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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, it either has to be from an adoption centre, or a layperson selling them through the free ads, or a breeder. I can't think of any other way you can get one over here. I am sure that If I am wrong, someone will correct me. I'm not sure if it is legal to sell a cat or kitten in a shop anymore? Any Brits know this one? I was wondering if we should be considering your methods of homing, & wondered what it entails? ( adopting one from Petsmart?) I would be most interested to know how it all works & what you think of the idea too? Thanks in advance, Sheelagh "o" |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o"
wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, it either has to be from an adoption centre, or a layperson selling them through the free ads, or a breeder. I can't think of any other way you can get one over here. I am sure that If I am wrong, someone will correct me. I'm not sure if it is legal to sell a cat or kitten in a shop anymore? Any Brits know this one? I was wondering if we should be considering your methods of homing, & wondered what it entails? ( adopting one from Petsmart?) I would be most interested to know how it all works & what you think of the idea too? Thanks in advance, Sheelagh "o" |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
"Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o" wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. That's how it works here, too. We have both PetSmart and PetSense, and they have similar arrangements. Both have been excellent sources for adoptions from our local Alley Cats Allies. Kittens and adoptable cats are fostered first to socialize them, then are available from Adopt-a-Thons that are held twice a month through either PetSmart and PetSense. Adoptive "parents" sign an agreement to return the cats if they are unable to keep them, and they agree not to have them declawed. All cats are spay/neutered and vetted/innoculated *before* adoption. That's how I became a "sponsor mom" to two kittens this summer -- I did not adopt or foster them, but I paid for their veterinary bills so they could be fostered and then placed through the Adopt-a-Thons. Carmen was quickly adopted, but Chelsea has not yet been adopted. I wish they could have been adopted as a pair, but Carmen is in a home where she is already "queen of the household," and Chelsea will be fostered until an adoptive home can be found. MaryL |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
"Sheelagh o" wrote in message ups.com... I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, it either has to be from an adoption centre, or a layperson selling them through the free ads, or a breeder. I can't think of any other way you can get one over here. I am sure that If I am wrong, someone will correct me. I'm not sure if it is legal to sell a cat or kitten in a shop anymore? Any Brits know this one? I was wondering if we should be considering your methods of homing, & wondered what it entails? ( adopting one from Petsmart?) I would be most interested to know how it all works & what you think of the idea too? Thanks in advance, Sheelagh "o" In addition to what I wrote in response to Sherry's message, I would like to point out that pets that are adopted from animal shelters and from sites like PetSmart and PetSense are *not* sold. Unlike pet stores and breeders that do sell cats and dogs, these sites place pets for adoptions (and also have a process for checking references from vets and others). Many of them have a minimal charge to *partially* cover the cost of boarding and vetting, but they definitely are not sold. MaryL |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
On 2 Sep, 06:31, Sherry wrote:
On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o" wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, it either has to be from an adoption centre, or a layperson selling them through the free ads, or a breeder. I can't think of any other way you can get one over here. I am sure that If I am wrong, someone will correct me. I'm not sure if it is legal to sell a cat or kitten in a shop anymore? Any Brits know this one? I was wondering if we should be considering your methods of homing, & wondered what it entails? ( adopting one from Petsmart?) I would be most interested to know how it all works & what you think of the idea too? Thanks in advance, Sheelagh "o"- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. What a fantastic idea!!!! slapping my forehead I can't think why no one over here hasn't come up with the same idea? I wonder if it is because there are difficulties in getting around the law here? I shall make it my mission to find out. It is one of the best idea's that I have heard in a long time!! I will get on to my line manager @ the cat protection league to see if we can't try out a similar program over here. We don't have exactly the same shops here, but we do have similar ones. Our local one is called Pets at Home,(it's like a warehouse shop) which of course is an ideal logo too. As it is part of a chain of shops, I wouldn't expect it to happen overnight, however, I do think this might be achievable if we ask in the right way. First, we have to find out if there is some law that prevents us from doing a similar scheme here to that which have related to me- Then we need to find out when it is best for them, & work around them (If they agree to that is...) I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't, because it gives them a good name in the name of charity. If people knew that this was a regular thing, it would also be a crowd puller too, which of course is in the shops benefit. You know how it is- you go to the shop for milk, then come back with butter, milk, eggs, bread, jam & tea cake too. Well, it is the same when you go to buy cat litter too, isn't it? It would bring a huge sigh of