Pet Adoption Obstacles You May Find Hard to Believe

 

Adopting a cat was never an issue for me because they always seemed to adopt me. They would just show up at my door and move in. I guess they spotted me as a human that could be easily trained to meet their needs. I guess in their minds they allow us the illusion we are in control. Now I was surprised to hear from my brother about his coworker who’s looking for a new cat that experienced pet adoption problems when trying to adopt.  The pet adoption obstacles she encountered are rather hard to believe.

Her cat sadly passed away and she needed a new one to keep the surviving cat company while she went to work. Who else was going to get the cats’ food? Certainly not the cats! They one of the reasons they adopt a human!

So she goes to the shelter to rescue a cat looking for one that is right for her. Though she could just as easily get a free one, she was intent on saving a life and pet adoption. Therefore, she didn’t mind dealing with all the added costs to adopting from a shelter.  Besides, the shelter cats had all the shots, and have been fixed as well as ones been screened for disease. So even though you’re paying, you’re paying for things you’d be paying for anyway. But she got a little surprise that was totally unbelievable.

The shelter refused to allow her to adopt a cat. Their reason was that she worked for more than five hours outside of the home. This meant the cat would be alone for that time. Now I ask you what is wrong with that picture? Is it better for the cat to be left confided in a cage like a prisoner waiting execution when a loving home could be had?  I could understand if the reason was that she hoarded cats, but to deny her a cat companion for her remaining cat seemed ridiculous.

I was so appalled at this that I did some further research on pet adoption. A shelter in my area had a kitten that I thought was adorable. When I read more about it, the fee was $125 and you needed to bring all vet records of any former or deceased pets with you, your vets contact information plus three references. Of course, shelters want animals to go to the best homes–but the purpose is to get them homes and not make people dance through hoops when so many poor animals are getting put down every day.

Many years ago, my mother went to a pet shelter and never suffered through any pet adoption obstacles. All that was required of her for pet adoption was to pay an extremely nominal fee for a cat.  The only thing she needed to do was signing a paper to her good intentions about being a responsible caretaker to her cat. Afterwards, she walked out with a cat in her arm. She didn’t even get a box.

My brother’s friend got turned down, which shocked her as well as everyone else that knew this caring woman. Why the shelter interviewer decided that his friend was unworthy is a complete mystery. After all, it was not because she was going do something nasty to the cat. She wasn’t going to feed it a snake or make a deal with hungry dogs. No, she had the audacity to actually tell the truth that she was going to go to work every day and the cat would be alone for at least five hours. And for that bit of honesty they denied her.

Now for a dog I can see the need for more human attention since they get more attached to you. When my next door neighbors first moved in, I would hear their dogs cry and whine like babies when they would go to work. After a period of time of several weeks, those dogs eventually calmed down. However, a cat is more independent and sleeps most of the day. In addition, a cat is a less needy pet compared to a dog that not only craves more attention, but also needs walking, etc.

I’ve owned cats for years. They are much more on their own. Clearly, when you’re gone they are either sleeping, nibbling on a nosh of dry cat food, playing with their toys, climbing their indoor trees, or finding some way to enjoy their cat time.

Did you ever notice when you come home to your dog? The poor dog can go crazy and bouncing everywhere with how happy he or she is to see you. While at the same time the cat is happy to see you, but it has a different, cooler response. This hardly means your cat isn’t just as excited to see you, but they are more standoffish compared to a dog. I think it’s a cat thing. If they show they really missed you, then they might think you could train them!

Well I heard she’s found a new cat from someone with an abundance of little cats. Yet, you have to ask yourself what about those shelter cats waiting and desperate for homes before their time runs out. I can understand shelters want to not give an animal that will have a bad home. But this is why some folks want a cat and others want a dog. In this case some poor kitty is still behind bars . . . waiting for a home. Some shelter cop slammed the door on some cat’s happy home.