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Cat Forum / General Topics / June 2005Really angry at local Animal Shelter
One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't afford to have her put down and wanted a second opinion. The Vet said that the test was 95 or 99% accurate. So I took her to the local 'no kill' shelter. I explained that she had been diagnosed with Feline Leukemia (whatever that is, since it's obviously not like human leukemia, which isn't contagious) and they told me they always did tests and treated the cats if possible. The line was "We only 'euthanize' cats if they are very aggressive or terminal." Well when I called back they said that he had been killed and that they didn't do any tests. The director of something, maybe a.sholes un-anonymous said that the Vets 'euthanized' pets if they couldn't treat the cat, whether it was terminal or not. They did not tests after promising to do so, and had no idea what was wrong with my cat, except for what I said to them at the same time as their promise that my cat would not be killed without testing and a positive result for a terminal disease. When I asked it he didn't think that they should let people know that they weren't really a no kill shelter, he said "No. It would be hard on the employees and the people who drop or their animals." I wonder how hard it will be on some gentle animal lover to find out that they have been dissemination lies when they thought they were working for an honest organization. I would report them to the BBB but I'm afraid they might retaliate and I have way to many cats to risk getting them taken away if someone reported my... > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > retaliate and I have way to many cats to risk getting them taken > away if someone reported my... I'm very sorry about your cat. But what you need to understand is, FeLV is terminal. And highly contagious to other cats. Shelters already have limited space--hardly any of them have quarantine space and accept FeLV+ cats. Fosters homes for FeLV+ cats are equally rare. The first person you spoke with definitely should have been more up-front with you, though, and told you the cat would definitely be euth-ed. FeLV testing is a bit expensive, also. That could be why they did not re-test him. It *is* possible for a cat to have a false positive, and also possible for him to "throw" the virus and re-test negative in a few months. Possible. Not likely. But those tests cost money, too, and basically it was your responsibility, not the shelters. Again, I'm very sorry. Not to burden you with worry or anything, but it is extremely important that you get your resident cats tested for FeLV also, if they were exposed to this cat. Sherry : > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped : > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] : : Sherry I knew that Grumpy would be euthed. I just wanted to know that she would be tested first. They had no way of knowing she was that sick, if she was. The regular vet couldn't tell, so how could they? Do you think they should take the word of a stranger with no docs or references? > : > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped > : > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > if she was. The regular vet couldn't tell, so how could they? Do you > think they should take the word of a stranger with no docs or references? I must have misunderstood your first post. You said Grumpy was "diagnosed" with FeLV. I assumed that you meant by that she had been tested positive for the disease by a veterinarian already, once. It's a sad situation all around, but yeah, if you *told* them Grumpy was FeLV, they probably wouldn't re-test her. Most shelters just don't have the money or resources to go to extraordinary means to save one cat. Sherry : > : > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped : > : > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] : cat. : Sherry Sherry, I know that you are well intentioned. Honest. But, the lady who I gave Grumpy to told me that they test all animals, all animals. That's why I took her there, to be sure of a second opinion. The vet who tested her said that the results are 95% or so reliable and that he didn't think it was a bad idea to do another test. I did tell the shelter that she had tested as be infected. If they weren't going to do a test, they should have told me and I could have made a decision based on the facts. > : I must have misunderstood your first post. You said Grumpy was > : "diagnosed" with FeLV. I assumed that you meant by that she had been [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > as be infected. If they weren't going to do a test, they should have told > me and I could have made a decision based on the facts. Yes, I do agree you should have been told shelter policy and that the kitty would be PTS, and not misled. The lady you gave Grumpy to could have an ill-informed volunteer. At any rate, the way I see it the fault kind of lays with her. Please think about it before you put a letter in the newspaper. You don't want to damage the reputation of the shelter, if it was just this one person's fault. A damaged reputation will result in fewer donors, and ALL the animals will suffer. First, why not ask to be put on the agenda of the next Board of Directors meeting? Then voice your complaints to the board. It could be that they have no idea there was a problem at all, and by voicing your concerns to them, it might be a chance they can correct the situation so that it doesn't happen to someone else. Sherry : > : I must have misunderstood your first post. You said Grumpy was : > : "diagnosed" with FeLV. I assumed that you meant by that she had been [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] : : Sherry Great idea about the Board meeting. But it wasn't just one person because I called back and they told me the same thing from a different source and the director of the front desk, PR I guess told me he wouldn't change the policy even though he acknowledged that it was misleading... Thanks for the idea... > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't > afford to have her put down and wanted a second > opinion. The Vet said that the test was 95 or 99% > accurate. So I took her to the local 'no kill' shelter. -----------Snip---------------- Feline Leukemia is one of the most deadly, contagious diseases in the cat world. Dropping off a cat at a shelter, no kill or not, without telling them that the cat had already be diagnosed is an act equal to bio-terrorism in the human world. You're "really angry"? The rest of your community should be enraged with you! : > One of our cats, a rescue, who a neighbor dropped : > off was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I couldn't [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] : human world. You're "really angry"? The rest of your : community should be enraged with you! I did tell them. Maybe you should reread the post. I just don't think they should take my or anyone else's word for something to kill a cat. And they did promise to do a second test. My problem is that my neighbor asked me to take care of the cat and Grumpy never really got along with our cats so she stayed outside and I'm afraid that the neighbor might not really know that I cared about Grumpy, or Fluff as her daughter called Grumpy and I wanted everyone to know that I did do the best I could. You might wonder to yourself why you misread my post which clearly states that I did tell the animal shelter. : I would report them to the BBB but I'm afraid they might : retaliate and I have way to many cats to risk getting them taken : away if someone reported my... Write an article in the reader's section of your local newspaper. They only print your initials if you ask them to do so. Carola :: I would report them to the BBB but I'm afraid they might :: retaliate and I have way to many cats to risk getting them taken [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] : : Carola That's a great idea. I have tried to forget about this, and just happened to come back to this ng to see what's going on. Thanks again for your suggestion. >:: I would report them to the BBB but I'm afraid they might >:: retaliate and I have way to many cats to risk getting them taken [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >and just happened to come back to this ng to see >what's going on. Thanks again for your suggestion. I'm sorry you've lost your pal, Grumpy. I can also understand your concerns about complaining against the shelter. "Dog Catchers" do have the power to retaliate legally. The suggestion to write an article anonymously is an option. More than anything I think you mainly feel terrible about being misled. Grumpy's chances of survival were slim under the first test and diagnosis. The contagious nature of the disease was very real. The vet bills would have been huge to treat him and he likely would not have made it through. I say these things with great sympathy. I know you would have liked to have been with him in his last moments on earth, and to learn that it took place without your knowledge was heartbreaking, I'm sure. Perhaps in some way you can set a stone or a plant in your yard to symbolize Grumpy's importance in your heart, give yourself some way to have a different kind of closure. Take care, Gail |
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