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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2005Ping: Phil
Just wanted to tell you I got fired (again) yesterday from working adoptions. A couple came in to look at a kitten, and spotted a Boxer and started squealing about how they wanted him. I told them he was a cat killer. They didn't seem properly horrified at that aspect of his personality. Couldn't decide whether they wanted the Boxer or the kitten. STarted babbling about the dogs and cats they "used to have." So I turned them down for ambivalence and lack of commitment. I *know* that kitten would have a home until the "new" wore off then out it would go. I don't know why I even try. If it was up to me, I wouldn't let 1/2 the people who come through that door have a cat. Sherry > Just wanted to tell you I got fired (again) yesterday from working > adoptions. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Sherry I'm not Phil (obviously), but I wanted to let you know that I think you did the right thing. Moreover, the people who run that organization are *idiots.* They should be delighted to have someone who really cares about the welfare of those cats and dogs. Instead, they seem to care more about public relations. At least, that's my take on a situation like this. I would guess that the people who wanted to adopt complained, and the managers reacted to that instead of backing you up in what was a wise decision. MaryL > I'm not Phil (obviously), but I wanted to let you know that I think you did > the right thing. Moreover, the people who run that organization are [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > MaryL Thanks, Mary; I agree with you 100% of course. But I was half-joking about the "getting fired" part. I'm on the board of directors and don't actually work at the shelter that much. But I was down there working on the "shower" fundraiser and just happened to be the only one available to work the adoption when they walked in. Every time I do an adoption they fuss at me for being too particular. But seriously, it's a real source of frustration for me. I *am* the most picky about adoptions. But I'm only one vote on the board. Sherry >> I'm not Phil (obviously), but I wanted to let you know that I think you >> did [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Sherry Personally, I think it's good to be "picky" as long as it is done in a diplomatic way (hard to do sometimes). Some people seem to think any home is better than no home, and they will talk about how the animals otherwise would be euthanized. Unfortunately, the part about euthanasia is all-too-true. However, this line of thinking ignores the possibility of abuse or neglect of the pets that are adopted, and it further ignores the large number of pets that are eventually dumped right back at the same facility or (even worse) dumped and abandoned by the side of the road. My wonderful Duffy was the victim of part of this scenario. He had been adopted and kept for 2 years, then returned to shelter -- and the ridiculous story that was told was that even though blind, he managed to get to their pet birds and killed one and was *teaching their sighted cat to also get to the birds*! Then he remained at the shelter for several months until I had the great good fortune to adopt him. He is a truly remarkable little guy and is absolutely loving and adoring. I can't for the life of me understand why any reasonable person would give him up. He has brought an incredible amount of pleasure into my life. I first saw Duffy's picture on Petfinder.com. When I adopted him, there was a lengthy questionnaire to fill out, an interview process, and an introduction to Duffy. I was very happy to go through this and even filled out the questionnaire (available online) before I visited the shelter and took references with me. I would like to see more of that type of process. (Of course, I must admit that what started out as a deplorable situation for Duffy has turned out to be a happy conclusion for both of us. For far too many, though, the end results are entirely different.) MaryL My cats -- Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e >>> I'm not Phil (obviously), but I wanted to let you know that I think you >>> did [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] >we'd be in the middle of a custody battle. Guess we need to ask people what >they would do with their pets in case of divorce now? W : Personally, I think it's good to be "picky" as long as it is done in a : diplomatic way (hard to do sometimes). Some people seem to think any home : is better than no home, and they will talk about how the animals otherwise : would be euthanized. Unfortunately, the part about euthanasia is : all-too-true. However, this line of thinking ignores the possibility of : abuse or neglect of the pets that are adopted... This is not a difficult call for me. An ok home is better than getting killed. I don't see why an organization that practices euthanasia should have the right to ask an individual for "references". What nerve. In the end people who dump their animals do so for the same reasons (lack of money, space, time) that "shelters" kill for. I think dumping is more humane as it gives an animal another chance. It is citizens who should set policies and priorities of a society, instead of letting bureaucracies dictate to them. But, it is some trouble, we get lazy, and that's how New Orleans are earned and republics lost. To Sherry: I understand your good intentions but the road to hell is paved with those. There is nothing in your description to suggest that the couple would have been abusive or careless. Maybe they were new and nervous, or may be just chatty. If you had nothing but that to turn