Originally Posted by
Karen
We want to let people know how you found out about your local shelters ...
Hmmmmm ... 
Not sure, or wonder why, the method of "finding" (or how you contacted)
your local Shelter or Rescue is important??
Over the years I've had to jump through some pretty tall "hoops" to be able
to talk to some Shelters and Rescues - some local and some pretty distant.
In a few cases I was looking for a pet;
in others I was trying to find a home or a place of refuge for a homeless animal ...
in all cases it usually wasn't a matter of looking in the phone book ...
The real challenges are:
1) Learn the name and the existance of a particular rescue ...
there are usually several Shelters or Rescues operating in even the small towns -
that most residents have never even heard of - let alone know how to contact.
Some places seem to "like" not being known or being "findable" by the average person -
ya gotta "know someone" to be able to talk to them. (I always wondered "Why?")
2) Learn a phone number that some human will either answer or return a call from ...
I can't tell you how many UN-answered calls I've placed to Rescues / Shelters.
Keeping the Names & Phone Numbers lists "correct & current" can be an almost
impossible task - many of these agencies "switch" personnel frequently -
sometimes by choice; sometimes by need - but phone numbers never seem
to stay current very long.
But my point - the "method" or the "tail" of how they were contacted isn't as important
as the actual Point of Contact - that can be duplicated by others.
Fees / Costs / Prices ???
They're all over the map - anywhere from "free / no charge" to HUNDREDS of dollars -
and you get anything from a filthy, un-vetted and poorly observed unknown animal,
to a fully Vetted & Vaccinated, clean, trimmed, and sometimes partially trained,
housebroken, and socialized "pet" ... and what you pay doesn't always reflect
what you get!
Breed-specific "Rescues" frequently charge high fees ...
County-run "Pounds" often charge low fees yet furnish quality animals.
Example:
My Cinder was "advertised" to me by Cinder's "Angel Moms" = two Volunteers
in the Shelter/Pound that took pictures and published a web site for the Pound
and answered inquiries faithfully.
I "adopted" Cinder for a County Fee of $60.00 + a $4.25 WV License Fee ...
and they Refunded $51.00 as a partial payment sent directly to MY Vet
upon certification that she had been spayed.
Net "Cost" for Cinder = $9.00 + $4.25 = $13.25 paid to Ohio County, West Virginia.
(And about another $50.00 or so to Doc Mike for the rest of the spay job and some shots.)
This was all back on July 3, 1999.
Smokey was almost as "cheap" ...
Cinder "found" him on the front porch on Sunday night, January 21, 2001;
Tuesday night he was delivered to "Angels for Animals" as a "Sponsored Foster Dog" -
I paid $90.00 for his heartworm test (negative), Neuter, Rabies & Puppy Shots,
Ear Wash & Nail Trim, and 6 months of heartworm preventative.
I had to "Foster him" in MY home till they had room to move him into a kennel
for display
as an adoption candidate. When he got adopted - I would get my $90.00 back.
Six Days after Cinder "found" him, Smokey had a name and his status had been
changed from "Foster" to "Adopted". 
The bottom line ?
Very few Shelters or Rescues have the same policies - and often the sometimes
fuzzy "policy" can be modified by Who you Know in the organization.
I've played my "I Know the Founder (personally)" card three times at
Angels for Animals -
and Diane has pulled the proper "string" for me each time. 
I've NEVER asked for a price or fee reduction; but she has changed the shelter Manager's
"we have NO rooms" to "I'll find a place for him, somewhere, bring him over".
(Abd I DO "own" a $100 Engraved Brick in her patio between the wings of the New Shelter.)
/s/ Phred
/s/ Cinder, Smokey & Heidi
R.I.P. ~ Boots, Bowser, Sherman, & Snoopy
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12/02
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