I'm very saddened (and frustrated) with my experience at Animal Haven in North Haven. I have been a pet adopter and involved in animal rights for a long time. So when I was denied a young cat I was blown away. They, like many rescues of late, seem to look at all potential adopters as potential abusers. The reason they gave for not giving me the cat is because I stated I may or may not, depending on temperament of cat, let the cat out. I've had cats all my life, I am highly knowledgeable and experienced of about them and of them.
The kitten in question, I saw back in October, I want a young cat for a friend my older cat and my young dog. In particular the older Cat - he has never been without a feline buddy in the house until last year when our Feral White Beauty (who NEVER went outside once she got inside) died. And I think he misses feline friendship in the house. So on recommendation of a friend I went there and saw this little Tuxedo cat, with very interesting markings on his toes...I filled out an application and never heard back...after calling a couple time and never getting a call back...I mostly let it go until a couple weeks ago.
Im driving by and said HEY - so I went inside - I asked about my application and the cat I wanted to adopted...there was some confusion about my app and where it went....I guess I didn't put the cats name on it so the application seemed to get ignored...I don't know...anyway the woman tells the (paraphrasing) "cat I wanted was adopted out but returned for ringworm...which they treated and then cat was adopted out again, so he's gone now"...so she directs me to one room...and I walk around that room, then I go into the other room that she steered me away from...not sure if that was by design.. or not....BUT there sits the cat I wanted to adopt all along, in a cage - he's still there!...I fill another app..she tells me someone else is interested in him...so I put his name on the app along with another kitten, in case I cant get him.
Then a message was left by the woman I spoke to on that Saturday when I filled out the application (for the second time) - that I was denied because I would let the cat out....no discussion, no questions, no consideration, but she said I could talk to the director to see if possibly she would change her mind...leaving me her name. She also stated they have a strict rule about letting cats outside...(if you dare breath a word of letting a cat out at any point in your life - you will NOT get a cat) - that stated I know people have been misleading on applications for the very reasons I experienced. So I decided called Animal Haven to speak to director to see if we could have a meeting of the minds......a young male picked up - I stated my previous call from shelter and can I speak to Director, he said hang on, came back on line and was extremely arrogant, rude and obnoxious. I never did get to speak to director, because this kid was probably told to just blow me off, but I wasn't letting him off the hook that easily......the conversation was insulting and my treatment was completely out of order.
So what make me sad for this little cat is TWICE he a had home...with me....An Awesome home, so Awesome my Vet told me once...because my cats are so mellow - that if he was a cat, he'd want to live at my house, and now TWICE this cat lost a home.
Rescues like this lack people skills, the have an over blown sense of entitlement to these animals and absolutely no faith in the goodness of heart that does exist in most people. Its all very sad, because these animals are not getting homes. and I hope that the cat I wanted that I knew would be perfect in my house...is out of that cage and in a nice house. And just another small point - If I had brought him home and he had ringworm, I would have had it treated , and NOT returned him to the shelter.
their loss. my loss... kitties loss. read more
