I am SOOO angry right now. I spent months and months looking for a rescue that I liked their policies so I could foster cats. Well I have been fostering with them for over a year now and am even on the board of directors. All of a sudden things are starting to change and I am really angry about it and want to know if I am overreacting or if this is normal.
We have always vaccinated all cats and kittens with FVRCP & FeLV starting at 9 weeks and again in three more weeks. Now all of a sudden we are no longer vaccinating against feline leukemia at all.
Next, the policy always was any incoming goes to the directors house, she quarantines them, gets them tests for luekemia and aids and then they go to which ever foster home has room. Now, I was just told yesterday we are no longer going to be testing for Aids for whatever reason but only leukemia because it saves us money. I also just found out our vet isn't doing tests on kittens under 10 weeks old. Well that puts my cats at risk doesn't it!! I mean I get in kittens around 3-6 weeks old all the time and you are telling me that these kittens haven't been tested AT ALL!!!! Luckily when they turned 10 weeks old everything turned out fine with the test but still. I am really really angry about this. That means I have to keep a 3 week old kitten I get in quarantined for 7 weeks! And what if it tests postive, who is going to take it then??!
I mean I understand rescues have trouble with raising money, etc. but come on, I cannot continue to foster if it is going to endanger my cats in any way. I am scared to death I am going to end up giving my cats some horrible disease because I wasn't told the entire truth. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fostering. I love the feeling and I love helping but I just am at my wits end. I feel like I am the only one putting forth effort here. I even schedule all the fundraisers.
Then of course we have the fosters that aren't really adoptable that I am EXPECTED to keep. My husband is getting ready to join the Air Force, which means in about a year we will have to move. I have 7 cats of my own and 2 dogs. That is enough to move without having to keep my foster cats forever. I mean I wish I could but I just don't think I can. I currently have three foster cats that will probably never get adopted. I have one feral cat living with me, one former feral that only is very scared of other people but with me is very very very sweet and is even a lap cat, and I have a feline herpes cat that because of the herpes he will never get adopted because his face is always all crusty and scabby looking and puffy eyes and hair loss. He was actually born in my house and has never known anyone but me and two of my cats just LOVE him to death so I will probably take him because he is a sweetheart but is it selfish of me to say no to the other two? Should I be taking these ferals with me? How in gods name am I going to move two feral cats across the U.S. with me?!! One cat I have never even touched and I am suppose to put her in a carrier and travel!! On top of that, that would be 10 cats!! We are already going to have a problem finding a place to rent with the 7 cats and 2 dogs we already have..... (Don't worry I would never in a million years give up any of my guys)
Now my problem is this. We have been around since I believe 2002. From then to now we have saved over 500 cats. This year alone so far we have rescued over 150 cats with me personally saving over 30 cats this year. We have three major foster homes. We have the directors house, my house which I usually have about 10 foster cats at a time, and another lady who usually has about 10 foster cats at a time, then we have a couple homes that just takes one cat at a time. If I stop fostering I feel like I am letting these cats down, that they are going to die because of me. How can I stop? There is absolutely no other rescue at all in my entire area that I would be willing to work with.
What should I do. I am so upset by this. On one hand I would certainly love to take a break and just have my guys for a while but then again I don't want to have any cat be put to sleep that I could have helped. I am so torn on this and just would like to hear what you guys have to say. I am just soo upset and overwhelmed today. I just feel like I can't help enough but that on the other hand I am going to burn out if I don't slow down.....
We have always vaccinated all cats and kittens with FVRCP & FeLV starting at 9 weeks and again in three more weeks. Now all of a sudden we are no longer vaccinating against feline leukemia at all.
Next, the policy always was any incoming goes to the directors house, she quarantines them, gets them tests for luekemia and aids and then they go to which ever foster home has room. Now, I was just told yesterday we are no longer going to be testing for Aids for whatever reason but only leukemia because it saves us money. I also just found out our vet isn't doing tests on kittens under 10 weeks old. Well that puts my cats at risk doesn't it!! I mean I get in kittens around 3-6 weeks old all the time and you are telling me that these kittens haven't been tested AT ALL!!!! Luckily when they turned 10 weeks old everything turned out fine with the test but still. I am really really angry about this. That means I have to keep a 3 week old kitten I get in quarantined for 7 weeks! And what if it tests postive, who is going to take it then??!
I mean I understand rescues have trouble with raising money, etc. but come on, I cannot continue to foster if it is going to endanger my cats in any way. I am scared to death I am going to end up giving my cats some horrible disease because I wasn't told the entire truth. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fostering. I love the feeling and I love helping but I just am at my wits end. I feel like I am the only one putting forth effort here. I even schedule all the fundraisers.
Then of course we have the fosters that aren't really adoptable that I am EXPECTED to keep. My husband is getting ready to join the Air Force, which means in about a year we will have to move. I have 7 cats of my own and 2 dogs. That is enough to move without having to keep my foster cats forever. I mean I wish I could but I just don't think I can. I currently have three foster cats that will probably never get adopted. I have one feral cat living with me, one former feral that only is very scared of other people but with me is very very very sweet and is even a lap cat, and I have a feline herpes cat that because of the herpes he will never get adopted because his face is always all crusty and scabby looking and puffy eyes and hair loss. He was actually born in my house and has never known anyone but me and two of my cats just LOVE him to death so I will probably take him because he is a sweetheart but is it selfish of me to say no to the other two? Should I be taking these ferals with me? How in gods name am I going to move two feral cats across the U.S. with me?!! One cat I have never even touched and I am suppose to put her in a carrier and travel!! On top of that, that would be 10 cats!! We are already going to have a problem finding a place to rent with the 7 cats and 2 dogs we already have..... (Don't worry I would never in a million years give up any of my guys)
Now my problem is this. We have been around since I believe 2002. From then to now we have saved over 500 cats. This year alone so far we have rescued over 150 cats with me personally saving over 30 cats this year. We have three major foster homes. We have the directors house, my house which I usually have about 10 foster cats at a time, and another lady who usually has about 10 foster cats at a time, then we have a couple homes that just takes one cat at a time. If I stop fostering I feel like I am letting these cats down, that they are going to die because of me. How can I stop? There is absolutely no other rescue at all in my entire area that I would be willing to work with.
What should I do. I am so upset by this. On one hand I would certainly love to take a break and just have my guys for a while but then again I don't want to have any cat be put to sleep that I could have helped. I am so torn on this and just would like to hear what you guys have to say. I am just soo upset and overwhelmed today. I just feel like I can't help enough but that on the other hand I am going to burn out if I don't slow down.....