From: davispa@OHSU.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Humane Society Blues
Date: 11 Nov 92 19:00:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: ohsu.1992Nov11.190032.16098
Reply-To: davispa@OHSU.edu
Organization: Oregon Health Sciences University

Hello To All --
  I think I must clear up what I meant by the unfortunate visit I had at the
Humane Society.  Some of you will probably agree completely with the HS people
I was in contact with, but I believe I was treated inhumanely (as others are
who visit the HS that I have talked with).  During my search for my Siamese
blue point, I went to the HS to see all they had to offer.  I called ahead, as
it was a 25 minute drive from my home, to see if they had any Siamese kittens
to which they informed me they had 3 lynx points that were cute.  I made the
trip out and asked where the cats and kittens were.  The woman at the desk
asked me if I was interested in adopting a kitten and I told her if I saw the
right one that I would be.  She asked me to fill out an application before I
saw the kittens, which I thought was a bit premature, but I did.
  At the appropriate spot, I wrote about the cat I owned in Calif. (I've just
moved to Oregon 3 months ago) that I left with a friend who wanted him (he is 9
years old and goes into instant shock whenever he has to go out the front door,
so a three day car ride to Oregon and adapting to a new home would not have
worked -- he's happy in his new home with my friend and I talk to him every so
often on the phone).  Anyway, the HS person asked me more about why I left him
in Calif. and seemed to be satisfied with my answers.
  She then asked me if I knew about declawing cats to which I answered that I
did and that I was not in favor of it under normal circumstances.  Well, I
suppose my saying "normal circumstances" touched a chord inside her and she
questioned me further, at which some point I mentioned to her that my Calif.
cat happened to be declawed, to which she and the other HS person together lit
into me like I was the most criminal fiend alive, and gave me the riot act and
the schpeil all about what it does to cats.
  I do know all of this and I believe it is not the right thing to do, but
these women were relentless, and rather fanatically neurotic about it.  In the
end, they gave me a piece of paper to give to the attendent where the cats were
- It said "declawed cats only" on it.  When I asked where the kittens were,
they said I would not be "allowed" to see them or any cat that was not
declawed.  I would only be "allowed" to adopt a declawed cat -- not a kitten.
  After coming all that way and filling out the application for 10 minutes and
having to listen to 15 more minutes of ranting and raving, I walked over to
where the cats were.  At this point, I was very upset at being lectured to like
that and felt I was in a mild emotional state of shock.  I stood there looking
at the cats, thinking they were much older than I wanted to see -- darling as
all cats are, of course -- and asked again if I could see the kittens.  The
attendent took the piece of paper and began pointing out the cages I could look
at.  I saw a really pretty white cat and began petting it, only to be told that
I couldn't look at her -- only the ones that were declawed.  I was overwhelmed,
felt like a criminal, and walked out.
  When I relayed what happened to a coworker and to someone who had placed a
"kittens for sale" ad in the paper, they told me they also had horrible
dealings with the people who work at the Humane Society.  At least I know I'm
not the only "criminal fiend" in the world.  I wonder how many of their little
kitties lose out on wonderful homes because of the inhumane treatment of
potential adoptive pet lovers.
  I acknowledge that we have to be careful of the "true criminals" out there
who are out to harm animals.  There are a lot of sick people in the world.  But
-- to purposely badger and torment someone like me who genuinely loves kitties
and who has a loving home to provide, is criminal of its own accord.  I wonder
how many HS animals are put to sleep who could have had loving homes if not for
this "human bashing" practice.
  Well -- any comments? -- and please, no fanatical lectures -- we all know
about cruel treatment.
I am very worn out for thinking about this - Pamela
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats