Okay... it has been one week since one of my cats died. We had two cats, Princess and one of her babies from her first litter, Brandy. She was not a baby, she was 6 years old. For an unknown reason, Brandy died. She was our greeter, outgoing and flirtatious with a healthy appetite.
I was dealing with the loss. I, as Mom, am the one who is caretaker of all pets, so I am the one who most missed her coming to greet my car as I returned home after each outing.
For the record, I am not a cat person. Don't get me wrong. I am not an uncaring person, but I am not inclined to get too attached to things - people or animals. My experience has proven that 100% of living people and animals die. The people are hard enough. And I had always hoped to spare myself the pain of losing multiple animals in my lifetime as well. At least, I figure, I have control over that, right?
(yes, i know, i suffer under the delusions of thinking i can control things!)
ANYWAY, I digress.
Tonight, on my local television news station, I heard this most unbelievable story about how the Animal Shelter needs more funding because Adoptions are DOWN! Imagine my immediate reaction --- fuming anger and disbelief --- and then read my letter to the station, which I also sent to the Asst. City Manager of Kingsport (a fellow D.B. Alumni), and asked him to forward it to the appropriate city personnel.
Really... if they need people to adopt, why are they being so rude and turning away someone who was willing and able to provide a suitable home??
Here is my letter sent 9/22 - and following it is the website link to the article on WJHL's website.
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Dear WJHL,
I was pretty shocked when I saw the news story regarding how the Kpt. Animal Shelter is needing money.
I went to the Animal Shelter for the first time this past Saturday, 9/20, in order to adopt a cat.
I expected that the folks there would be WELCOMING to me, and would be HAPPY to have me come in to “rescue” one of their cats.
However, that was not the case.
I went with my daughter.
We entered the foyer, and behind the glass were 4 women. After standing there for about 7 minutes, one finally turned toward me and asked, “can I help you”.
I told her that I was there to adopt a cat.
She nodded and said, go through that door, first door on your left.
I paused. I hesitated.
I told her: “This is my first time here.”
Again, she said, go through that door, first door on your left.
So my daughter and I entered the hallway, and we approached the first door on the left, covered with warning labels, and were not sure whether to enter or not.
Taking a big step of faith, I tentatively opened the door, and entered a room with a sink, dishes, and then we saw the rows of cages.
Still unsure about what to do, we started to look at all the cats and kittens that were there.
I began to cry --- I had just lost one of my two cats. It has been one week ago today.
And it made me sad to remember my loss --- and then to see all of these beautiful animals, and to think that we would be having to choose only one.
And so, we spent 30 to 40 minutes in that room, looking at all of them, visiting, even getting a couple of them out.
FINALLY, we made our choice. We would take two of the older ones.
A visiting lady and her grandson were there (she said that she has 2 daughters that worked there) - she told me that she would send someone back to help us.
And so a worker came, and we told her that we had chosen “those 2”. The worker said, oh you cannot have those. They are not available yet.
And I asked her what that meant.
I was told that there is a waiting period for possible strays, so that the owners would have an opportunity to come and rescue them.
(Well, that would have been good to know...)
So we went through the ordeal of making another decision.
And we chose. Again.
And then the worker came back, looked at the card, said okay.
And then when I ask if she gets the cats out now, she also tells me that I will not be able to take a cat home today.
I say Why? And she said that they go to the vet from there, then I go pick them up from the vet.
I go up front. I am given an application.
I fill it all out – completely – drivers license, where I work, my address, am told that I may get a home visit, they want my animal history and where are they now... Along with where my animals will be living.
I filled it all out. I handed it back to the 4 women who were more interested in visiting with each other than in helping me. I stand there, and wait for one to notice me.
And then, am told to sit down and wait.
And then we waited. Again. Another 15 minutes.
And the worker woman sticks her head up and says to me, these are indoor cats you know.
And I answered her. And she could not hear me.
And she turns off a fan or something that was making noise inside the glassed in area.
And she said, what?
And I said to her again, but we have 5 acres, and our other cat lives outside.
And she said, well, these are indoor cats. And I said, how do you know?
And she said, that’s how they came to us.
And then, just like that --- I said thanks, and we left.
TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA THAT ADOPTIONS ARE DOWN and that is why the shelter needs more money?????!!!!
I am outraged at the rude treatment that I received.
And I had been considering who to contact in order to report that.
When you aired that story today, it was just the push I needed.
You really need to consider another side — if those folks were actually doing their job WHEN A CUSTOMER COMES TO THEM, then perhaps adoptions would NOT be down.
I was in an emotionally down mood when I entered, and someone there should have given me some helpful information before subjecting me to the situation I experienced!
In a fantasy world, I expected that the animal shelter wants to give the animals a good home.
Instead, they are screening two cats from me, a mature and responsible adult, who wants to take two cats home to love and care for...
I hope that the city does NOT give them more money.
It was insulting how I was treated.
----Link to News Story----
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/kingsport_animal_shelter_falls_on_hard_times/14232/
