- Joined
- Feb 23, 2016
- Messages
- 373
- Purraise
- 58
My recent visit to the local municipal Rescue Center to consider adopting a second cat left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
The recent experience was completely different from my first visit earlier this year, when I ultimately came home with a kitten whom has been a joy from day 1. I went back to search for a companion for my girl. This time I was waited on by a young male who was persnickety and found any excuse he could envision to discourage me from adopting the cat I picked out. In addition to the usual and expected questions, he wondered aloud whether or not I had the financial wherewithal to afford a second cat. He also wanted to speak to my vet about my present pet. Well, my girl is in perfect health and has been since day 1. It was clear to me that he wasn't interested in sending me home with a cat that day. He was very different from the young woman who set me up with my current pet.
I understand that the staff and volunteers at shelters have a difficult job. And I don't agree with the very mean and unfair criticism and whining that they have to contend with from time-to-time. But frankly, I have met cat folks who just do not have the personality to be handling adoptions. Such people fit the stereotype of oddball cat owners. Workers at shelters and rescue centers need to be a bit less authoritarian and a bit less intrusive in their questions. This whole thing about "references" so to be allowed to adopt a cat has gone overboard, in my opinion. Animal lovers want orphan pets to end up in secure homes with loving pet owners, but honestly the staff people at the cat shelters and rescue centers can too easily turn off ordinary but eager people.
If the adoption process is bureaucratic, people will be discouraged from taking a cat home and the problem of feral, lost and abandoned sickly cats will continue to exacerbate. That won't serve animals in need.
The recent experience was completely different from my first visit earlier this year, when I ultimately came home with a kitten whom has been a joy from day 1. I went back to search for a companion for my girl. This time I was waited on by a young male who was persnickety and found any excuse he could envision to discourage me from adopting the cat I picked out. In addition to the usual and expected questions, he wondered aloud whether or not I had the financial wherewithal to afford a second cat. He also wanted to speak to my vet about my present pet. Well, my girl is in perfect health and has been since day 1. It was clear to me that he wasn't interested in sending me home with a cat that day. He was very different from the young woman who set me up with my current pet.
I understand that the staff and volunteers at shelters have a difficult job. And I don't agree with the very mean and unfair criticism and whining that they have to contend with from time-to-time. But frankly, I have met cat folks who just do not have the personality to be handling adoptions. Such people fit the stereotype of oddball cat owners. Workers at shelters and rescue centers need to be a bit less authoritarian and a bit less intrusive in their questions. This whole thing about "references" so to be allowed to adopt a cat has gone overboard, in my opinion. Animal lovers want orphan pets to end up in secure homes with loving pet owners, but honestly the staff people at the cat shelters and rescue centers can too easily turn off ordinary but eager people.
If the adoption process is bureaucratic, people will be discouraged from taking a cat home and the problem of feral, lost and abandoned sickly cats will continue to exacerbate. That won't serve animals in need.