relief to some of our foster parents as well. I know that over this summer, I have cared for a set couple of kittens from 6 weeks old, then I had a mother & her 4 kittens, a pair of snow shoes too, as well as a big fat tabby female for 4 weeks. I know that I am not alone, because they were crying out for more foster homes to care for these cats. As fast as one leaves, there is another to take their place & we had to home these cats our self, which is hard work, when you are waiting for the client to come your way, things don't move that fast. Now, if we were able to actually show the public what we had to offer, that would be a whole new ball game ) I'm delighted that I asked about this now. I just noticed people mentioning that they got this or that cat from Pet shop, & although I did realise that they were being adopted rather than bought, I didn't like to make myself look a complete fool for asking. : I'm so pleased I have now. If anyone has any other input that might help us out in our quest to see if we can get a similar scheme up & running over here. We have adoption centers rather like you do, & we have open days where we have like a carnival atmosphere, with rides, car boot sales, shows, & stalls like a fete does, & that brings people into the centers, with the same object- Whilst you are here"Why not look around & meet our animals"? It does help too. We end up adopting 3 times as many cats as we would normally do. Mind you, if we had the pulling power of a pet shop, & an in house vet, there is a very high possibility that we would have a similar response there too. It can only do the shop the power of good if they were seen to be "hands on" helping out the cat protection league, that is a sure fact. We already get dinted tins of food from them & the odd bag of litter here & there. I am certain that if we could present this in the right fashion to them, that they would agree to it. Any further input would be very much appreciated please? Thank you Sherry, that has been very enlightening ) Sheelagh"o" |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
On 2 Sep, 08:57, "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER
wrote: "Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o" wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. That's how it works here, too. We have both PetSmart and PetSense, and they have similar arrangements. Both have been excellent sources for adoptions from our local Alley Cats Allies. Kittens and adoptable cats are fostered first to socialize them, then are available from Adopt-a-Thons that are held twice a month through either PetSmart and PetSense. Adoptive "parents" sign an agreement to return the cats if they are unable to keep them, and they agree not to have them declawed. All cats are spay/neutered and vetted/innoculated *before* adoption. That's how I became a "sponsor mom" to two kittens this summer -- I did not adopt or foster them, but I paid for their veterinary bills so they could be fostered and then placed through the Adopt-a-Thons. Carmen was quickly adopted, but Chelsea has not yet been adopted. I wish they could have been adopted as a pair, but Carmen is in a home where she is already "queen of the household," and Chelsea will be fostered until an adoptive home can be found. MaryL- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Oh that is really nice Mary. I'm sorry that they couldn't be homed together too. It's a shame, but better one is homed than neither for waiting for a home that might come along. This sponsoring sounds like the ideal Christmas gift for the mother who has everything she ever wanted (within reason that is!!).... If you read my reply to sherry, you will note that I did mean to say adopt, rather than buy. It is an excellent idea, so I am asking if anyone knows of any stumbling block that we might come across, please do feel free to point it out? The more prepared we are when presenting our case, the easier it will be for us to get them to agree with us. As far as I am aware, there is no law preventing adoptions in shop, so as long as we can get round that obstacle, things should go in our favour. We also have similar adoption schemes to the one that you describe. We find that children are the most generous believe it or not. They make a covenant to donate x amount every month from their accounts, & we send them letters from the cats & up to date photos every quarter as well. The wonderful thing is, that the kids write back to their chosen cat's. it's really sweet. I have just volunteered to respond to letters recently. I never had the confidence until now to try & give it a go, but I figure with a spell checker, & a few kids to point out my bad grammar, I should be able to to this without too many hitches, lol ) Thank you for your story Mary & for the pointers, guides & explanations as well. They really are helpful Best Wishes, Sheelagh "o" |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
On 1 Sep, 22:15, "Sheelagh o" wrote:
The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, A place not so far from where I live calls itself something like "East End Puppies" and according to the signs (I only go past when its closed) sells puppies and kittens and a year or so ago, a friend was telling me about a local pet shop that had kittens in its windows for sale so it does go on but I don't think it's that common. Indeed at least one or two local petshops refuse to sell any live animals at all. The one I use is happy to put up cards from people with animals needing homes and to act as a contact between would-be cat slaves and the local rescue but refuses to sell any live animal including fish (he refers people to a local aquarium shop), which is one reason I use the place In London we don't have "pets At Home" (is that it?) or anything like that, I think there's one in Romford, which is quite a way away (It was there the last time I was there but since mum died I really don't have any reason to go back there so that must have been a few years ago). I gather they're cheap but if you don't drive how do you get half a ton of cat litter back? A cab would completely eradicate any savings Still if you have such a place locally I think it would be an excellent idea to organise adoptions- anything that helps cats find their forever homes is a good idea Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
