Correction, please! The SPCA is a no-kill organization. But many of the no-kill shelters are overwhelmed with animals, especially unwanted cats and kittens and can't accept them. Ones that are pets being surrendered have to be put on a waiting list for surrender at our local SPCA. In the case of Mickey, his time was running out and a waiting list was out of the question. I just didn't know HOW out of the question. I had no idea the child's guardian was going to do what she did. And she knew the child had been in touch with me and that I would've found the cat a foster home if I were given the time. The SPCA is always the stop of first resort, but the business of surrendered animals finding no place to go is the number one killer of companion animals in this country. I am grateful that our community has a local SPCA--I wish they could do more for all of the animals that need homes.
It's the policy of my surrounding county animal shelters to euthanize owner-surrendered animals at their discretion. And here's another little tidbit: turns out that not all county animal shelters will even accept cats. Two surrounding county pounds send all of their unwanted cats to our pound and a couple of others. So when you have a shelter not even willing to do its job of accepting a particular animal and unloading their responsibility on other shelters, well, you can see that poor little Mickey was just a blip. I'm only speaking from my experience with my local shelter and the cat rescue situation in my area. It may be different elsewhere, but what I took for granted as a 7-day grace period for a turened-in animal at our county shelter was a myth. This may be true in other localities so be forewarned. Pat
----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth ~dolls4emma~" biz000art@yahoo.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 11:12 AM Subject: Re: A story related to the demise of a cat
That is a really sad story though, Pat. I feel for your neighbour (the daughter--not the nasty parent, of course!) There are too many people who adopt pets with an attitude of them being disposable. I had no idea about the SPCA's policies on owner brought-in pets, as have never taken a cat there myself. Throughout the years, if ever I found a cat, I took it in and kept it...raised it as my own.