Take this cat or I'm dumping it in the country....?

Question

....can you believe this is a statement I get quite a bit at the veterinary hospital where I work. Many people will come in and say "We are moving today and I cannot place this cat". We are not a shelter, we are a hospital...these people obviously have known they were moving months ago. I have a hard time not being rude to these people, it happens with dogs too....They expect us to take in their pets without donations, without anything. Please tell me how to deal with these people without losing my job. The excuse is they don't want to drive 20 miles to a shelter, nor do they have the funds to donate anything for care.....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..................then I get the, "Well if you aren't going to help me, I will just go dump it out in the country".....I am getting weary of self righteous people that think so little of these furry creatures

Answer 1

Tell me about it! These people make me sick, and worst part is you can't even tell them so without making the practice look bad.

It doesn't sound like I have as much trouble as you do with this sort of thing - most people I deal with are ignorant rather than cruel. However, I do get people at their wits end trying to rehome animals, then I help them find a shelter that can help. I do on occasion explain to people exactly what you've said - we're a hospital, not a shelter and we don't have provision for this sort of thing - but there are people that are paid to do exactly this. It is possible to say this sort of thing without being offensive. I would even venture as far as 'can I ask why you left this to the last minute if you knew you were moving'?

I know this people are so frustrating - THEY don't think they have to pay to look after the animal, but they think WE should. My biggest problem is people who let their cats spit out kittens constantly 'because it's cute' and then piss and moan when the shelters don't have room to take on the stray cat that's been hanging round their street. People have no clue.

At least they're not threatening to drown the animals unless you take them. Well - not all of them.

Chalice

Answer 2

Tell your boss and ask him or her what to do? if you receive no guidance do the following.

1. Ask for a donation of $75.
2. Ask if the person to fill out a credit or information application. The longer the better. Make one up. Slide in a couple of insulting questions such as (Do most of your friends consider you to be a selfish piece of sh**) or perhaps If you children left you in a wheelchair at the emergency room would you be upset?.

3. Call the police, pref a friend, and let them know that people are abandoning animals, therefore animal cruelty. Try to get them to show up and give the person some grief for not taking the animal to the shelter.
4. Best one. While doing the above have your intern go out and let almost all of the air out of 2 their tires on the same side. This is great because the tires won't be flat but it should not be driven. If they come back in it will be veeery uncomfortable expecially if they need to borrow the ph. book. (Charge them $75 FOR any services)
5. Get their phone and email and sign them up for everything. Put them on a do call list.

Answer 3

I work at a vet in a small town and I totally know where you are coming from. We get the same crap all the time. People need to be more responsible and have their animals spayed and neutered. But how to deal with them? Where I work we have a great humane association that is no kill and allows us to save many of these unwanted animals, but that is partially because it is a small town. We also get people dumping, yes actually dumping puppies and kittens in boxes outside the clinic. (I am sure you do too) My advice: save as many as you can because it is not the animals fault that people are idiots, but for those you can not simply say in a superior tone:) Sir/Mam I am sorry but we are not a shelter or pound, we are a business and do not have the means to care for unwanted animals. That is what the ________(local shelter) is here for. Then give em directions and hope their sorry butts don't come back..

Answer 4

Yeah, I don't understand people who say that because they are moving or having a baby they can no longer have the pet. Well, why did you get it in the first place? If they aren't going to take care of it and treat it like a part of the family- they don't deserve to have a pet. People just think "oh if it doesn't work out I'll just give it away". It doesn't work that like- you accept the responsibility when you get a pet and need to understand that.
I couldn't work where you do because I would be rude to those people. It has to be hard because you want to take the animal but can't and then they say they'll dump it in the middle of nowhere if you don't- that's just ridiculous.
People think threatening will make them get their way, when it really just makes them look ridiculous and crazy.
It's like adopting a child and then saying you don't want it anymore so you try and give it away. It doesn't work that way.

Answer 5

I hate people like that to and the best thing to do imo is to like to the People and say you will take it but need id to give to the shelter so they will not be allowed to adopt pets there. If you get the id, call the cops and and tell them that they dumped the animal and have them charged!
Self righteous is not the words i would use for those animals

Answer 6

I live in the country and we have so very many drop offs at our house. About 1/2 mile up the road, there is an open field and woods with no houses so they must drop them there. Then they make their way down to our house to "hang" with our dog. It takes weeks for the dog-warden to come pick them up. I find this so annoying...how could someone do that. I love my pets as they are part of my family.

I really couldn't deal with people and their attitudes, some people should not be allowed to have pets or children! Just hang in there; tell them it's cheaper to pay the shelter to take it than to continue to take care of it themselves.

Answer 7

What I Would Suggest Is You Put A Sign Up Saying " Its Is Not Our Responiblty For Any Animal You No Longer Want to Care For" Or Something Related To That.

Answer 8

Depending on where you live there are things you can do , that if nothing else, will make there life miserable. In Maine it is illegal to abandon an animal with a vet, shelter, or boarding kennel. The owners could be held responsible for all cost incurred including vet care, food and boarding fees along with a hefty fine( up to $1000.00). Check the laws in your area and stick it to them. It's the only thing these ignorant people understand (hit them where it counts, their pocketbooks).

Answer 9

Some people are just so irresponsible!

To deal with them without losing your job - I think the only thing you can do is "Nod and Smile" at them. Inside, of course, you'll be thinking, "You low-life piece of scum" - but at least you will not lose your job. You can also have business cards of a local shelter on hand to give them. Maybe also tell them if the local police catch them "dumping their animals" that they'll get arrested.

Answer 10

He ought to be an interior cat through declawing. there's a danger that he would desire to pass to a distinctive domicile with one or 2 cats and no infants. He feels like he's very under pressure. He would desire to be presented progressively to the different cats. the different component is to have him as an purely cat as your Vet suggested. comfortable speaking, gentle brushing and a house all his own would probable make him greater advantageous than chuffed. purely make effective the guy who gets him has time to spend with him. Senior voters are generally a sturdy decision as long, of direction, as they are cat enthusiasts!