On 2 Sep, 13:42, Lesley wrote:
On 1 Sep, 22:15, "Sheelagh o" wrote: The reason that I am so interested is because over in the UK, we don't have anything like that. You can buy fish, guinea Pigs, hamsters, Snakes, birds, rabbits & occasionally chinchillas from a pet shop.......But, never dogs, cats, puppies, & kittens. If you want to get a cat or a dog or kittens and puppies, A place not so far from where I live calls itself something like "East End Puppies" and according to the signs (I only go past when its closed) sells puppies and kittens and a year or so ago, a friend was telling me about a local pet shop that had kittens in its windows for sale so it does go on but I don't think it's that common. Indeed at least one or two local petshops refuse to sell any live animals at all. The one I use is happy to put up cards from people with animals needing homes and to act as a contact between would-be cat slaves and the local rescue but refuses to sell any live animal including fish (he refers people to a local aquarium shop), which is one reason I use the place In London we don't have "pets At Home" (is that it?) or anything like that, I think there's one in Romford, which is quite a way away (It was there the last time I was there but since mum died I really don't have any reason to go back there so that must have been a few years ago). I gather they're cheap but if you don't drive how do you get half a ton of cat litter back? A cab would completely eradicate any savings Still if you have such a place locally I think it would be an excellent idea to organise adoptions- anything that helps cats find their forever homes is a good idea Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Big Grin Hi Lesley, A place not so far from where I live calls itself something like "East End Puppies" and according to the signs (I only go past when its closed) sells puppies and kittens and a year or so ago, a friend was telling me about a local pet shop that had kittens in its windows for sale so it does go on but I don't think it's that common. Indeed at least one or two local petshops refuse to sell any live animals at all. The one I use is happy to put up cards from people with animals needing homes and to act as a contact between would-be cat slaves and the local rescue but refuses to sell any live animal including fish (he refers people to a local aquarium shop), which is one reason I use the place Amazing, I thought they had died out & gone away. I suppose there must be some licenses that have to be approved before they can keep live pets, & the possibilities are that the hassle Is not worth the inconvenience to most retailers in pet supplies. Imagine the walking, cleaning-out & 365 / 7/ 24hour care they require on Christmas morning ect. I would imagine that is the basis for the reason. Nice to know that there are one or two still around though. I can remember coming back to the UK on Holiday, & one of my best treats used to be visiting the pet shop, so that I could cuddle the kittens. It was a total "Must", every holiday, Lol... In London we don't have "pets At Home" (is that it?) or anything like that, I think there's one in Romford, which is quite a way away (It was there the last time I was there but since mum died I really don't have any reason to go back there so that must have been a few years ago). I gather they're cheap but if you don't drive how do you get half a ton of cat litter back? A cab would completely eradicate any savings I'll let you into a little secret Lesley...I go up the road to a local farmer who stocks whatever food I want, including Pets@Home kitten food, cheaper than they can sell it to me direct. I very much support local pet shops. I see them dropping like flies because of the new superstores, & there is nothing that they seem to be able to do to compete. Having said that, you don't get the kind of service in a superstore that you normally get in a local pet shop, do you? I do admit that I go to them for industrial loads of cat litter though. You can imagine how much we get through with up to 12 cats & kittens @ a time. can't you?!!! I drive, so it isn't so bad. I either take a son to get them off the shelves for me, or I find a nice assistant playing with food labels, & put them to work filling my industrial trolley load of industrial cat litter, then I get them to load the car up too. Excellent! What ore could I possibly expect? ) Still if you have such a place locally I think it would be an excellent idea to organise adoptions- anything that helps cats find their forever homes is a good idea I have to agree with you there. I find that it doesn't matter when I go there, there are always @ least about 50 people in store every single time, so the pulling potential is there. With a vet in store too, there are also caring cat slaves who attend the shop as well. If you said only half of them looked @ the cats & kittens, & a quarter of them adopted, that would mean up to & possibly over 10 homes a week. That would be excellent. Minimum age for kittens is 14 weeks, because they can't have thier second jabs done until then..We also have a high rate of kittens and mother packages. Mind you, by 14 weeks old, Mummy is quite pleased to see Tiddles & Tinkerbell on their way off in the world without her, Lol... I understand how they must feel ) (Don't forget that the summer break is nearly over & there are 4kids still @ home here- well, that is my excuse anyway!!) I have already called my coordinator to put the idea to her, & she is ringing head office to ask permission to ask if we might take part in a similar scheme to our friends across the pond- So, ALL Thoughts welcomed. I haven't spoken to you for some time, we were wondering if you are in the new place, whether you managed to hold onto your old place, or whether you had to move in the end, & also how Dave is doing too? Hope all is well with you both & the moggies too of course! sending head buts & leg weaves from ours to yours Best Wishes Lesley, Sheelagh "o" |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
