Animal shelter visit yesterday

[catmandu]

I feel badly when I see all the Great Cats who would make a Great Friend and Companion.
There are so many Great Pets out there , and it is sad that we have to put so many down.
And with our economies doing badly , I have a feeling that things are doing worse for Our Poor Lost Souls

[sasvermont]

I think I mentioned in the original post of this thread, that there are some folks who have real reasons for taking a pet to the shelter. I would try my hardest to find homes for my pets, but of course, if I were ill and not able to dial the phone or con friends into taking my pets, there would be no choice but to take them to a shelter or rescue.

Many, many of the animals in the shelters around here are strays and from hoarders. Rural areas lends itself to hoarders. No one can see what's going on until it's too late. Dogs, cats.... animals in general.

I just wish people would spay and neuter their pets. Bunnies included. The shelters around here won't give you a pet unless it's been fixed. I am not one to "fix" a pet before six months, but the shelters do it early on, to prevent adopting out an unfixed pet....oh well.

More people need to be educated about how to take care of their pets. If they can't afford to take care of them, they shouldn't have them. That includes good food and vet care.

There are a few folks on this forum that spend their last dime on their pets...and I wonder how long they can keep it up before they have a real big problem. I try to keep my number to match my income. Same with having children, as far as I am concerned. You shouldn't have any more children than you can afford to feed and clothe.

Well, I trust that everyone reading this knows the difference between being responsible and not. We are just airing our views here. No one here is abusing pets and HOPEFULLY everyone spays and neuters their pets.

Please don't get angry with anyone posting the opinion. We are all entitled to one....whether you agree with it or not.

Please, please spay and neuter your pet. Unless you are earning an income from breeding, there is not a good reason not to! Be responsible and don't create any more unwanted pets in this world.

[Miss Z]

People are full of excuses giving up their pets. Some I WILL give an exception for, such as the dog or cat being in danger of being hurt or being dumped.. I work at a shelter, I see people dump their pets EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. and it's heart-breaking. We have had cases of dogs being tied or thrown over our back fence at the shelter or kittens and mom in a box duct-taped shut on the front door.

The same thing would happen at the shelter I used to volunteer at. People so cowardly that they daren't even show their face to the people at reception. I suppose, though, even they beat the lowlifes that abuse, starve, and abandon pets in their homes and on the streets, where they are less likely to fall into the care of the RSPCA or other animal organisations.

Sallyanne, I can sympathise with feeling frustrated at your friend. I can recall people who were quite clearly just on a 'day out' during my days at the shelter. They used to irritate me so, as in order to take them around the place (the policy was that a member of staff had to be with visitors at all times, since people have silly habits of sticking their fingers in cages... ), we'd be taking time out of our schedules that could be used for cleaning up, walking dogs, socialising animals, etc. We were always run off our feet as it was.

Now I'm sure your friend would have no intention of causing anything like that, but perhaps if she is not fully committed to getting a cat then it's something worth mentioning to her. I can understand that some people take time to find a cat that is right for them. But if the commitment to rescue is there in the first place, it definitely makes it more worthwhile for the staff to work to find that cat.

Also, thank you for reminding people to donate to shelters. Certainly in the UK, they are having a very tough time, and 'my' shelter in particular has laid off a lot of staff since I left in September 2009.

I've sent donations through the post to them a few times, when I can afford to do so. It's important also, to send the money directly to the shelter. I'm not sure, again, if this is the case overseas, but many shelters here are under the 'patronage', shall we say, of the RSPCA, Cats Protection, etc. With regards to the RSPCA in particular, money sent to the charity doesn't go to the shelters. It funds their campaigns and their inspectors, which, whilst important, is not always what people think their money is being used for.

