Shelters make it too difficult to adopt.

You are a perfect example of why some shelters don't do same day adoptions. Often people will adopt on the spur of the moment without considering the long term responsibilities of having a pet, and the animal gets returned, dumped at another shelter, or abandoned to fend for itself. If someone is very serious about wanting to adopt a particular cat and give it a good home, they will wait however long it takes. Apparently you weren't serious about rescuing these cats because instead of patiently waiting and acceptoing the shelter policy, you bitch and moan about how inconvenient it is and the next thing you know you're off to the pet store buying a cat that likely came from a kitten mill or some idiot breeder who dumps their kittes on pet stores, thereby contributing to the pet overpopulation problem that causes millions of shelter cats to be KILLED every year. Nice going...

If you don't have the patience to wait a few days to adopt a cat in need, and are so incensed by the inconveniece of getting in your car and having to drive somewhere, I certainly wouldn't adopt a cat to you. Having patience and dealing with inconveniences are some of the cornerstones of caring for a pet, and you have made it clear that you are a failure in both these areas. Hopefully the cats will be adopted by somebody that really, truly cares about them. And, hopefully, the inconvenience and costs incurred from the likely health problems your kitten mill acquisition will incur won't end up costing it its life.

Megan

'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:

She had indicated that she had been looking for a while and called the shelter twice before going out there. So I don't believe here's a perfect example of why some shelters don't do same day adoptions. I have to agree that the shelter didn't do the best job of making a prospective adopter happy.

BUT

That is not the right decision, regardless of your experience at the shelter.

Now I wasn't there, thus I don't know how the tone of the shelter personnel was and whether they explained their policy politely, but I've seen shelter personnel be accomodating and adopting out a cat if the vet was willing to immediately fax histories or by simply talking to the current vet (doesn't sound like it would have been an issue at 11 am).

You on the other hand also need to understand why the shelter may be reluctant to do a same day adoption - unfortunately there are people out there who adopt for the wrong reasons, resulting in the undesired outcomes Megan mentioned.

Yes, you may have been upset at the shelter, but if you've searched for the right cat for a month, a couple of days shouldn't make a difference at this point.

She said called them to tell them she was coming, and knew what was needed for the application but apparently she did not bother to ask what their adoption policy was. She also claims she searched for a particular cat, and found one, but when she had to wait hubby went off to the mall to buy whatever he could and the shelter cat who was truly in need was kicked to the curb.

The example was given in thre entirety of my post, with an emphasis in the sentence about patience and dealing with inconvenience. The part you quoted was only the beginning part.

It's not the shelter's job to make people happy. It's the shelter's job to find the best home possible for the cats. In this instance, I don't believe the shelter was the problem, and I doubt they were rude. They had every right to stick to their policy, and this is an obvious case of the OP having her shorts in a knot because 'she' didn't get 'her' way, and you see the end result.

I should also point out that she stomps her foot and accuses the shelter of not wanting to find homes for and killing animals, yet her refusal to wait a measly couple of days and then sending hubby running off to a pet store to buy a cat, any cat, (what happened to her careful search for just the right one?) is what will in the end make *her* responsible if the cats she applied for are not adopted and killed. Her boo-hooing over this because *she* couldn't have things *her* way is shameful.

Megan

'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:

It's a damn shame but it looks like you are feeding into the problem too. Why do you assume every person who is willing to 'same day adopt' is going to return these animals? If you don't have any statistics on these returned animals, then don't ASSUME anything. I know plenty of people who take in cats or kittens whether from a newspaper ad or from a supermarket entrance and STILL have them and love them. I guess these people are flat out unfit to have animals. Period. Try as you might, you are NOT going to prevent animals from being returned to shelters, whether people wait a week or buy them immediatly because they have pet allergies. You are NOT going to prevent idiots from not spaying their pets. I am not one of those people. You're right, I'm a classic example....of someone who was willing to give an animal a good home. YOU are keeping Pet Shops in business but you don't see it that way. I was merely pointing out why more people don't adopt and how to change things for the better. I posted this message here to give shelter workers a 'wake up' call. Unfortunately some people can't be reached or can't deal with constructive criticism. I have 2 beautiful himalayans at home who are loved completely, yet I am not fit to take in a mature cat from a shelter. Just remember YOU are the ones who turn away good people and kill good animals. You act like you are doing ME a favor by allowing me to adopt. You are not doing ME a favor by playing GOD to a homeless animal about to be euthanized. To you, I say 'Nice going......'

You are however, preventing nimals Apparently you weren't serious about rescuing these cats because

But you are not contributing to the pet overpopulation by not letting me adopt immediatly? I smell a hypocrit. What? A pet is a lifelong commitment? NO SHIT! So is a job or a house or a child. Why don't you spend more time scrutinizing people who don't already have pets, because they are more likely to return animals to the shelter because they don't realize the lifelong commitment.

Hopefully the cats will be adopted by

Sorry about your experience. I know how frustrating it can be. I went through a similar deal with two of my babies. Now I volunteer at a shelter in Buffalo, NY and they do not allow same day adoptions either. Their reason is that many people come in on a whim or are not prepared to take the animal home (not set up with litter pan, food, etc). I do not work with the adoptions, but I am sure that they make exceptions for people that have called previously about the adoption - not the same day however. I have heard about them mailing applications to people to make it easier. In wildlife, where I volunteer, we do extensive screening of applicants for reptiles and other exotics, but they all call, set up appointments to meet the animal, and then make another appointment to pick it up - The only time the animal left at the time of meeting was when the person was known to the wildlife director.