down an adoption, and if your shelter practices euthanasia, will you personally guarantee that that particular animal will not be euthanised, come what may, no matter what, as long as you have a single breath or dollar left? If not, I find your conduct far more shameful than anything that couple did. > : Personally, I think it's good to be "picky" as long as it is done in a > : diplomatic way (hard to do sometimes). Some people seem to think any [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > This is not a difficult call for me. An ok home is better than getting > killed. How do you define an "ok home"? There are worse things than death, even though I think it is heart breaking to think about those innocent cats and dogs that are killed. Haven't you seen any of the reports that have shown neglected and abused animals? > I don't see why an organization that practices euthanasia should have > the right to ask an individual for "references". What nerve. In the end > people who dump their animals do so for the same reasons (lack of > money, space, time) that "shelters" kill for. I think dumping is more > humane as it gives an animal another chance. Unlike you, I think it is an *obligation* of an organization that adopts out animals to interview potential adopters and review references. Those animals are in the care of these organizations, and there are many people who would adopt pets for less-than-humane motives. > It is citizens who should set policies and priorities of a society, > instead of letting bureaucracies dictate to them. But, it is some > trouble, we get lazy, and that's how New Orleans are earned and > republics lost. Actually, bureaucracies are comprised of citizens. Most of us complain about bureaucracies when we are unhappy with the results, then we decry those same organizations when they fail to show up or intervene when we think that should be done. > To Sherry: I understand your good intentions but the road to hell is > paved with those. There is nothing in your description to suggest that [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > breath or dollar left? If not, I find your conduct far more shameful > than anything that couple did. : How do you define an "ok home"? Shelter, food, some attention, no intentional abuse or cruelty. Could be way short of excellence but still be ok. We all have to start somewhere, learn and develop as we go along, and all will not have the same spark or dedication, whatever area of life. Even an ok home gives the cat a life and, even if abandoned later, a shot at another chance. : There are worse things than death, even though I think it is heart : breaking to think about those innocent cats and dogs that are killed. : Haven't you seen any of the reports that have shown neglected : and abused animals? Just because some people rape women, I don't have to admire and support those who have the policy of "protecting" them by honor-killing. Always with the best intentions of course. : Unlike you, I think it is an *obligation* of an organization that adopts : out animals to interview potential adopters and review references. : Those animals are in the care of these organizations... Just remember, the "care" includes euthanasia, not for terminal illness and like, but merely for staying too long. : and there are many people who would adopt pets for less-than-humane : motives. As with all criminals, seek them out and punish them very very harshly. But again, I would not want human children to be killed just because some foster parents may be abusive. What is good enough for us is good enough for our pets. : Actually, bureaucracies are comprised of citizens. Most of us complain : about bureaucracies when we are unhappy with the results, then we decry : those same organizations when they fail to show up or intervene when we : think that should be done. Anyone who has actually dealt with a true bureaucracy knows the difference. No one can pretend that "citizens" were running the show in either Soviet Union or New Orleans (this is not to say the two are same, only to highlight the impressive range of the bureaucratic phenomenon). But it is true that most people do not pay their democratic dues by electing good representatives, creating good institutions, and ensuring good policies. Anyway, this is a philosophical debate more suited to political ng's, so I'll stop here. : > To Sherry: I understand your good intentions but the road to hell is : > paved with those. There is nothing in your description to suggest that [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] : > breath or dollar left? If not, I find your conduct far more shameful : > than anything that couple did. > To Sherry: I understand your good intentions but the road to hell is > paved with those. There is nothing in your description to suggest that [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > breath or dollar left? If not, I find your conduct far more shameful > than anything that couple did. Whoa! I think you need to walk a mile in Sherry's shoes before you criticize how she walks! There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery and abuse or neglect. Sherry made the right call because she made it from her heart with the cat's welfare as her first priority. I would have made the same call. The view down on the field is a lot different from the view from the bleachers. >>If not, I find your conduct far more shameful > > than anything that couple did. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > The view down on the field is a lot different from the view from the > bleachers. I think that is a very good way to put it, Phil. By the same token, I think some very good people in the pet rescue field go a little too far in screening at times. The view from inside plus the view from outside perhaps gives us a balanced view? > >>If not, I find your conduct far more shameful > > > than anything that couple did. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > think some very good people in the pet rescue field go a little too far > in screening at times. When you see thousands of cats- some of which you placed yourself- discarded or neglected for petty and absolutely ridiculous reasons, - I don't think you would feel those rescuers go a little too far in pre-adoption screenings. Placing a cat is an awesome responsibility- some of us just take it more seriously than others. The view from inside plus the view from outside > perhaps gives us a balanced view? Difficult for me to answer because my view from the inside sees the results of the view of those on the outside. > When you see thousands of cats- some of which you placed yourself- > discarded or neglected for petty and absolutely ridiculous reasons, - I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Difficult for me to answer because my view from the inside sees the results > of the view of those on the outside. Also aptly put. I can see your heart and your mind are really in your work. Kudos to you, Phil P. I wish there were more like you out there. > > When you see thousands of cats- some of which you placed yourself- > > discarded or neglected for petty and absolutely ridiculous reasons, - I [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Also aptly put. I can see your heart and your mind are really in your work. > Kudos to you, Phil P. I wish there were more like you out there. If there were more of me- we'd rumble 'cause we'd never agree! LOL! : By the same token, I think some very good people in the pet : rescue field go a little too far in screening at times. The view : from inside plus the view from outside perhaps gives us a : balanced view? My apologies for strong words elsewhere, but some reactions are deep. I guess for you it is the possibility of a cat ending up in an abusive home, for me it is that of her getting euthanized. I am sure your heart is in the right place and you did your best. Not having been there, I should not second-guess what you saw in that couple, heard in their voices, or felt about them. I am only theorizing, you had a real cat's life in your hands at that moment. (What happened to him/her?) > : By the same token, I think some very good people in the pet > : rescue field go a little too far in screening at times. The view [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I guess for you it is the possibility of a cat ending up in an abusive > home, for me it is that of her getting euthanized. Good point. Too often those of us with the same goals: to help the animals, wind up at odds with one another over the details. : There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by : placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery : and abuse or neglect. Maybe we have a philosophical difference here, but I can think of one thing that would be much, much worse for me: To watch a cat being euthanised, and be able to remember a couple who wanted to adopt her but I, on my rare stints at the desk, turned them away against the judgment of regular staff and volunteers who ought to know better. : Sherry made the right call because she made it from her heart with : the cat's welfare as her first priority... I did ask her how deep her commitment was: "If your shelter practices euthanasia, will you personally guarantee that that particular animal will not be euthanised, come what may, no matter what, as long as you have a single breath or dollar left?" : The view down on the field is a lot different from the view from the : bleachers. Sherry is not the "field". She is a "Board Member" who descends down from her ivory tower once in a while. If you remember Sherry's post, you'd see that the real "field" staff---workers who actually deal with the cats, and man the tasks everyday---actually disagreed with her. Anyway, perhaps the bleachers for whom and with whose money the field functions should take responsibility and reorganize the field. :-) Thanks for your thoughts. > : There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by > : placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > away against the judgment of regular staff and volunteers who ought to > know better. How would you feel if you went against your instincts and placed a cat and found out the owner nailed him to a tree for scratching his sofa? (True story) We can play the "what if" game all day. Placing a cat boils down to going by your instincts based on your experience. : How would you feel if you went against your instincts and placed : a cat and found out the owner nailed him to a tree for scratching : his sofa? (True story) Pretty lousy. : We can play the "what if" game all day. Placing a cat boils down : to going by your instincts based on your experience. Fair enough. Others can theorize later but an individual has no choice but to go by his or her own best judgment. It is easy to accept Mother Teresa and reject Adolph Hitler, the real challenge is to make wise compromise calls when things are not black or white. Why did you stop doing adoptions? Was it the emotional toll, or did you feel that your experience and involvement, usually virtues, were beginning to work against making wise compromises? Just out of curiosity, if you deny an adoption, what is the probablity of the same cat finding another home rather than be euthanised eventually, either in your own shelter or whatever statistics you happen to know? > : How would you feel if you went against your instincts and placed > : a cat and found out the owner nailed him to a tree