Hmm.
I had a phone call from the centre today regarding the cats I am intending to adopt. They have spoken to my local rescue centre who homechecked me before and they have no problems homing to me on the feedback they got.
However . . . .
when I went to see the cats, I was told that they hadn't been vaccinated and therefore I would have to wait for them to be done. I was told that the centre would do all the vaccinations but it would mean that I would have to take the cats back for the booster vaccination. This would mean a 70 mile round trip and take two trips of 1.5 hours door to door. I don't have too much of a problem with the distance but don't think it's fair on the cats to be traveling for all of this time just for their vaccinations. In view of this, I suggested to the centre that they give them the first shot and then I would take them to my own, local vet and pay for the booster myself. It seemed to make sense and the centre agreed.
But today, they called me and told me that the centre manager wanted me to make an additional donation towards the adoption of the cats as they were going to give them the flu enteritis jab as part of the adoption cost but not the leukemia jab. If I wanted the leukemia jab, I would have to pay extra. . . . . even though I had already told them I would be covering the cost of the booster myself (in essence, saving them the expense - something I was happy to do because they are a charity)
The pay policy at the centre is, basically; moggies £45, pure breeds £60. Adopting these cats is costing me £120 plus I have offered to pay for the booster myself. Before anyone shoots me down, I am not trying to duck out of contributing to a charity but given that the cats came in a week ago from a loving home and only needed microchipping, a couple of knots removing (easily groomed out) and their vaccinations (some of which, I explained, I am covering the cost of), it seems a bit ripe to ask me to contribute more than the usual £60 fee. (a fee which is levied to cover neutering (not needed) full vaccinations plus booster, microchipping, flea & worm treatments (not needed).)
I have always been a bit puzzled by the fact that most rescue centres tell me that persians are often overlooked - but then charge more for them anyway! Yes, I agree that the centres may seem them as high maintenance (especially when short of time & resources) but are they likely to get people interested by notching up the price?
I am now left feeling that I have no option but to pay extra to the centre. What annoys me is that it's the centre manager who has told the assistant to tell me this - I didn't actually meet the centre manager. Is it my choice of breed of cat that makes people think I am rolling in money? I am just trying to do the right thing and at the end of the day, a cat is a cat is a cat, isn't it? Well, okay, we know that's not true but I hate the differentiation between pure-breed and non.
And yes, I know that the fee for my cats will help pay the day to day running expenses of the shelter but . . . . I don't know. It's difficult not to feel churlish when it comes to a charity. And the last time I adopted from the RSPCA, the ringworm riddled cats they sent us home with (without telling us about the ringworm - first I knew was when MY hair started to fall out in round circular chunks . . . .) cost us almost £1000 (one thousand pounds
) to sort out, from disinfecting the house, shampoo for the cats, prescription drugs for the whole human family, AND a cancelled operation to have my gallbladder removed as the hospital took a dim view to me having ringworm!
I am sorry to rant. I just think that this should have been made clearer to me in the first place. I am not in the position to state that money is not a problem for me - and of course, I would spend as much as it takes to keep my cats healthy and happy - but in taking on two new cats, it means two new insurance policies, two new little floof-balls to the vet as often as needed, possible flea treatments, food, etc etc etc. It's all cope-able (I wouldn't adopt them if I didn't think I couldn't afford them at any point) but I don't have a bottomless pit of money. . . .
Oh, and in addition to this, because I didn't 'book in' a specific time to collect them on Saturday, I am not allowed to go and get them as they will be too busy. Because of my job and collecting my daughter from school, coupled with the 1.5 hour drive and the fact that they close at 4pm, we won't be able to get them until the following weekend - so the cats will be occupying a pen needlessly when they could have been settling in with us!!!
I really AM sorry to go on. It's just really frustrating when you are trying so hard to do the right thing by these little cats . . . . . .
Feel free to tell me I am wrong - I don't work in a centre so don't know what happens in the background. I am sorry if this is the case and I am coming over as being totally unreasonable . . . ..