"Sheelagh o" wrote in message ups.com... On 2 Sep, 08:57, "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote: "Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o" wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. That's how it works here, too. We have both PetSmart and PetSense, and they have similar arrangements. Both have been excellent sources for adoptions from our local Alley Cats Allies. Kittens and adoptable cats are fostered first to socialize them, then are available from Adopt-a-Thons that are held twice a month through either PetSmart and PetSense. Adoptive "parents" sign an agreement to return the cats if they are unable to keep them, and they agree not to have them declawed. All cats are spay/neutered and vetted/innoculated *before* adoption. That's how I became a "sponsor mom" to two kittens this summer -- I did not adopt or foster them, but I paid for their veterinary bills so they could be fostered and then placed through the Adopt-a-Thons. Carmen was quickly adopted, but Chelsea has not yet been adopted. I wish they could have been adopted as a pair, but Carmen is in a home where she is already "queen of the household," and Chelsea will be fostered until an adoptive home can be found. MaryL- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Oh that is really nice Mary. I'm sorry that they couldn't be homed together too. It's a shame, but better one is homed than neither for waiting for a home that might come along. This sponsoring sounds like the ideal Christmas gift for the mother who has everything she ever wanted (within reason that is!!).... If you read my reply to sherry, you will note that I did mean to say adopt, rather than buy. It is an excellent idea, so I am asking if anyone knows of any stumbling block that we might come across, please do feel free to point it out? The more prepared we are when presenting our case, the easier it will be for us to get them to agree with us. As far as I am aware, there is no law preventing adoptions in shop, so as long as we can get round that obstacle, things should go in our favour. We also have similar adoption schemes to the one that you describe. We find that children are the most generous believe it or not. They make a covenant to donate x amount every month from their accounts, & we send them letters from the cats & up to date photos every quarter as well. The wonderful thing is, that the kids write back to their chosen cat's. it's really sweet. I have just volunteered to respond to letters recently. I never had the confidence until now to try & give it a go, but I figure with a spell checker, & a few kids to point out my bad grammar, I should be able to to this without too many hitches, lol ) Thank you for your story Mary & for the pointers, guides & explanations as well. They really are helpful Best Wishes, Sheelagh "o" I don't know of any disadvantages (assuming you check out legal arrangements/restrictions, as you stated). In fact, a good way for you to present the idea to a pet supply store is to point out that there is actually a financial benefit to them. We advertise our Adopt-a-Thons through e-mail, flyers, etc., and they bring in a sizable number of people -- including people who just want to look instead of adopt. Those same people then wander around the store and often make a number of purchases. It is important for you to be well organized. Each cat or kitten should be brought in a separate carrier, except for those that are normally kept together. Our local rescue group has portable wire cages that are used for this purpose instead of the traditional carriers so people can get a good look at all of the cats. All cats and kittens brought in must be vetted and innoculated *before* bringing them to the Adopt-a-Thons -- you don't want to take any chances of spreading disease. They also must be socialized in a foster home first -- you also don't want any scratches or bites. We always have several people from the local rescue group on hand and bring chairs for them to sit in. Each of them will have a kitten or two out of the cage and in their laps if there is not too much activity going on, and this gives prospective "parents" an opportunity to pet and cuddle with the cats. That is a very good way to attact attention -- but they *must* be very calm cats or kittens because we *also* do not want to take any risk that the cat will become frightened and try to run away. It would be a good idea to place the cats in a harness with lead when they are out of the carriers. We *never* simply send a cat home from the Adopt-a-Thon, and we also do not make a definitive decision regarding the question of whether we will approve the adoption. Instead, we have paperwork available, conduct an informal discussion with questions about experience and how the person intends to care for his or her new furbaby, and a potential adopter can place a temporary "hold" on a specific pet (or pets). The paperwork includes references (especially from vets). We do a preliminary assessment of suitability, later check all references, and then do a more complete assessment later in the home of the foster parents when all parties can be brought together in a more normal atmosphere. We have had a great deal of success, but it is not intended as an "instant" process -- we want good homes, not future tragedies. MaryL |
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Pet Smart kittens & cats?