[Lizzie]

I work with a woman who has two cats, one of whom she adopted only months before she and her husband went through the adoption process for a child. They first fostered and, a year later, adopted twin girls. The children have a few medical problems, one of them being asthma from cats. Her husband has medical problems and is slated for a kidney transplant this year, to be donated by my co-worker. She has a very responsible job and often works at home extra time. At every twist and turn of fate, every problem, this co-worker has worked out how to deal with everything and the cats are still living happily in her home.

I'm fostering a cat right now who was a turn-in to the no-kill shelter where I volunteer. The reason for surrender was that the couple had a baby and couldn't care for the cat any more. The cat, Siren, went out to a store for adoption but didn't eat. She is one of the shyest and most stressed-out cats I've met. For the first two days, her pupils were completely dilated and she didn't eat anything. Then she began eating a very little if I was in the room keeping her company. She's only just started to eat when I'm not keeping her company. Last night she used the armchair in her room for the very first time and it almost made me cry to see her relax and enjoy comfort. Before that she lived, and slept on the windowsill. She loves human companionship but seems confused about receiving attention, wanting it and then not wanting you to be too close. It was right that she be given up to the shelter, I know, but all I can think about is the selfish sods who couldn't give attention to a cat as well as a baby.

I'm another who couldn't go to a shelter without adopting a cat. Proof of this was when I went to an adoption center for a local animal control recently to look at a seriously disabled cat and ended up adopting not only him but two other cats who looked like they wanted to tear down that doors to their small cages.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I know my limit and I'm at that limit right now. I also believe in adopting animals from shelters or rescue groups. Luckily in CA the animals have to be spayed or neutered before you can adopt them. I do like to look at the cats whenever I'm in a Petsmart though. Last Sat. I saw some very cute kittens at Petsmart and two of them really tugged at my heart. One was an orange marbled kitten and the other was mainly white with some orange. They're short haired and also brothers so I think it said that they should be adopted together. If I hadn't already adopted Alani & Blaze last year,I'm pretty sure that these boys would've been going home with me. It's so hard to resist but as I said before, I know my limit and my current cats wouldn't be very happy with any more new additions either.

[katladyd]

I KNOW I am at my limit! Neither Mac nor Ming get along with Kimba and that doesn't look like it's changing at all. They don't fight as much as before, but that is because Kimba tries to stay out of their way now. I will give it a few more months, but I may have to rehome Kimba. It's not fair to any of the cats to have to live this way. Still, they do seem to be working it out. I just know that I have no room for any more cats in my apartment. My dream is to have a large house with lots of room and have as many cats as I can truly take care of and love.

[mrspunkysmom]

None of the kitty krew get along with Emily but they are working it out. She is learning her place and how not to annoy Sam. The others are learning to play with Bob or rather Bob is learning how to play with them. And it's wishful thinking, but perhaps Spunky is learning how not to be a punk. It is a work in progress.

I didn't intend to keep Emily and Bob, but once I realized that adoption would be iffy, I knew I had to accept the responsibility for my decision. And I don't regret taking them from that lady. They're a hoot.

To me this is all about commitment. I made a commitment, a promise and I have to honor it. I know that sometimes life throws you lemons and you have to make arrangements but many people quit far too quickly. I teach school and I see it all the time.

A co-worker recently rescue a Yorkie. He found it wandering the highway near his neighborhood. He called to him and he came right to him. He thinks the dog lived a street or two over as it is a yippie dog and he has heard it before. He put up posters and no one has called to claim it. He's working on training him now so he can get along with his Scottie, who was a breeding mother in a kennel he adopted from the owner a few years back. She's still shy and the Yorkie is assertive.

I like dogs, but I don't have dogs because I know how much work they are. This is not to say that kitties aren't a lot of work.

Just my opinion.

[jennielynn1970]

Well, I guess the next best thing to adopting is donating. So please donate to your local shelter. I am sure they all could use a few bucks to ease the crowding.

You might want to look to see if they have a "WISH LIST" on Amazon. So many of us shop online these days, you can look up your local animal shelter and see their wish list, purchase right from Amazon, and have it shipped right to the shelter!!! It's a great idea to do this I think, and it can never hurt when you're up late, not knowing what to buy for yourself, so you can just take that extra $50 and buy something for your fave shelter.

[tokolosh]

More people need to be educated about how to take care of their pets. If they can't afford to take care of them, they shouldn't have them. That includes good food and vet care.

I guess this is my major reason for thinking a shelter or the SPCA is actually a better option than canvassing around among friends if I personally needed to re-home a cat. You just helped me to clarify this In the short term a shelter looks less caring because it's basically an institution. No cat would pick it over a home, I bet. But I know they know more than I'll ever think of about what a new cat owner should know, and they have practice at matching people to cats, facilitating the transition, remembering all the important stuff and making sure it's communicated. So in the long run I think my cat would get a better deal if I went that way. It's just too bad it isn't feasible to ask a donation or fee for taking someone's cat and caring for it until it gets a new home - the service they provide is so valuable and they're taking it on. But I can only imagine that would deter a lot of people and lead to more 'dumps'.

[luvofallhorses]

An institution? The cats are treated VERY well where I work, I wouldn't call it an institution but the cats can get stressed easily and stop eating and die. We have 3 rooms where the cats are free-roam after they are checked out by a vet, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. They aren't all in kennels 24/7.

Of course a REAL home would be better but we all know we cannot save them all and realistically there are not homes for them all thanks to BYBs and irresponsible owners. I know my limits, everyone should have a set limit being a pet owner IMO.

[tokolosh]

Also - I personally like all the dogs and cats at the shelter I work at.

It's been weird and a bit rough for me mooching around shelters this time around, trying to get myself accepted as someone they might be willing to give another cat to, some day down the line. At my local place which is the only one I can get to on any kind of regular basis in 'adoption hours' and still keep a job/say hi to my kid once a day, you really can't get to know any of them to any special degree. I find myself chickening out in the most awful way and cravenly pretending I see and appreciate the special spark of personality in each 'special' cat. Because I don't want them to decide I'm not really fuzzy enough about cats and strike me off

But the fact is, you can't see it. I know it's there, in each of them. But infection and illness is such an issue there (overcrowding) that you can't interact with them enough to find it. On some days they ask you not to even put your fingers against the cage mesh to see if the cat takes an interest in your overture. On a good day, you can get them to unpadlock a cage so you can reach in and offer some scratching and stroking, but they ask you to only do this with one cat per visit, not do it unless you're washed like a surgeon and draped in a clean towel (which they have to fetch). And you can never, ever allow the cat to touch the floor, supposing it does show an interest in you.

It must be really frustrating for them as well, because all the reasons are so important. I was snarky and frustrated at first, but now I get it and I regret that. But I find I've been back there five or six times in the past barely-one-month, and I come away every time knowing that I haven't really made any connections that would let me adopt any of the cats that I've 'met' with a clear conscience. I just don't know who they are.

[tokolosh]

It seems you like a good disscussion. I don't. I come here to enjoy myself. I NEVER said NEVER. Only saying I'd go the extra mile to keep my pets. Many do not, therefore, shelters are full of animals being PTS every day. Satistics prove that, I don't need to discuss it.

I didn't at all intend to spoil your enjoyment by opening this up, and I am sorry if it's worked out that way. Not that I think this should or could change how you feel, but I really didn't bring it up just to create a 'good discussion' or for the fun of winding anyone up. I wasn't trolling, in other words. I find myself having to have what you call good discussions sometimes, just because I've said something that startles someone without meaning to, and then I find myself trying to clarify or re-present whatever I said. I don't enjoy it much. I kind of do it for a living and I'd rather have other kinds of fun when I'm not being paid. Back to the wall is not my idea of a comfortable posture, but neither is chin on the ground.

