Stolen Picture

[maerlyn]

Thank you, Randy; yours was one of the voices of reason that I mentioned. You make a great deal of sense.

[Randy_K]

Perhaps being on the street is better? As an alternative, Los Angeles city shelters only holds them for 72 hours and then kills them. Ten cats is her worst case but it is a temporary condition. There's a terrible shortage of people who will foster cats available for adoption so there's no quick solution.

A foundation run by Buddy Hackett's widow Sherry Hackett now called the Buddy Hackett Singita Animal Sanctuary is building a care facility in Los Angeles to provide the foster care, medical care and the socializing kittens and puppies need in their own facility. It will help the rescuers some...

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by maerlyn
If her response was less than you desired, perhaps you should think of how she was put onto the defensive. And even if you think her use of your photos was wrong, and even if you dislike her response - can you not consider the great good she is doing & be a bit kind & compassionate? Do you know what strain she might be under? OK, it happened - but it's certainly not worth all the incriminations. Maybe she made a mistake; if so, it was an honest one. If none of you have ever made a mistake, then go ahead and cast your stones; otherwise, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

I have to agree. I am happy, Peanut's picture is down and that's what I had asked her to do. I was not thrilled with her response, but I can understand how she is possibly - and probably - under a lot of stress. If she is anything like the people on this site who do rescue - Kimlovescats, K & L, Queenscoopalot, and others - I can totally understand the stress she might be under. And to be honest, if I was in her position the status of a few pictures on the website would be the least of my problems.

However, she needs to know that just because things are on the internet that doesn't mean they're free for the taking of anyone who wants to use them. She made a mistake, but I hope she also learned something from it. I also hope that Karen gets a quick response and satisfaction on her requests also. Then we can all let this die down.

I was surprised to see Peanut's pic and I'm glad she took it down. Like I said before, I would have been more than happy to let her keep it up if she had just asked - or even had a more polite response to my request. However, it turns out it really wasn't up to me since it was a COTD picture, which by all rights belongs to Karen and the COTD site - not me.

I think Maeryln is right about some of the responses, and like I also said, I wouldn't even consider suing because first of all, they're a rescue and they have no money. Second of all, I would rather they spend what little money they have on the cats, not a law suit. And finally, because it was a COTD picture, I don't even think I would have the right to sue anymore since the pic was technically the property of Karen and COTD!

Some of the posts almost make it look like it's time to send this thread to the doghouse - and that was definitely NOT my original intention.

[guster girl]

I already mentioned for the most part how I felt about some of the accusations. As for her responses, she could have at least apologized when she was approached with her mistake. Again, I think accusing the shelter of being run by criminals is a bit harsh. I'm sure it was an honest mistake and that it wasn't done with malicious intent. I looked at the site and would never have thought those cats pictured were ones available for adoption, it looks like a border to me. I can see why she wouldn't have photos of her own cats or kittens on the site, they are hard to photograph. But, there are plenty of photos online that are available for public use. It's unfortunate that she responded the way she did, and, unfortunate the way some people retaliated. I would think she would just take them down to avoid getting any more emails, though. It's not like it would ruin her site to not have those photos. Just my opinion.

[green_chameleon_girl]

I admit I over reacted on the last chance kitten thing..but it upset me.

Sorry for over reacting!!

[QueenScoopalot]

I'm sure many of you have received the email with cute cat & kitten pictures, with inspirational sayings under them....Bendy's picture's been circualting a long time! I wanted to attach his owner's website here as well, but she's exceeded the bandwidth, and it's not available at this time....Bendy has radial hypoplasia like several of my gang, and Sasha put braces on his legs to correct the curvature. He was so cute someone stole his picture as well, and here it is...

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

OMG, QSA!!! Bendy is the most adorable little kitty! I can see why they would want to use his pic, but I still don't think it's right. I've seen quite a few of those inspirational type emails, but I haven't come across one with Bendy in it. Just look at that little fuzz face! You don't happen to have a current picture of him, do you? I'm sure he's much bigger now, but probably no less adorable.

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
OMG, QSA!!! Bendy is the most adorable little kitty! I can see why they would want to use his pic, but I still don't think it's right. I've seen quite a few of those inspirational type emails, but I haven't come across one with Bendy in it. Just look at that little fuzz face! You don't happen to have a current picture of him, do you? I'm sure he's much bigger now, but probably no less adorable.

I don't have any current pictures of him. He isn't one of the kitties here, and I tried to add the link for Bendy's website here, but it's exceeeded the bandwidth capacity. He is huge, and handsome now!

[smokey the elder]

Just today I got an email with a pic of a lady holding an enormous cat, and admonished the sender that he shouldn't be propagating such things without permission! I won't even use someone's pic as a desktop without PMing them and asking permission.

Something about that shelter just doesn't pass the smell test, but I can't put my finger on it. Don't they even have ONE good photographer? My tiny group has at least half a dozen people who can take pics good enough to display the cats and kittens on the Internet.

[Rachel]

If I were looking at any rescue website, I would assume the pictures posted were those of cats up for adoption or at the very least cats who had been adopted through that organization unless it was explicitly stated otherwise. Trust is an important aspect when one is operating any charitable organization. It seems that the operators of this one have yet to understand that.
If one cannot trust the veracity of what is portrayed, what else can't be trusted.

In the same vein, I do not feel it is right to approach an organization on the subterfuge that one is considering adopting one of their animals. Although the purpose is investigative, in this instance there was no need to investigate. We already know what had been done.

Doing good in one respect does not confer the right to commit other acts which are not of common decency or are against the law. If this person were genuinely not aware that she was doing something which was inappropriate, she should have welcomed being informed of that, taken corrective action, and apologized.
Hopefully it is not too late for her to learn and grow so the work of her organization can thrive instead of being seen as one of which to be wary.