for scratching [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Fair enough. Others can theorize later but an individual has no choice > but to go by his or her own best judgment. Nothing to theorize about. Placing a cat boils down to going by your instincts based on your experience. > It is easy to accept Mother Teresa and reject Adolph Hitler, the real > challenge is to make wise compromise calls when things are not black or > white. Very bad analogy. Why did you stop doing adoptions? Was it the emotional toll, or > did you feel that your experience and involvement, usually virtues, > were beginning to work against making wise compromises? I still handle adoptions- but only in special cases. > Just out of curiosity, if you deny an adoption, what is the probablity > of the same cat finding another home Pretty good. rather than be euthanised > eventually, Never happen in my shelter- unless the cat was suffering. > : There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by > : placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Thanks for your thoughts. > : There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by > : placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery > : and abuse or neglect. > Maybe we have a philosophical difference here, but I can think of one > thing that would be much, much worse for me: It is not a philosophical difference. You don't understand the content of Phil's paragraph above. When you've seen enough adoptions go bad, you develop a radar over time and the ability to pick up on nuances that indicate this is *not* a good home. Never go against gut instincts. Animal abusers and neglecters do NOT have "abuser" stamped on their foreheads. They look as normal as you and I, and they know exactly *what* to say to gain your approval. For instance, a couple who begins rattling off about all the pets "they used to have" is a red flag. A couple who starts rattling off about the kitten they used to have, but the Rottweiler killed it, is a red flag. I went against gut instincts once, and adopted a sweet dog to a couple who wanted it "for their son", who was actually didn't seem that crazy about the dog. They said the right things. They didn't have a vet reference, but said this was their first pet. Still, I had really bad vibes about them. They seemed to have this Lassie/Timmy mold they wanted to cram their son into, whether the son wanted to or not. We did a home check about 3 weeks later. It was fine, but I still didn't feel that great about it. Six months later someone called about a starving dog chained under a walnut tree who couldn't reach the water, the chain was tangled. Someone went to check, and it was the Lassie/Timmy family. The dog was emaciated and dehydrated. We took it straight to the vet. The dog died, and out of curiousity the vet did a necropsy. The dog's stomach was full of walnuts, which he had eated to try to survive. Whose fault was that? It was mine. I should have kept better track of that dog and done further home checks. I had *bad* red flags, even thought there was nothing concrete to base it on, and I ignored them. It was a gorgeous Collie, and someone else would have taken it. We are not out to find homes where kittens are tossed outside as soon as the "new" wears off and it's no longer cute. I have other assorted horror stories, the next time I climb down out of my ivory tower I'll tell you another one. BTW, there are worse things than euthanasia. Starving, suffering, being thrown outdoors, or being killed by dogs are just a few. : I went against gut instincts once, and adopted a sweet dog to a couple : who wanted it "for their son", who was actually didn't seem that crazy [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] : The dog's stomach was full of walnuts, which he had eated to try to : survive. I am sorry to hear this. I hope there were also a few occasions when you took a chance and the story had a happy ending. > : I went against gut instincts once, and adopted a sweet dog to a couple > : who wanted it "for their son", who was actually didn't seem that crazy [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I am sorry to hear this. I hope there were also a few occasions when > you took a chance and the story had a happy ending. Yes, there are. And no, I don't take chances. If you ever worked abuse cases, you wouldn't either. : ... Thank you for sharing your experience. I had written the following for you but it got posted in the wrong place in the thread: "My apologies for strong words elsewhere, but some reactions are deep. I guess for you it is the possibility of a cat ending up in an abusive home, for me it is that of her getting euthanized. I am sure your heart is in the right place and you did your best. Not having been there, I should not second-guess what you saw in that couple, heard in their voices, or felt about them. I am only theorizing, you had a real cat's life in your hands at that moment. (What happened to him/her?)" > BTW, there are worse things than euthanasia. Starving, suffering, being > thrown outdoors, or being killed by dogs are just a few. I agree. I've seen enough cats outside frostbitten, on three legs, starving, etc., that, as terrible as it sounds, I'd rather they'd been put to sleep peacefully than go what they did.  SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.diaryland.com/ > > : There's nothing worse than going against your gut instincts by > > : placing a cat and finding out later that cat lived a life of misery [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > that indicate this is *not* a good home. Never go against gut > instincts. You're right. I've had co-workers ask me why I declined an adoption when the people "seemed so nice". After I explain why, they'll say "I didn't even notice that". I never ask a lot of questions, I just encourage them to talk about their past and present pets and family. Many people will disqualify themselves without realizing it. Phil > I don't see why an organization that practices euthanasia should have > the right to ask an individual for "references". What nerve. In the end > people who dump their animals do so for the same reasons (lack of > money, space, time) that "shelters" kill for. I think dumping is more > humane as it gives an animal another chance. Dumping is about the most cruel thing you can do to a pet, and it is actually against the law under most states' animal cruelty statutes. People think they're giving the animal a "chance" but in fact what they're doing is letting the pet die a slow, suffering death through starvation, dehydration, injury or disease. Euthanasia, hell, even a .22 in the back of the head at close range, is far kinder than dumping. People don't generally dump animals because of lack of space, or time, or money. They dump animals out of stupidity. Most of them are half-grown litters of the dogs they own and refuse to neuter. They'll give a few away, and dump the rest of them. Shelters ask references because, believe it or not, kittens are used for snake food, to train pit bulldogs, or simply adopted by stupid people who think they can turn a kitten outdoors and it's cheap mouse control--they don't even have to feed it! Sherry >> I don't see why an organization that practices euthanasia should have >> the right to ask an individual for "references". What nerve. In the end [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Sherry And that's no exaggeration. We have rescued kittens who were intended pit bull bait. I have also had people come looking to adopt one of our kittens who intended just what you indicate, to put them outside to take care of a rodent problem and they have said outright that you can't feed them or they won't take care of the mice! Needless to say they don't get one of our kittens or cats. Around here we pick up a lot of dumps. I suspect there are people who are too cheap to pay whatever the SPCA is asking these days. Then there is the poor cat we have that was dumped off the side of a road locked in a cat carrier. If the vet tech hadn't stopped to investigate the cat would have slowly starved to death in there. Asking for references is the only way to even try to keep these animals out of the hands of the jerks that put them out on the street to begin with. W Then there is the > poor cat we have that was dumped off the side of a road locked in a cat > carrier. If the vet tech hadn't stopped to investigate the cat would have > slowly starved to death in there. Oh, my gosh! The SAME THING happened to us! The shelter manager was going to the city, and spotted a cat carrier on the side of the road. She though, hey, we can use that carrier! And there was a black cat in it. They still have that cat. His name is Highway. Sherry > Oh, my gosh! The SAME THING happened to us! The shelter manager was > going to the city, and spotted a cat carrier on the side of the road. > She though, hey, we can use that carrier! And there was a black cat in > it. They still have that cat. His name is Highway. > > Sherry Our shelter had a cat a couple years ago named Freeway, because he was found in the median of I-93. His paw pads were nearly gone from frostbite, then he almost died of distemper. He was adopted by a real sweetheart of a volunteer and lives a great life. We had a litter of kittens left in a carrier at the fence last year while we were open. People must have been too chicken sh.t to bring them all the way up to the shelter. Of course we get the dog tied to the fence, cats left overnight, cats that just happen to be found on the property. Every time I pull up and see a box or carrier outside, I panic for a moment. -Kelly > > Oh, my gosh! The SAME THING happened to us! The shelter manager was > > going to the city, and spotted a cat carrier on the side of the road. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > -Kelly Ugh. People suck. The chicken sh.t award here, goes to the person who left 4 tiny kittens in a bucket at the shelter door overnight. We got a torrential rain that night, and they drowned. That's why I have fought tooth and nail everytime anyone even *suggests* implementing a fee for dropping off animals. They won't pay it. They'll leave with the animal and dump it somewhere. Sherry Sherry >> Oh, my gosh! The SAME THING happened to us! The shelter manager was >> going to the city, and spotted a cat carrier on the side of the road. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > I panic for a moment. > -Kelly Our local shelter had a ball python left at the fence one night, with a note stating that they thought it was dying and it should be put down. It had fleas/mites and was in the process of shedding it's skin, but otherwise was healthy. It is now a permanent resident at the shelter (was adopted by one of the directors of humane association), and is sooooo cool. I've held it on occasion while it's cage was being cleaned. > Our local shelter had a ball python left at the fence one night, with a note > stating that they thought it was dying and it should be put down. It had > fleas/mites and was in the process of shedding it's skin, but otherwise was > healthy. It is now a permanent resident at the shelter (was adopted by one > of the directors of humane association), and is sooooo cool. I've held it > on occasion while it's cage was being cleaned. Ball pythons (Royal pythons) make great pets if you can get one that was bred in the US (or adopt one). Do not ever, under any circumstances, buy them imported from Africa. The