Conference misery::feline_v1

    As long as the woman (poor excuse for a human being) signed a release
    form surrendering the cat to the humane society, she has no legal
    recourse. Did she sign a form?
    
    What a horrible thing to say -- "Can we just trade him for a good one?"!
    People are incredible.
    
    I'm sorry your shelter closed down. Which one is it/where is it? Did it
    close because of a lack of funding?
    
    Regards,
    Mike

    Hopefully, she signed a form of some type releasing all rights
    of ownership.
    
    If not, you can always hand her the vet bill....that ought to
    make her run not walk to the nearest exit! :-)
    
    Lynne
    

    Ditto to #.2  - The vet bill should make her turn and run - I've heard
    of a lot of people doing this when they were faced with the
    "responsibility.
    
    The other night while Richard and I were watching Pippin being
    absolutely loving, adorable and wonderful (actually brought tears to
    the eyes), I was telling him about some of the notes that I had read
    over the week (Rubber band kitty, etc.) he just turned and looked at me
    and said "cats, animals should have the same rights as humane beings -
    it's just not fair".  No kidding - they give so much and ask for so
    little.
    
    Hope the kitty will be ok.
    
    Giudi 

    My guess is the vet bill is pretty impressive already, but if
    not, mention, say, $800 or so....
    

      Another tactic that will help....tell her "Sure, you can have the cat
    back....as soon as the Police sort out what sort of Animal Abuse
    Charges they want to bring against you for feeding the cat
    beads...seems some experts don't believe that the cat would have or
    could have swallowed a whole string of beads without some help...oh,
    yeah...we must deal with the bill for the operation as well...since you
    WERE responsible for the cat swallowing the beads, then you ARE
    responsible for the bill......"
    
       SOME PEOPLE!!!
    
      John Mc

    Thanks for the quick responses.

    Unfortunately, the place was such a zoo on Saturday and we were so
    upset we let the people get away without signing a release or
    making a donation as we usually require drop-offs to do.  But the
    vet bill will be impressive, so I have that to back me up.  I am
    just worried that they will start saying "he was ours, you took
    him", etc.  I guess if they call in a lawyer, as John suggested,
    I'll start making a stink about abuse.  Not only did he swallow
    the beads "somehow", but they left him like that for 5 days!

    BTW, "Beady", as we have nicknamed him for now, was apparently up
    and jumping around his cage this AM after that very major surgery
    yesterday AM.  The vet was surprised and happy.  He is cautiously
    feeding him some food today, and we'll keep watching for
    infection.  I might be able to take him home tomorrow!

    Thanks for your help.

    Re .1:  The shelter was the Middlesex Country SPCA shelter in New
    Jersey.  We closed because they are widening a major road, and the
    board decided to close instead of rebuild.  I worry about the
    animals who will be left on the roads.  As I mentioned in .0, we
    are desperately trying to find homes for the animals that were not
    yet adopted.  Wish us luck.  Our animal control officer is a gem -
    she refuses to put them down.  She has saved/tamed many animals in
    the last 8 years, including a 10' python!

    -sjb

    Please let us know how he does, and if these people
    give you any more trouble.
    

    So happy Beady is doing better....I'd like to strangle that lady
    with her beads.  Some people make me sick!  Please Please do not
    give the cat back to her.   Just tell her it escaped and ran away..
    how could she prove it!  
    
    My only fear here is...where she did not "okay" the operation for
    the cat...is she legally (I stress legally) responsible for the
    bill.  If she comes back and makes a big stink....start scaring
    her with the abuse tactic.  Tell her you have reported her for
    animal abuse.
    
    Please keep us posted...
    
    Sandy
                 

    If you'd like further input, call the Executive Director of our shelter
    here in Southern NH -- her name is Michele Clemons -- (603) 883-4572.
    Tell her you're a DECcie and I suggested you call.
    
    Good luck with all those homeless animals. It's a shame when a shelter
    closes -- especially in an area where there are no other resources. You 
    may want to take it upon yourself to start it back up. Just look for
    volunteer board members and get the ball rolling. Surely there must be
    some funds left from the present operation that you could use to get
    you started. Start a fundraising drive to erect a new building. Look
    for builders and architects to do the work at cost, and accept payments
    based on future fundraising activities. Go to the local papers, radio
    and TV stations for coverage -- once the community finds out it's
    losing its Humane Society, it'll wake up and help out. Good luck!
    
    Mike Philbrook

The hell with release forms...that womam abandoned the kitten.  Period.  She
gave up any legal claim when she drove away.  She left the kitten at a shelter
for homeless and unwanted animals, not at a vet.  The kitten would have died
without immediate care.  That's endangerment. If she wants the kitten back, tell
her to get a very good lawyer to fight animal endangerment charges.  She
doesn't have a legal toe to stand on, let alone a legal leg.

