Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Dear applicant

*a post from the mom

Dear snippy denied applicant:

When you fill out the application, I ask for just one thing - be complete and honest with all of your answers.

I should not have to chase you to get your landlord's phone number if you rent (as an aside, I am amazed by the number of people who put that they own when in fact they don't). I shouldn't have to chase you to get a vet name and phone number if you currently have pets in the house.

But more importantly, please remember that as volunteers with a rescue organization, we feel like we are the last line of defense for these animals. We care about them and try to do everything in our power to make sure that they get loving FOREVER homes. Not "bring them back when they scratch the sofa homes" or "kick them out when we move homes". So, yes, we are going to ask questions and we expect answers.

That said, we don't reject many applications. But when they are rejected, we have done the work and have good reasons for our decisions. For the record, I just email applicants and let them know they have been denied. My thought is that if I give them an in depth explanation, I am just giving them a better tool to lie to the next group. (our organization has a database that does have our denied applications saved and we do search in case people try to come back again and change their answers)

If I think it is about education, I will certainly go that route.

But....if you have a cat and a dog and the dog sees the vet every year and the cat hasn't been to the vet in over 4 years, you don't get to be all ticked off when I reject your application for failure to provide vet care to your animal.

If you have a pet in the home that is not neutered (unless it is a medical issue I can verify with the vet), don't get ticked off when I tell you that you can't have another pet. Yes - all of OUR animals are already spayed and neutered. But we are trying to reduce the population and I am not going to encourage you to have an animal that isn't fixed.

I am tired of people not being able to accept "no" as an answer. I am tired of people sending back emails after they are denied telling me that I am a terrible person for "denying that cat a good loving home". I am tired of being told that I don't care. I am tired of people having to have the last word and being mean.

And FYI - yelling at me, emailing me hurtful things and being mean - it isn't going to change my mind. I am STILL not going to approve you. Just accept the answer and move on with your life.

I have said it before and I will say it again here: if you give a damn about animals and feel you can do a better job, PUT UP OR SHUT UP!! Every organization needs volunteers....go do something and stop criticizing those of us that are doing the hard work.

so there

24 comments:

  1. Well said. Especially since you are just trying to find good homes for all the cats.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes! Thank you Mom Jeanne, for all that you do! For being thorough and making sure the kitties all get wonderful homes. And for all the fostering you do. I’m sorry you have to put up with stupids.

    ReplyDelete
  3. THIS. A thousand times. I don't screen (partly because: see above!) but I hear the stories. And now people can -- and do -- go on social media and bitch about the mean rescue that doesn't care about animals finding homes. Aauugh. Thank you for all the good homes you *have* found. Fortunately they're out there. Sorry about the cretins who don't get it and are all about themselves, not the animals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is really where is causes harm to the rescue - with bad reviews. hopefully most people read them and think "wow - bitter people much?" :)

      Delete
  4. Thank you all the time and caring you do for these animals....they are blessed to have you on their sides!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I broadly agree with what you say. I myself rejected a rdog) rescue who demanded that I put a 6 foot high fence all around my property, which would have me feel as though I was living in a prison. There is one point of contention, though, and it applies to dogs, not cats. America has become the country where most animals (in shelters or otherwise) are automatically neutered at a very young age. However, a great deal of research has shown that very early neutering in dogs can lead to a wide variety of issues, and so, if one does want to neuter, one should wait until the animal is at least a year old. I understand the convenience issue, and also the desire to avoid unwanted litters, but neutering that early is not something I would choose to do. In fact, my Tommy was never neutered, and I never had any issues with him regarding other dogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. actually University of Texas did a really good long term study and determined that early spay/neuter did no long term harm to dogs or cats. While I don't agree with people who don't do it, you need to respect that shelters may require it be done for all animals in the household. That is my sticking point

      Delete
  6. Well said, and I hope that while you're tired of being yelled at, getting e-mails and so forth, that you won't give up doing all the good work you do. These few rotten apples shouldn't spoil it for those who love the cats (and dogs) the rescues and fosters care for.

    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  7. AMEN!! Perfectly stated! Kudos to you! I should show this to my step daughter who manages a local shelter here, she will love it! (((hugs)))

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well said ! Paws up for you and all the volunteers ! Purrs

    ReplyDelete
  9. 984 paws UP frum all oh uz in de land oh trout ~~ ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. I support you 100% and absolutely don't get these people. At all. Keep doing what you're doing. You are loved and appreciated by so many of us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You need a line on your application that incomplete applications will summarily be rejected. stop chasing these people..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Paws up from the tuxedo brat. Your application isn't invasive. Do right by your pets and tell the truth about it. And be polite to the volunteers. How hard is that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. apparently hard than you would think for some people

      Delete
  13. Love you, Girl. Seriously. And I have already said that I truly admire you. I love the care you and the organization take for the safety of the cats. They are innocent and you all are the good stewards .

    ReplyDelete
  14. We agree, 100%! We get a few like that, too. It's maddening!

    ReplyDelete

We love to hear from you.....