More about adopting at the cat show

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dgk - 14 Oct 2004 19:59 GMT

I spoke to a friend who also had gone to the cat show and got more
information about the adopt-a-thon part of the show. It was a combined
effort by several groups including North Shore and Petco. If you
wanted to adopt a cat from any of them you had to provide references
and you could pick up the cat after they checked your references. They
would also fix the cats.

So, says I, what about the folks I saw leaving with cats in cardboard
carriers? Oh, those were from a kill shelter in New Jersey. Apparently
those cats were less important, or were going to be killed soon
anyway, so the rules were less stringent. At least, that is what my
friend Pat intimated. If anyone knows otherwise I am curious about
that.

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Cat Protector - 14 Oct 2004 20:10 GMT

Cats up for adoption are not uncommon at cat shows whether they be from a
no-kill shelter or a shelter that practices euthanasia. The last cat show I
went to, they had cats up for adoption from Maricopa Animal Care & Control
which does euthanize (although the last person in charge was trying to
impliment a no-kill policy). I think the missions of both the no-kills and
those that euthanize are the same, to adopt out cats to good and loving
homes. All of the shelters I am aware of do actually require you to provide
references such as a name, address and phone number. They also make you sign
an adoption agreement as well so that any cat being adopted out isn't
mistreated, sold to a lab, etc, etc. So every cat is important.

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>I spoke to a friend who also had gone to the cat show and got more
> information about the adopt-a-thon part of the show. It was a combined
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> friend Pat intimated. If anyone knows otherwise I am curious about
> that.

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dgk - 14 Oct 2004 21:08 GMT

>Cats up for adoption are not uncommon at cat shows whether they be from a
>no-kill shelter or a shelter that practices euthanasia. The last cat show I
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>an adoption agreement as well so that any cat being adopted out isn't
>mistreated, sold to a lab, etc, etc. So every cat is important.

I didn't mean that they were really less important. I was trying to
figure out why the policy from a kill shelter would be different than
a nokill shelter.

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kaeli - 14 Oct 2004 21:35 GMT

> I didn't mean that they were really less important. I was trying to
> figure out why the policy from a kill shelter would be different than
> a nokill shelter.

Because no-kill shelters have the luxury of time.
If it's adopt them out or they die in a week, they're a lot less picky about
who they adopt to. If they have the luxury of waiting for the "perfect
forever home", they do. And each no-kill shelter often has its own rules
about adoption. Some places make you sign no-declaw contracts. Others don't.
Some make you promise to keep them as indoor cats. Some don't. It's just a
matter of who is running it, really.

Personally, I think if shelters were less picky, there'd be a lot less people
buying from pet stores. It can be harder to adopt a pet than to adopt a kid,
FCOL.

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Yngver - 18 Oct 2004 16:29 GMT

>Personally, I think if shelters were less picky, there'd be a lot less people
>
>buying from pet stores. It can be harder to adopt a pet than to adopt a kid,

That's a tough one, since I do think it's important for shelters to screen
potential adopters. However, I do know of a couple who wanted to adopt a kitten
but were refused by a shelter because they both work and were not home during
the day, so they bought a purebred kitten from a breeder. I also know of
another situation where a couple wanted to adopt a kitten before Christmas
because they were both going to be home for a couple of weeks and would have
lots of time to supervise/bond, but were refused. They also bought a kitten
rather than adopt from the shelter.

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Cat Protector - 15 Oct 2004 00:27 GMT

Most shelters seem to have similar policies although I am aware some want to
take the time to visit the human's home so they know the cat will be in a
good environment. What makes them different is that the shelters that
euthanize will often loosen their adoption procedures so they can make room
for new arrivals. They also tend to just get your basic information (name,
address, phone number, etc). If you are renting a home or an apartment,
sometimes they'll call the managers to find out what the policy is regarding
animals.

The no-kills a lot of times will actually foster a cat before they are
placed for adoption. They form a bond with the animal so they may not only
get the basic info but they'll also be tighter on the adoption agreement
because they want to know the cat is going a good and loving home, not to
someone who will neglect the animal.

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> I didn't mean that they were really less important. I was trying to
> figure out why the policy from a kill shelter would be different than
> a nokill shelter.

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Barb - 15 Oct 2004 16:30 GMT

North Shore is stringent alright. They were turning me away because it was
not their big adoption week-end. They wanted me to come back. I had to
stand there and threaten them, really throw my weight around, until they
finally relented. They then demanded three references who could be checked
immediately. Thank heavens 2 of my friends were home and of course my vet
was available. Not only that, but about one year later a very nice
gentleman in a North Shore jacket came calling and checked out my home and
the Pickles, (my kitten)!!! He had a clip board.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

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dgk - 15 Oct 2004 16:34 GMT

>North Shore is stringent alright. They were turning me away because it was
>not their big adoption week-end. They wanted me to come back. I had to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>gentleman in a North Shore jacket came calling and checked out my home and
>the Pickles, (my kitten)!!! He had a clip board.

He came to check out your home? Damn, I'd better start cleaning. Oh
wait, I didn't use North Shore. Wow, that was close.

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Barb - 15 Oct 2004 17:22 GMT

LOL! Well, luckily I had just wiped down my furniture with Windex. Guess I
passed muster because Pickles is still here.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

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dgk - 15 Oct 2004 17:19 GMT

>LOL! Well, luckily I had just wiped down my furniture with Windex. Guess I
>passed muster because Pickles is still here.

Does that give you transparent furniture?

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Barb - 16 Oct 2004 15:44 GMT

It gives me glass and mica furniture and no wood polishing.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

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Elizabeth Blake - 16 Oct 2004 02:42 GMT

> North Shore is stringent alright. They were turning me away because it was
> not their big adoption week-end. They wanted me to come back. I had to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> gentleman in a North Shore jacket came calling and checked out my home and
> the Pickles, (my kitten)!!! He had a clip board.

I've heard that North Shore does follow-up visits. I'm glad they never did
that after I adopted two cats from them 5 1/2 years ago. I told them the
cats were coming home with me but they were really for work. I had checked
other shelters/rescue places and told them that I wanted the two cats for a
bookstore and they all refused. I offered to give them the names/numbers of
the vets we used when our other location had a cat (Tiger, who is now
retired and living with me) but they didn't want to hear it. I can
understand people not wanting to give cats to stores, since most stores that
want cats are delis and food places, and they consider the cat to be nothing
more than a furry exterminator. So I gave up and went to North Shore and
filled out the forms as if I was taking them home. Stinky and Harriet have
been happy and well taken care of ever since. Another one of our stores did
the same thing at another shelter (the employee gave all of her own info) to
get a cat. Their cat, Minnie, was diagnosed with diabetes earlier this year
and she goes to the vet regularly, gets her prescription food and is doing
very well.

Tiger, however, is clawing at my a.s (literally) for attention as I type. I
think she would be happy to come out of retirement and go back to work,
where are are lots of people to pay attention to her.

--
Liz

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-L. : - 16 Oct 2004 08:51 GMT

> North Shore is stringent alright. They were turning me away because it was
> not their big adoption week-end. They wanted me to come back. I had to
> stand there and threaten them, really throw my weight around, until they

> finally relented. They then demanded three references who could be checked
> immediately. Thank heavens 2 of my friends were home and of course my vet
> was available. Not only that, but about one year later a very nice
> gentleman in a North Shore jacket came calling and checked out my home and
> the Pickles, (my kitten)!!! He had a clip board.

I'm glad they did a follow-up. They were doing an excellent job, IMO.
I wish more shelter had those kinds of resources.

-L.

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