Good luck with Beady.  She sounds like a little doll.

Mary

P.S.  I wonder how many years I could get for tightly wrapping that string
of bead around that woman's neck.....

      One other thing....In MANY of the 50 states, a CAT is considered a
    "wild animal" and you cannot obtain LEGAL title to it. Check with the
    State of New Jersey, and if New jersey is one of those states that
    still considers cats to be non-domestic animals, then this jerk has no
    legal claim at all. (I think there are only provisions in some of these
    states for purebred "Show" animals...those recognized by cat
    associations as "purebreds")
    
      JM

    "Beady" is coming home tonite!  He has responded very well.
    (And he has been neutered and vaccinated too!)  I'm trying
    to figure out a better name for him.  (Maybe "Lacey" since he ate
    a neckLACE?)

    Thanks to all for the advice.  I will be checking on whether or
    not she has any right to the cat as per your suggestions.  In the
    county where the shelter is located they have to license cats.  I
    don't know whether or not she had him licensed.

    Our animal control officer said thw woman called 3 times
    yesterday.  But when I asked about the lack of release form, the
    officer said she didn't think it was too big of a deal.

    Thanks for all your good wishes - I will update you if the woman
    contacts us any more.

    -sjb

    I agree completely with .10 and others -
    that lady brought the cat to your shelter and wanted him put down -
    and she didn't even want that when she found out she had to PAY for
    it.  She wants him back because she found out he's still alive,
    huh, she didn't want him when she knew something was wrong with him!
    I can guarantee you she wouldn't be willing to pay the vet bill for
    the operation.  She gave up all claim to beady when she left him at
    your shelter.  If she cared about keeping him alive she would have
    brought him to the vet.  Beady is no longer hers, she abandoned him.
    
    I wondered if she tried to trade her kids at the doctor for healthy
    kids when they were sick?
    

just for the record....I cannot imagine how/why a cat would swallow a whole
string of beads...it sounds very much like the children HELPED the cat get
down the beads - perhaps by forcing them down his throat.  This is not that
unusual with families that do not teach their children that pets are living
creatures that need to be treated gently because they can be hurt.  Children
are, if not taught otherwise, capable of great cruelty due to the combination
of curiosity combined with ignorance of the pain they can cause.

I would suggest you simply keep a copy of the vet bill around and if the woman
comes around again, shove it under her nose without comment....that should
terminate any effort on her part to reclaim "her" kitten.  While you're at
it, perhaps you should warn the other shelters in the area about this woman?
I'd hate to think she can adopt another animal.

    I agree with .10.  That women abandoned that poor helpless animal
    with absolutely no regard for its health or well being.  
    
    To be on the safe side, I would recommend documenting every detail you
    remember about the event, including names of people who can help verify
    you story - especially the "can we trade" it piece and keep your vet
    bills.  If this women (although I can think of better names for her)
    calls you, tell her that you have witnesses that can confirm she 
    voluntarily abandoned this animal and a $$$ vet bill and if she wants 
    the cat back, she'll have to fight you for it and answer to allegations
    of animal abuse!
      
    
    
    I'm sorry to get so carried away, but people like her (if you can call
    then people) should not be allowed to own an animal of any kind!
    
    Let us know what happens.
    
    Beady has my prayers, but he sounds like a tough little guy with alot
    of love to look forward to.
    
    Hugs to you and Beady,
    
    Karen, Bebbies & Skitchie
    
    P.S.  What I would LOVE do to that women with a set of beads!
    
    
    

    
    Keep strong and constant, you will win out......  I can vouch for
    an experience where the owner of a lab puppy, approximately 10 weeks
    old, tied the pup outside, dead of winter, when he left for his
    third shift job.  This pup cried all night, then when he arrived
    in the a.m. would be seen throwing water on it to shut it up...
    those were his words!  Not that I condone what we did, but we took
    the pup in, tied it in the cellar and called a local FRIEND who
    could find a home.  In the meantime, he called with threats, and
    how he and his father and the police would come for this $50 pup
    that belonged to him.  We basically said, go ahead, we'll call the
    police for you!  (we did have the fact that the apartment was on
    our property! in our favor).    He didn't call the police, he knew
    he didn't want the dog and he abused it.....  the now dog....
    have a wonderful home with children who love it!    
    Again, I don't say, go take someone's animal without a good case..
    because you may not win....  but you are definately within your
    rights since she apartently attempted a vet and you to have the
    animal put down.
    
    Good luck ........
    
    Nancy

    re:.13
    
    ....trade the kids in?? Good one John, I bet the kids would prefer
    to trade her in....for a good mom!
    
    Pamela

    Tell her to go ahead and sue you.  My bet is she won't be willing
    to spend the money or the effort it would take.  If you do end up
    in court, bring the vet's bills and witnesses.
      Good luck
      Nancy DC

    Thanks for your support to all who replied here and sent mail. 
    The little guy is home with me now and appears to be doing great. 
    He's still a little wobbly (understandably), but amazingly stong
    for only 3 days past the surgery.  (He's talking to me now as I
    write this). He's isloated from my other cats until he's stonger -
    there could be some battles while they get used to each other.

    His previous owners haven't called again, so I think we'll have no
    more questions (I hope).  And I think the whole thing was probably
    pretty traumatic for the daughter and her kids when they found
    they had a vet bill they couldn't afford.  Frankly I think the
    whole thing was pretty traumatic for everyone involved, I think
    the grandmother got a little irrational, and I'm just glad it's
    worked out for the little guy.

    And more good news - I think we have found homes for all the
    animals left at the shelter (fingers-crossed)!!  It has been a
    scramble, but worth every minute!
    
    -sjb (and Smokey, Spike and "Beady")

    I'm a little confused about what went on here.  Who was the
    "exchange" nut -- the grandmother?  Is the daughter possibly actually
    okay?  Just want to be sure that the cat is protected but that
    no one who actually loves and cares for it might be being
    deprived of it....
    

Sorry about the confusion - the grandmother brought the cat in and was the
"exchange nut", however, she was doing it (trying to exchange it) on behalf
of her daughter.  And when the daughter called in, she also tried the 
"can we exchange it" tact.  I'm sure the whole thing was very upsetting to them
all, and I do feel bad, however, I don't feel that they behaved responsibly.

Another note on the original care of the cat: When the vet was operating, he
actually had to spray him for fleas during the operation.  So I don't think 
these people knew or had the means for proper care of the cat.  I wonder if
he had had vaccinations (and we have a rabies epidemic going here).

I do feel bad for them - I'm sure they loved him.  And there are 3 kids in the
family too.  I'm sure they are heart-broken.  Argh!  Am I doing the right 
thing??  

-sjb

Yes, you are doing the right thing.  Anyone who endangers an animal doesn't
deserve to have any pets.  Hopefully, they won't run out and get another
'free kitten' and when it needs vet care, they'll try the same trick.

As for the three kids, ya, I'm sure it's hard on them, but it's been harder
on poor Beady...if he could talk, I'm sure he's tell you stories of kids
pulling his tail, etc.  It takes all types, but it doesn't sound like that
family was teaching the children what responsible care of a pet entails.
I'm sure Beady has had no shots whatsoever.

You did/are doing the right thing.  I just hope the kids grow up to love and
care for pets, unlike their role models....

Gee, I'm bitchy today...

Mary

And another thing....while I'm being bitchy....

When I was in nursing school, we had an infant brought in to the emergency
room with a fractured skull, two broken arms, and two broken legs (one of which
was dislocated from the hip).  The child had been beaten by both mother and
father, who were teenagers at the time.  Nsturally, the parents were arrested
and tossed in jail, but not before the mother became pregnant again.  She
wanted to have another baby because the Commonwealth "took her first baby away
from her".  I just hope these folks don't get another kitten and subject the
new kit to what the first one must have gone thru....

Mary

    You are definitely doing the right thing for little Beady....he
    wouldn't have made it!    Any time you doubt yourself...just
    look at that sweet little face.
    
    As far as the "exchange nut"...I wish there was a way we could
    stop her from getting another "free" kitten....but you know
    she will!
         
    Sandy

    
    I believe you might have not only saved beady's life now, but if
    you gave him back to them, sometime down the road would need saving
    again!   You did the right thing......
    
    When everyone says, wish we could keep grammy from picking up another
    "Free" kitten, there is something we all can do...... spay/neuter
    your animals, and encourage families who adopt your kittens to do
    the same........    The cat I looked at last night, hoping it was
    my lost kitty, was a male un-neutered about 9-10 months old... 
    Since the woman has grown attached, I gave a my vote on getting
    him neutered.... just tell them about the odor a male can produce
    from spraying around the yard/doorway or even in the house and how
    they become more homey (instead of running off every spring...)
    and she was set... she's going to look into it!   I felt good, he
    has a loving home and a caring mom!   If I can convince 1 person
    to spay/neuter their animals..... I've helped....  There are Many/many
    lost/abandoned animals that need love.........
    
    Nancy

    I'm sure you're doing the right thing.  I have neighbors on one
    side like this myself.  They think of cats as disposable toys
    for their children, and tactful attempts to raise their awareness
    have accomplished zip.  One of their cats has become my cat nephew, so
    he's relatively okay.  Unfortunately the other is too shy of the other
    neighborhood cats to come into my yard for cuddles and tidbits.
    