You didn't say 'never', you're right, and I misquoted in a way that implied that you had. You quoted someone else saying they 'wouldn't' do something and said you agreed with it, and in the context of the whole controversy I went and interpreted that as being as good as saying 'never'. So I apologize for that. Although come to that, I'm not sure I feel all that safe saying 'wouldn't' either, sometimes

I came here for the same reason as you, but I think maybe we're very different kinds of people where pets are concerned. I've found myself wondering recently if I've simply made a mistake, and wandered into a place that is designated for people who devote themselves seriously to rescue and fostering work, and I should just butt myself out. Because I've always assumed I was a fairly average, perfectly acceptable pet-owning citizen as far as responsibility and ethics and loving my pets and all of that goes - pretty good, actually, compared with the average bear. But two weeks or whatever it's been of reading and occasional conversation here has got me wondering if I'm actually just scum in human form, a lot of the time.

Which is why I said something here, basically. I had this assumption that it was okay to be here because you're a perfectly ordinary private citizen who loves their pet. But I wouldn't intentionally walk into a place that was expressly set up for people with stronger views than mine, and then start explaining to all of them why I don't agree. I haven't been here long enough to really figure out yet if that's what I've done - but if it is, it wasn't intentionally.

[luvofallhorses]

Well all shelters are different, but we make sure the dogs and cats are healthy and will put them down if there is no hope if they get terribly sick but we do try to help them rather than put them down.

Some shelters don't even go the lengths for the animals like we do, we don't put them down if they are sick we try to get them through it but a shelter situation is so hard on cats, they are very sensitive animals and can get sick at the drop of a hat. We clean EVERY single morning for 4 hours.

Cleaning cat rooms, walking the dogs and cleaning their kennels
(and walking them all day to get exercise in the play yard which is huge.), and we do the same thing every day to make sure the whole place is clean it's never ending. Washing dishes everyday, cleaning litterboxes, etc. and tons of laundry.

Also, we have a list of cats that get canned food in a kennel rotation each day for the ones that need it. They also get meds as needed and the dogs get meds as needed.

I'm not saying my shelter is perfect, but we do what most shelters won't do. That's what's so great for having a donation fund so we can help the ones that get sick unexpectedly or hit by a car or need a leg amputation, etc.

Most shelters are non-profit so they don't always have the funds to help sick animals and they are over-crowded. Sometimes we have to say no to people, we don't always take owner turn ins as we are an animal control facility but we do try to help them re-home the animals.

[dehlers43]

I am not in the rescue/foster biz like many others here. I too am just an ordinary pet owner doing the best I can.
I'd like to put my spin on this "discussion".....
Some areas of the country have been hit harder by the economy than others which could cause people such hardship they feel they must give up their pets. In other areas, there seems to be a pervasive culture of viewing animals as nothing more than disposable toys. Some shelters are like heaven on earth for animals and others are awful. Some are no-kill but many more routinely euthanize thousands of animals each year.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: the pet dumping, relinquishing situation varies so much from city-to-city and state-to-state we should keep in mind that, depending on where we live, our experiences will not be the same. Perhaps we could keep that in mind and "cut each other some slack"...
OK, I'm now stepping down from my soapbox.....

[tokolosh]

Cleaning cat rooms, walking the dogs and cleaning their kennels (and walking them all day to get exercise in the play yard which is huge.), and we do the same thing every day to make sure the whole place is clean it's never ending. Washing dishes everyday, cleaning litterboxes, etc. and tons of laundry.

I tell you, I've come to understand the workload and what's involved in running a shelter after making repeated visits, in a way that I didn't when I was just a walk-in who got lucky in the first half an hour, our first time around When we got Limpet from the same place in 2000, there were no restrictions on interacting and I'm ashamed in hindsight to think how scornfully I carried on when we discovered within a couple of days that our 'SPCA certified healthy' new cat had anaemia, a sinus infection and a bad kennel cough. Can't have it both ways, but I've only come to understand recently that there is a 'both ways' to it.