wild-caught mothers are stolen from their dens, the babies are removed from her and she is made into soup. In transport thousands of the babies die en route to places like PetCo. It's a nasty trade in exotics. Also wild-caught snakes are often heavily parasitized and don't feed well. -L. > Our shelter had a cat a couple years ago named Freeway, because he was found > in the median of I-93. His paw pads were nearly gone from frostbite, then [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > -Kelly That's how I got my Tessa. Some dipshit woman had dumped her husband's puppy over the fence at night. Hubby came in to claim the dog in the AM and was refused - was told he could apply to adopt her. He did, and was denied. He threatened the shelter will all kinds of acts of violence. Tessa was kept under lock and key and when I said I'd adopt her, they took her and held her in the back out of the public eye until I could pick her up. She, of course, was oblivious to the whole thing and just thought she had had a fun night playing in a huge fenced yard. ;) -L. "MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message news:1yFTe.6635 > Personally, I think it's good to be "picky" as long as it is done in a > diplomatic way (hard to do sometimes). Some people seem to think any home [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > large number of pets that are eventually dumped right back at the same > facility or (even worse) dumped and abandoned by the side of the road. Oh, yeah! That the first thing most people say when I say no. "So I guess you'd rather see him killed than with us?" I simply say, "No, I'd rather see him in a home with people who are better suited". My > wonderful Duffy was the victim of part of this scenario. He had been > adopted and kept for 2 years, then returned to shelter -- and the ridiculous > story that was told was that even though blind, he managed to get to their > pet birds and killed one and was *teaching their sighted cat to also get to > the birds*! Personally, I think that story is an excellent testament to the indomitable spirit of the cat! Then he remained at the shelter for several months until I had > the great good fortune to adopt him. He is a truly remarkable little guy > and is absolutely loving and adoring. I can't for the life of me understand [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > happy conclusion for both of us. For far too many, though, the end results > are entirely different.) I always enjoy reading your story about Duffy! Phil > Thanks, Mary; I agree with you 100% of course. But I was half-joking > about the "getting fired" part. I'm on the board of directors and don't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > source of frustration for me. I *am* the most picky about adoptions. > But I'm only one vote on the board. I'm the pickiest interviewer at my job, and to date I have a perfect track record. How can you not be picky when someone is so obviously shopping and is not committed to really caring for an animal? I was at a shelter once when two utterly icky people came in, claiming to look for a dog that had gotten away from them. If I had worked there, even if they had produced a ream of proof, I don't think I could have given the dog to them. You could just tell the guy would probably kick it first chance he got. I admit I may not have passed a shelter's muster when I got my first cat; she came to me when a friend found her drenched and starving on the street, but she had other animals that scared the cat. All I could do was say I would take care of her as best I could, including spaying and shots. But I've also always loved animals and been really good with them. She lived to 18 and was the happiest, most affectionate cat. SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.diaryland.com/ > Just wanted to tell you I got fired (again) yesterday from working > adoptions. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > down for ambivalence and lack of commitment. I *know* that kitten would > have a home until the "new" wore off then out it would go. I think you did the right thing. I wouldn't have given them a cat- especially a kitten- either. Applications don't even scratch the surface- you have to go on your gut instincts. I've known plenty of 'bad people' that take much better care of their cats than 'good people' who have 'perfect' applications. I've turned down people for not showing enough interest in or not paying enough attention to my first-time owner spiel. I figure if they don't have the patience to put up with me, they damn sure don't have the patience to deal with a cat. Then you get the ones who tell you their last cat was hit by a car, and another just disappeared, and another was killed by a dog- and they plan to allow the new cat out - free roaming- because cats are "free spirits". How about the ones who think a cat learns fast from a good smack? Or the ones that believe every female has the right to be a mother and her life isn't fulfilled until she has kittens? Reading some of the idiotic posts in cat newsgroups hasn't done anything to reinforce my faith in human nature, either. > I don't know why I even try. If it was up to me, I wouldn't let 1/2 the > people who come through that door have a cat. That's 5 times more than I allowed! My adoption rate was down to about 10% when I finally realized I better stick to taking care of the cats and let other people handle the adoptions. I even second-guessed myself about the 10% who managed to get through my 'interrogations' and 'inquisitions'. Having a cat's live and future entrusted to you is an awful responsibility. You have to do what you can live with and what feels right. Phil > I think you did the right thing. I wouldn't