As usual this week, I've received several requests for help from people wanting to turn in their pets. And as usual, I feel awful as I tell each person that I can't help. I understand what they're feeling. They have a wonderful pet - one that anyone will be lucky to have - and they want to do the right thing and give it to a no-kill shelter since they can't keep the pet any longer. And instead they hear that the no-kill shelters are full. All of them. They may be given a list of 20 or 30 shelters or rescue groups in the area, and every single one turns them away. Sometimes the people who turn them away are rude. More often, they don't receive any response to their phone messages or e-mails. And when they do receive a response, it's only to be told "sorry, try someone else". It's got to be hard. I understand their frustration. They just have no idea how many pets are out there needing help. And how many requests we receive, just like theirs, day after day. Their pet that they love and think anyone would be lucky to have? We already have two more just like them, waiting for a home. Cats especially are difficult. First, most people want to adopt kittens, not adult cats. Once they are over 6 months, they're pretty much out of luck in hopes of a quick adoption. Second, pick any cat color and any cat personality, and I can come up with several cats that will be a perfect fit. Right now there are 1,551 cats available for adoption within 100 miles of me. So I can understand why Scribbles is having a hard time being chosen for adoption. And why I have six adult cats at my house that are waiting for homes. And why I don't expect to have room for any more anytime soon. But turning people away is hard. Especially when they're just trying to do the right thing. Please, spay and neuter your pets. And when you're ready for another one, choose to adopt from your local shelter or rescue group.
Want to find out how many cats are waiting for a home in your area? Go to the Petfinder website, and on the left side of the screen, put in the Animal type as "cat" and the location as your zip code. Then just hit Search. Right next to the arrow to go to the next page, it will tell you the total number of matching pets it found. If you check this out, please let me know in comments how many cats in your area are waiting for homes. I'm thinking of moving to somewhere that Scribbles will have less competition.
12 comments:
There are 530 cats within 100 miles of me. /: However, alot of the cats listed are not single cats, but groups of kittens for adoption. So there are 530+ cats for adoption in just 100 miles.
Wow, that is scary. Over 2000 dogs near me.
Holy crap. 4,618 cats and 10,286 dogs within 100 miles of 92054. I guess this isn't the place to come for less competition.
Three of our four animals are shelter adoptions or rescues, but it's not even a drop in the bucket.
Only 315 cats in the Las Vegas area, and it's getting to be kitten season soon.
Oh, we can definitely relate ... there is a loooooong waiting list for our shelter. So sad. :(
This is such a wonderful and important post. I hate when I see people advertise that they are studding out their dog or looking for a female to breed to their male. ARG!
We just became a foster home for the French Bulldog Rescue Network. We're so excited!
Love,
Shannon and the Gang
I knew that this was going to be a bad area, 5,004 cats right now, and it is nearing kitten season. Crowded suburbs aren't the best place for those poor kitties to be.
There are 1583 kitties in my area. Two of them are my own fosters. Since I live not too far from you, I don't think moving here will help you much. :) The scary part is that we are getting ready to hit kitten season, so those numbers will jump up dramatically within the next couple of months. It's amazing how many people I talk to who have no idea how easy it is to find a great pet at a shelter or from a rescue group. Besides spaying/neutering, education is the best way to reduce the pet overpopulation problem. Good luck with finding Miss Scribbles a home. Since I've met her in person, I can say that she's really a sweet cat, just a bit misunderstood and definitely not a fan of the doggies. ;)
Oh, how sad. 1,239 cats and 1,784 dogs. I knew I was awful lucky but I guess I didn't know what the odds were that I would find a home so fast. And I know there's lots of doggies and kittehs who never find one.
Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie
Sometimes it makes us feel very helpless and sad. We try to give the local shelter as much help as we can.
Its hard especially for my group as we can't have big dogs. Mollie doesn't like them and we have no big dog foster homes.
Keep up the good work!
Wags and Licks,
Mollie Jo & Bobo
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