    I feel sorry for the children.  Hopefully by some miracle they
    will learn proper responsibility for animals and be able to
    have pets when they are adults.
    

    
>    I feel sorry for the children.  Hopefully by some miracle they
>    will learn proper responsibility for animals and be able to
>    have pets when they are adults.
    
the real tragedy is that they probably won't...not because they are mean and
intend to do damage, but because they have nowhere else to get this information
while they are young and impressionable.  I still wish there was some way we
could make our school systems teach "animal awareness" as part of the health
training that children get in grade school.  We cannot depend on parents to
teach the children - some were simply not taught themselves - this is one
area where organized volunteer efforts to bring cats and dogs into the schools
and introduce children to the animals and their needs, especially the need
to neuter and spay, might really pay off.  However, it only works if it is
an organized, on-going effort that each student is exposed to more information
about the issues surrounding pet animals each year....a one-time visit to
kindergarten is not enough.

    Well, we haven't heard another peep out of the original owners,
    and the shelter is now closed for good, so they really have no way
    to find me.

    The little guy is doing great!  He's bouncing around and has been
    introduced to my cats with less than expected trouble (although
    they are still isolated when I'm not home and at night, mostly so
    my two fat cats can't get into the little guy's "hi-test" food).
    He has managed to pull most of his stiches out (but he's ok
    according to the vet - no redness, swelling, seeping, etc).

    Thanks to all you Feliners for your support.  This was a difficult
    thing to deal with, especially knowing that the kids probably
    cared (although were probably also rough with him not knowing
    better).  It's the parents/grandparents who were poor role models,
    and as always the young and innocent (children and animals) pay
    the price.

    Thanks!

    -sjb

    ps.  We did indeed find homes (some temporary, but "no kill") for
    all the animals in the shelter, including "Booger the Chow".
    Whew!

    Thats good news Sue!
    
    Michele (Buster's mom)
    
    

    Yeah!
    
    Lynne & crew

    Well, I finally figured out what this little guy's name is: "Trouble"!
    
    He gets into it a lot.  First the beads, now today he somehow
    managed to get a big abrasion on his cornea.  He's been to the
    vet, and we hope it'll clear up in a couple days with the aid of
    some drops.  I feel sorry for him - this is a very painful thing.

    For the life of me I can't figure out how he did it.  When I got
    up this AM, he was fine, then half an hour later he was holding
    his eye shut.  The vet says it looks like he got into some
    chemical or something, but I can't find a thing around the house
    that he could have gotten into.  And the abrasion is huge, so we
    don't think it was a swipe from one of my other cats (the vet said
    you can usually see the scratch from a claw).  Has anyone else
    run into this?

    On the bright side, his few remaining stitches were taken out
    today and they are impressed at how well he is doing after the
    "bead incident".

    -sjb & Smokey, Spike and "Trouble"

    re; abrasion on his cornea
    
    You don't use one of those fine sand-type litters do you?
    They seemed to cause this problem for another noter.
    

    re .-1

    At the time he scratched his cornea, he was using only newspaper
    as litter because of his incision in his belly.  We will probably
    never figure out how he did it.

    The vet declared him healed on Friday ('almost unbelievable' was
    how she described the improvement in his eye).  It seems he gets into
    trouble fast, but he also gets out of it fast!  

    -sjb

    Lucky kitten..............  :^)
    
    Maybe you should name him Lucky.   We had a Lucky once.  He was
    "Lucky, the six million dollar cat" because of the vet bills.
    He went on to live in a home of his own and the last time I saw
    him he was chasing a 6 year old dragging a string down the hall.
      :^)

    
    Bailey had a corneal abrasion and we figured out that it was caused by
    one of his toys.  We think the culprit was one of those furry spiders
    with the thick pipecleaner legs.  He went wild with that thing and 
    because the abrasion was so wide, the spider leg (not the tip) must 
    have brushed across his cornea.  Within 2 days he was fine.  Needless to 
    say, the spider went into the trash.
    

    Regarding the abrasion to Trouble's eye, you didn't mention whether he
    might be having ear drops for ear mites, but I had this problem with my
    cat one time.  Every time I administered the drops he shook his head
    and I think the drops got in his eye.  His abrasion was rather bad but
    cleared up quite nicely.
    
    An interesting side note, one of the medications made him drool after
    they were administered.  I ultimately had a Pavlovian proof because I
    would just advance at him with the medicine and he would start drooling
    before I even put my hands on him.  He is such a sweetie though he
    didn't create a fuss. 
    
    We were all relieved when it cleared up though.
    
    Brenda and the as yet unintroduced Ophelia and Hamlet