand your desire to go with your policy. First of all, I would certainly not blame the adopters in this case for "ruining your relationship with this vet". If you work with them on a regular basis then they know your policy and they should be held accoutable if they are the ones that go against your will. If you choose to not work with them anymore that is your decision, and potentially your loss.

We have a billion other threads dedicated to debating declawing and I dont really want to go there, but please do keep in mind that many people who declaw their animals care a great deal about them and give them loving homes. It is unfortunate that these people did lie to you about their intentions, but I dont see what good bringing her back to your shelter would do. Especially noting your feelings on declawing cats, dont you think that these people would just end up bringing another declawed cat into their home? By taking back this cat, you would essentially ensure another cat will go through this process.

I think it is more likely that they wanted this cat so badly that they were willing to lie to you in order to get it. Doesn't excuse it, but might help to explain it and think about it in some other way than just assuming they are monsters. If I were you I would take the advice and ask for a donation to the shelter, and maybe check in on this kitty more often to make sure that she is being well taken care of.

Click to expand...

Man, I have to jump on the bandwagon here. I agree with what Sharonkay said above about people who declaw should not be categorized as people who don't love their animals. I hate to tell ya all this but all of the cats I have had in the past were declawed in the front. Now, to be fair, I was not the one that made this decision, my mom did since I had my kitties while living with her, however, I am not mad or grudgeful towards my mom in anyway whatsoever for her decision. And I am here to tell you, I loved my kitties more than life itself and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. As most of you have read some of my threads, I would do anything to make my cats happy and if I had a choice, I would take in every single cat that needed a home. Having said that, to be honest with you all, I had no idea how big of an issue declawing was. I did not realize it until my jessie passed away and I went to the humane society to adopt a cat and one of the ladies there literally yelled at me because I put that I might declaw on my application. I had no clue this was so controversal. But keep in mind, I had jessie by herself for 17 yrs. and would have no idea that this is something that is a huge debate.
I can completely understand your issue with the fact that the lady lied on the application. That is wrong and she should face some kind of consequence for that. What that consequence will be is up to you and I know that you are having to make a horribly difficult decision but please let your heart guide you and have faith that you will be able to decide what's best. I have faith in you!!
To end this, let me say that I do not plan on declawing my new kitties. They have not scratched and even if they did, I will utilize scratching posts or some of the other suggestions I have seen on here.
But please...... do not stereotype people who have or had their cats declawed as people who do not love their pets. I loved my kitties with every ounce of my being.
I do not agree with her lying and I personally would not do that but I can tell you this, I was very upset that this lady yelled at me at the humane society here in my county. She then told me I could not adopt the kitty I was looking at. Sooooo, I went to another county humane society to get Salem and Spook and these people were totally different. I don't think I deserved to be yelled at or punished because we had a difference of opinion.
I send good vibes your way for you to make the right decision. I am sorry that you are going through this. It's an awful position to be in.

Tough, sad situation. I do think you should leave the cat where it is. do not deal with this vet anymore. The people are dishonest, but it doesn't mean they don't love the cat, it means they're not educated re: declaw.

let me know what you ultimately decide

hi again everyone-

i just wanted to say first off that i never said someone who declawed could not be a good parent or that they didnt love thier pets. i believe i even said i know she loves the cat. if it came across that way i am sorry about that.

i do not agree with declawing though. my main problem is that she lied about it and then less than 2 weeks later she was declawed. she knew the day she filled out the application that that was what she was going to do. i do not think she is a good parent to this cat because she knew up front that if she did this she would lose the cat. not to mention that when she filled out the application she had not even met the cat. there was no "attachment" that made her determined to get the cat. the kitty was never in danger of running out of time here or anything. they are not kept in cages. she had free roam of an entire house. i guess i could understand if the cat was in danger of being put to sleep or living in a cage but she wasnt. she was a very happy kitten here. i pray she will still be that way when i see her.


the vet i hold just as responsible. he knew very well it was one of our cats. the adoption was completed at his clinic with him present. they did not willingly tell me it happened. i just happened to put 2 and 2 together.

i am really thinking that this kitty is going to have to come back to the rescue. we were supposed to have our meeting today and the lady did not show up. i was there for over an hour waiting and she just didnt show up. i left messages and have not heard back from her.

i think if i did leave her in the home i would worry for the next 20 years like someone mentioned. i just dont have a good feeling anymore about the whole situation. i had actually considered not taking her back. hopefully this lady will have a good reason for not showing up or rather being home. i hope she does. i guess we will see.

i do appreciate everyones opinions and suggestions. hopefully it will all be worked out soon and have a happy ending.

Wow that's a tough situation...

I wouldn't pass anymore business to that vet myself.

She knew full well that a declaw was not allowed. If she didn't have any special attachment to that kitten why didn't she adopt from elsewhere? Public/city shelters are full of cats for which a declaw would be preferable to being PTS. Or she could just have gotten a cat that was already declawed right?

Gut feel is to take the kitten back, though it doesn't change anything. I'd try to keep close contact with her and the kitten, and see how things work out. She may yet be a good owner, though her deceit is unnacceptable. If you can wait and see how things work out it might be best... That she didn't show for your apointment doesn't bode well to me. If she refuses to talk with you I don't see any option but to take the kitten back. You have a set of rules for adoption to protect the cats, you can't let someone flaunt your rules.

Good luck with the kitten