have given them a cat- > especially a kitten- either. Applications don't even scratch the surface- > you have to go on your gut instincts. I've known plenty of 'bad people' > that take much better care of their cats than 'good people' who have > 'perfect' applications. It's completely instinct with adoptions. Some people you just know right away are awesome adopters, some there's something wrong and you can't quite put your finger on it, so you start looking for reasons not to adopt to them. Unfortunately, sometimes your instinct fails you, or you ignore it because they are on paper good adopters and you can't turn them down, and it turns out awful. I'm going to be returning to the shelter from my break and I said I would go back to doing adoptions, but part of me doesn't want to. I am always second guessing myself. Sometimes when I'm falling asleep at night, I wonder how a cat is doing. > Having a cat's live and future entrusted to you is an awful > responsibility. > You have to do what you can live with and what feels right. It is. I'm so sick of this "how dare shelter workers screen people when animals are dying" thing. You and Sherry both gave great examples of exactly why people need to be screened, and why screening isn't even enough to stop the a.sholes at times. Any old home (or winding up as pit bull bait, or left outside, or other horrible fates) is NOT better than being euthanized, IMHO. -Kelly I am very impressed by Phil's decision about the kitten. In Australia we have a terrible feral cat problem for that reason; people get cats and don't look after them, or else deliberately dump them, then they go feral. There is plenty to eat in the australian bush for a cat, yummy things like native marsupials, lizards and frogs. Our cat came to us that way; she walked out of the bush one day, showing signs of malnutrition and abuse. We took her in and fed her, and won her trust, and she is the best cat we've ever had. we recently moved 3000 miles, and she (and all our other pets) came with us. She sat on my lap all the way, and we let her out for a wee on a leash every two hours. She never once tried to run away, but stayed with us. She is so loyal, she seems to know we rescued her and be grateful to us for being nice to her. When I am sick, she comes and cuddles me, and she sleeps in my son's room all night. She is such a lovely cat, and perfectly toilet trained, with the best manners. I can't understand how someone could dump her, and abuse her like that. It definitely pays to screen families, and restrict people's access to cats. Does your shelter desex cats? The shelters here desex all their animals, and vaccinate them. My dad's dog came from one, and she is the best dog. Sorry about jabbering on, but I love my cat! I am so happy we found her before she slowly starved to death, got killed by a dog or a tick. > > I think you did the right thing. I wouldn't have given them a cat- > > especially a kitten- either. Applications don't even scratch the surface- [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > -Kelly Does your shelter desex cats? The shelters here desex all > their animals, and vaccinate them. My dad's dog came from one, and she is > the best dog. Sorry about jabbering on, but I love my cat! I am so happy we > found her before she slowly starved to death, got killed by a dog or a tick. Sounds like you got a great cat. The sweetest, most affectionate cat I have is one that strayed up half-starved out of nowhere. Our shelter desexes cats; I imagine every shelter does. It is a state law here that no shelter can adopt out a whole animal. If the animal is too young for the surgery, shelters must collect a deposit that's refunded when proof of spay/neuter is brought in. Sherry That's great!! It's a pity more people don't desex their cats here. I rescued a litter of cats from a woman who 'didn't notice' the kittens starving to death, dying from flea aneamia and worms, or the fact that the mother wasn't feeding them, until her CHILDREN came and told her two were dead. as it was -0 degrees and they were outside on the verandah in the wind, by the time I got to them it was too late. I did my best for two days and two nights, kept them under heat lamps, feeding every four hours etc but it was just too late, they were too weak to rally. It was so sad because they were the most beautiful little babies, pretty tortoiseshell colour, but so thin. Then Jasmine came to us the day they died, so she helped us feel better. We weren't supposed to have her at our last house, we had to hide her from the landlord. Fortunately our present landlord doesn't mind the cat/dogs/bird/guinea-pigs/fish and neither do our neighbours, so jasmine is free to terrorize the neighbourhood dogs. She's not afraid of anything!! Anyway, Im babbling on again. Here's a picture of her. My husband was kind of apathetic to my other cats, but he adores jasmine, she's a real sweetheart. I'm putting a picture in of her later > Does your shelter desex cats? The shelters here desex all > > their animals, and vaccinate them. My dad's dog came from one, and she is [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Sherry I > rescued a litter of cats from a woman who 'didn't notice' the kittens > starving to death, dying from flea aneamia and worms, or the fact that the > mother wasn't feeding them, What *is it* with people? This is *common*. We've had people bring in litters that were half-dead from flea anemia and they don't even notice. There's a whole, separate class of pet owners. People like us, and people whose pets are simply fed, if they're lucky, and then they're on their own. It's those kind of people that scare me about adopting pets out. Sherry
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