It's not an excuse, but I think you hit them on a bad day. Please don't reject shelter animals becasue of the people that run the shelter. The animals are not their by choice either. I know you know that.

All for the animals

Why didn't you criticize the shelter for not specifying what their adoption policy was? These people were adopting their first cat in years, the shelter adopts them out evey day. The shelter is the expert on adoptions so it should be their responsiblity to provide information and not make prospective adopters beg for it. What were the adopters supposed to do: ask a hundred questions and then ask 'now tell us everything that we didn't know enough to ask about'? They said they were taking a lot of time off of work and driving a long distance. The brain dead dumb ass at the shelter should have explained then that they don't do same day adoptions. The shelter is clearly at fault.

ron herfurth

She also claims she searched for a particular

I really don't think these are the first people that went out and did something stupid when they got mad due to some one elses incompetence.

SO, cats that are in pet stores are less deserving of loving homes, because of how they were brought into life? That isn't fair. What happens to those cats if they AREN'T bought at a pet store?

A great post, as usual Sethran. Patience IS one of the most desirable qualities in a new pet owner, as well as an understanding that pets can be inconvenient and expensive. My own cat, Izzi, decided to be ill last year, the day before we were due to go on holiday. The cattery was understandably unwilling to take her in, so I asked the vets to board her for a few days, so that at least we could go to Ade's cousin's wedding. Luckily the vets agreed. We cut short the holiday as much as possible, and I rang the vet every day to check up on her. If it wasn't for the fact that Ade was very tired and stressed and really needed the break, I don't think we'd have gone away at all. That was one of the years when we spent more on boarding the cats than we did on our own accommodation and travel.

I take phone calls twice a week from people who want to adopt cats from our rescue group, and the thing I have to remember all the time is that we are 'in the business' of finding homes for cats, not cats for homes. In other words, our responsibility is to the cats, rather than to the prospective owners. My rule of thumb is easy. 'Would I be happy for one of my own cats to live with these people, at their current address?' If the answer is yes, then I put them forward to the cat welfare officer to be matched up with a range of suitable cats for them to view.

If we don't have any suitable cats for that person, then I tell them honestly what kind of cat I think they would be better off with, and give them contact details for other rescue groups. We had two callers yesterday, and both of them were turned down because they lived too close to busy roads, and wanted cats that would go outside. They will almost certainly get a cat from somewhere else, but it won't be from us. One of the callers was a lovely person, and if it wasn't for the address, I would have happily rehomed a cat to her and her family.

And the fire said to me...on Thu, 9 Jan 2003 12:46:03 -0600 in article

Not all people who want a dog and live alone and work aren't commited to the happiness of their pet. Considering the number of dogs in the world, I am sure most of them spend the majority of the day alone. It is up to us as dog owners to make sure we get them the exercise they need and the love and attention they crave so that they don't feel neglected. This is an individual thing - some people get it and some don't. I get it. I live alone and Sam is home alone while I work for 9 hours. She gets plenty of exercise and love when I'm home, both in the morning before I go and at night when I come home. She is a happy, non-destructive dog. She gets toys when I'm gone and the TV is on for her. She also has my cats to keep her company. She gets a half-hour exercise in the morning and at least that in the afternoon, plus walks and obedience work. She sleeps well. *G* I think shelters assume people won't do these things. Many do not; you're right. A dog is a lot of work and responsibility that some aren't prepared for. But I also think a blanket policy to not adopt to this situation results in dogs being killed and people going to pet stores to get dogs. Which only adds to the problem. I for one think Sam is happier with me than dead. I'm glad the city shelter agreed. The suburban shelters, however, wouldn't adopt to me for this exact reason. Meanwhile, the pet store nearby with the puppy mill dogs is booming business. Which is better - the family who leaves the dog in the yard all day, even if they're home, or the one who comes home and loves and plays with the dog, giving it interaction and mental stimulation? The shelters need to realize that a yard and kids don't guarantee a good home, nor are they a prerequisite for one.

And the fire said to me...on Fri, 10 Jan 2003 01:07:53 GMT in article

This is just something I've been thinking as I'm reading this thread.

Which is better - people adopting from a shelter, realizing they are not ready for a pet, and bringing it back... Or people being refused by the shelter for being uncertain, going to a pet store, buying a pet, then finding out they aren't ready and bringing it to a shelter?

Personally, I'm not even sure of the answer. Big 'ole can of worms.

I fit the live alone, work hideous hours, mold. I got my first dog, a Chow, as a foster. But after we found out he has severe joint problems, and I had fallen in love with him, I kept him. Next came the lab, who tore my yard to pieces until he hit about 18 mths of age. Now, I know they play together when I'm gone, but I feel guilty if I am gone really late. Kind of good for me, a workaholic, because it makes me leave to go home!

However, I *DO* notice that on weekends, when they are pretty much in the house with me all day (they have in/out priveleges), they just SLEEP all day! I don't see them expressing much need for exercise or love. They just want to hog my couch and nap! <g>

My father is a part time animal control officer, and it is now the law to buy a tag, and get your animal chipped if you want to adopt from the shelter. It is, because if we ever catch a cat or dog without his tag on, we can check for a chip, and charge for not taking care of the animal properly.
If the tag, nor a collar is on.

This is really a great idea and its working great most of the time. Where I live we have it several years now and it is a great help when a dog gets lost.