Mods, if this isn't the right place for my post, please let me know.
Some of you may remember that my cat Pumpkin, who I had for over 11 years, died nearly two months ago. The pain of losing him after having him for so long is still there but life is getting easier. Gradually.
When a nearby shelter director visited my home to pick up Pumpkin's left over food, litter etc I gave her my application for fostering and discussed at length what this process entails. This was about two weeks ago, at least. I suppose that I misunderstood some of what she told me the first time around. This afternoon I emailed her about a cat that is up for adoption, thinking that the shelter would help watch that cat should I get my hernia surgery that I've been waiting for. I was wrong. They don't do that for animals that are outright adopted, and they don't help with transportation to vet appointments unless they are foster cats.
I can manage the cost of veterinary care...food, litter and litter boxes, toys etc and I would love my next pet just as much as I loved my little boy. For some reason, it feels like this shelter doesn't think I'm good enough. Check out this copy of an email I got this evening, with the shelter name and potential pet name left out:
"Since we are foster-based, we keep animals until they are adopted. Typically we expect to have cats and dogs in our program for 2-3 months because we also follow up on any medical care they need. This could be as simple as updating vaccinations, or if they need spay/neuter or wound care, we’d have them under our care for much longer. We do not euthanized for space.
If you decide to adopt, you would be solely responsible for the animal. The ***** ****** does not provide transportation or pet-sitting services for animals that have been adopted. Vaccinations for cats are always rabies and distemper, and we provide copies of those records to every adopter.
***** is a really wonderful cat, but we have known her for almost 1.5 years now and she is not going to change. She has been in a long-term, loving environment where her boundaries are respected. We don’t mind, we understand that every animal has their own way in the world. I would not recommend ***** for you to adopt or even foster because your home is very small."
That really stings. The cat I wanted to adopt - according to their pet finder page - has been difficult to place because she apparently doesn't like affection from humans - I.e. petting, snuggles etc. I can respect that cat's boundaries because her description reminds me of what Pumpkin was like when I first got him. He didn't like to be held much at all at first, didn't like to be too close, etc - maybe because he had a rough life before I got him, As time went on, we bonded and were like peas and carrots in no time at all.
That cat's Pet Finder listing said the adoption fee was sponsored and I'm guessing it's because she is - according to their description of her - difficult to place.
Two issues remain - transportation - partly because I am in a wheelchair and partly because I have no car. We have lousy bus service and when I took Pumpkin for his vet appointments, the local bus company required two days' notice. The other bus company that took us to his heart checkup near Syracuse has a similar time frame. What would I do in a emergency?
And of course, who would watch the cat should I go in for surgery (or worse)?
If I foster, I wouldn't have to worry about any of that. If I adopt, then it would be harder. I say "harder" because of my transportation and health issues. But not impossible.
I thought about reaching out to my brother about a stray cat that hangs out at our father's property and needs to be adopted. From what he told me about her, she does not like to stay indoors but that is what I would require in order to adopt her. It's not safe to let an animal run loose, especially where I live.. I would need to make sure her health records and shots were up to date.
I thought that if I adopt that cat, I could move back to the village where my family is from because a new apartment complex is close to Pumpkin's vet. I wouldn't have to worry about transporting her at all to any appointments.
I don't know what to do. I am gutted. I really want to get another pet and it feels like they're telling me I am not good enough. Please give me your thoughts. Thank you.
Some of you may remember that my cat Pumpkin, who I had for over 11 years, died nearly two months ago. The pain of losing him after having him for so long is still there but life is getting easier. Gradually.
When a nearby shelter director visited my home to pick up Pumpkin's left over food, litter etc I gave her my application for fostering and discussed at length what this process entails. This was about two weeks ago, at least. I suppose that I misunderstood some of what she told me the first time around. This afternoon I emailed her about a cat that is up for adoption, thinking that the shelter would help watch that cat should I get my hernia surgery that I've been waiting for. I was wrong. They don't do that for animals that are outright adopted, and they don't help with transportation to vet appointments unless they are foster cats.
I can manage the cost of veterinary care...food, litter and litter boxes, toys etc and I would love my next pet just as much as I loved my little boy. For some reason, it feels like this shelter doesn't think I'm good enough. Check out this copy of an email I got this evening, with the shelter name and potential pet name left out:
"Since we are foster-based, we keep animals until they are adopted. Typically we expect to have cats and dogs in our program for 2-3 months because we also follow up on any medical care they need. This could be as simple as updating vaccinations, or if they need spay/neuter or wound care, we’d have them under our care for much longer. We do not euthanized for space.
If you decide to adopt, you would be solely responsible for the animal. The ***** ****** does not provide transportation or pet-sitting services for animals that have been adopted. Vaccinations for cats are always rabies and distemper, and we provide copies of those records to every adopter.
***** is a really wonderful cat, but we have known her for almost 1.5 years now and she is not going to change. She has been in a long-term, loving environment where her boundaries are respected. We don’t mind, we understand that every animal has their own way in the world. I would not recommend ***** for you to adopt or even foster because your home is very small."
That really stings. The cat I wanted to adopt - according to their pet finder page - has been difficult to place because she apparently doesn't like affection from humans - I.e. petting, snuggles etc. I can respect that cat's boundaries because her description reminds me of what Pumpkin was like when I first got him. He didn't like to be held much at all at first, didn't like to be too close, etc - maybe because he had a rough life before I got him, As time went on, we bonded and were like peas and carrots in no time at all.
That cat's Pet Finder listing said the adoption fee was sponsored and I'm guessing it's because she is - according to their description of her - difficult to place.
Two issues remain - transportation - partly because I am in a wheelchair and partly because I have no car. We have lousy bus service and when I took Pumpkin for his vet appointments, the local bus company required two days' notice. The other bus company that took us to his heart checkup near Syracuse has a similar time frame. What would I do in a emergency?
And of course, who would watch the cat should I go in for surgery (or worse)?
If I foster, I wouldn't have to worry about any of that. If I adopt, then it would be harder. I say "harder" because of my transportation and health issues. But not impossible.
I thought about reaching out to my brother about a stray cat that hangs out at our father's property and needs to be adopted. From what he told me about her, she does not like to stay indoors but that is what I would require in order to adopt her. It's not safe to let an animal run loose, especially where I live.. I would need to make sure her health records and shots were up to date.
I thought that if I adopt that cat, I could move back to the village where my family is from because a new apartment complex is close to Pumpkin's vet. I wouldn't have to worry about transporting her at all to any appointments.
I don't know what to do. I am gutted. I really want to get another pet and it feels like they're telling me I am not good enough. Please give me your thoughts. Thank you.
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