I wrote the following letter to *my local shelter* , regarding our two cats, Monticore and Socks. I am posting it here, so everyone is aware of their practices. Here are our babies
Be VERY CAREFUL when adopting any pets from this particular shelter and if you do, make sure you get them tested by a doctor prior to the adoption! The adoption money that is supposed to go towards testing / innoculating your pet, doesn't:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A year and a half ago, we adopted two kittens from *my local shelter*; we named them Monticore and Socks. Sadly, Monticore died two days ago, despite our best efforts to save him, due to FELV related complications. He was only a year and 5 months old. His brother Socks not only has FELV, but also has a grade 3 heart murmur, and although he is currently relatively healthy, his long term prognosis is not positive.
*My local shelter* knew or should have known of these dangerous diseases that these kittens had. What you guys did by letting them be adopted, without telling us of their conditions, is highly immoral and reprehensible. I had repeatedly asked that these guys be tested for FIV and FELV and was told that it was not necessary, since *my local shelter* knew where their mother came from and the mother had been tested for these diseases. However, every Vet that has examined Monticore and Socks, has informed us that they contracted Lukemia at birth. Once we learned of their condition, we have done everything possible to try to prolong their life, such as providing a stress free environment and keeping them away from anything that might exacerbate their condition.
YOU BASICALLY LIED TO US! When we spoke to Stacy* (their surrogate mother) about getting them tested for fiv and felv, she said that she would speak to someone at *my local shelter* about this matter. Subsequently, I distinctly remember having conversations with Stacy, Janet* or both, where I was told that testing them was not necessary and that even if they had felv, which they didn't, many cats have this condition and it wouldn't effect their health. I will NEVER EVER adopt any animal from your shelter. None of my friends or family members will be adopting from you either. Every doctor (and we have been to a lot of vets) has shaken their heads in disbelief when learning that we adopted these poor kitties from a shelter that never bothered running any tests on them.
I sincerely hope and pray you never let this happen to anyone else again. If I had any control over it, I would make sure that whoever let this happen, never works with animals again. What you did to us is very very wrong and unforgivable. Our pets, our babies who should have lived for years, have had to spend a lot of time in hospitals, being poked around with needles or getting medications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*(The two women's names above have been changed, to protect their identity. As much as I'd like to put their names up here, I have not.)
Be VERY CAREFUL when adopting any pets from this particular shelter and if you do, make sure you get them tested by a doctor prior to the adoption! The adoption money that is supposed to go towards testing / innoculating your pet, doesn't:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A year and a half ago, we adopted two kittens from *my local shelter*; we named them Monticore and Socks. Sadly, Monticore died two days ago, despite our best efforts to save him, due to FELV related complications. He was only a year and 5 months old. His brother Socks not only has FELV, but also has a grade 3 heart murmur, and although he is currently relatively healthy, his long term prognosis is not positive.
*My local shelter* knew or should have known of these dangerous diseases that these kittens had. What you guys did by letting them be adopted, without telling us of their conditions, is highly immoral and reprehensible. I had repeatedly asked that these guys be tested for FIV and FELV and was told that it was not necessary, since *my local shelter* knew where their mother came from and the mother had been tested for these diseases. However, every Vet that has examined Monticore and Socks, has informed us that they contracted Lukemia at birth. Once we learned of their condition, we have done everything possible to try to prolong their life, such as providing a stress free environment and keeping them away from anything that might exacerbate their condition.
YOU BASICALLY LIED TO US! When we spoke to Stacy* (their surrogate mother) about getting them tested for fiv and felv, she said that she would speak to someone at *my local shelter* about this matter. Subsequently, I distinctly remember having conversations with Stacy, Janet* or both, where I was told that testing them was not necessary and that even if they had felv, which they didn't, many cats have this condition and it wouldn't effect their health. I will NEVER EVER adopt any animal from your shelter. None of my friends or family members will be adopting from you either. Every doctor (and we have been to a lot of vets) has shaken their heads in disbelief when learning that we adopted these poor kitties from a shelter that never bothered running any tests on them.
I sincerely hope and pray you never let this happen to anyone else again. If I had any control over it, I would make sure that whoever let this happen, never works with animals again. What you did to us is very very wrong and unforgivable. Our pets, our babies who should have lived for years, have had to spend a lot of time in hospitals, being poked around with needles or getting medications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*(The two women's names above have been changed, to protect their identity. As much as I'd like to put their names up here, I have not.)