"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message . .. "Sheelagh o" wrote in message ups.com... On 2 Sep, 08:57, "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote: "Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o" wrote: I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends are involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in assuming that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays & Sundays? How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to put up their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals? Also, how do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to pick some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the question.) This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure whether all stores have the same policies. Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org. They bring animals in from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions". During the week, and any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats chosen to stay there. It's called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or staff. Petsmart donates food and litter. Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the rescue agency. The same strict screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were adopting from the regular shelter location. Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already neutered and are vet-checked and current on their vaccinations. It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more exposure than they would advertised from foster homes, or in the shelter. Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged packaging, and the same for food, for foster families to use at home. That's how it works here, too. We have both PetSmart and PetSense, and they have similar arrangements. Both have been excellent sources for adoptions from our local Alley Cats Allies. Kittens and adoptable cats are fostered first to socialize them, then are available from Adopt-a-Thons that are held twice a month through either PetSmart and PetSense. Adoptive "parents" sign an agreement to return the cats if they are unable to keep them, and they agree not to have them declawed. All cats are spay/neutered and vetted/innoculated *before* adoption. That's how I became a "sponsor mom" to two kittens this summer -- I did not adopt or foster them, but I paid for their veterinary bills so they could be fostered and then placed through the Adopt-a-Thons. Carmen was quickly adopted, but Chelsea has not yet been adopted. I wish they could have been adopted as a pair, but Carmen is in a home where she is already "queen of the household," and Chelsea will be fostered until an adoptive home can be found. MaryL- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Oh that is really nice Mary. I'm sorry that they couldn't be homed together too. It's a shame, but better one is homed than neither for waiting for a home that might come along. This sponsoring sounds like the ideal Christmas gift for the mother who has everything she ever wanted (within reason that is!!).... If you read my reply to sherry, you will note that I did mean to say adopt, rather than buy. It is an excellent idea, so I am asking if anyone knows of any stumbling block that we might come across, please do feel free to point it out? The more prepared we are when presenting our case, the easier it will be for us to get them to agree with us. As far as I am aware, there is no law preventing adoptions in shop, so as long as we can get round that obstacle, things should go in our favour. We also have similar adoption schemes to the one that you describe. We find that children are the most generous believe it or not. They make a covenant to donate x amount every month from their accounts, & we send them letters from the cats & up to date photos every quarter as well. The wonderful thing is, that the kids write back to their chosen cat's. it's really sweet. I have just volunteered to respond to letters recently. I never had the confidence until now to try & give it a go, but I figure with a spell checker, & a few kids to point out my bad grammar, I should be able to to this without too many hitches, lol ) Thank you for your story Mary & for the pointers, guides & explanations as well. They really are helpful Best Wishes, Sheelagh "o" I don't know of any disadvantages (assuming you check out legal arrangements/restrictions, as you stated). In fact, a good way for you to present the idea to a pet supply store is to point out that there is actually a financial benefit to them. We advertise our Adopt-a-Thons through e-mail, flyers, etc., and they bring in a sizable number of people -- including people who just want to look instead of adopt. Those same people then wander around the store and often make a number of purchases. It is important for you to be well organized. Each cat or kitten should be brought in a separate carrier, except for those that are normally kept together. Our local rescue group has portable wire cages that are used for this purpose instead of the traditional carriers so people can get a good look at all of the cats. All cats and kittens brought in must be vetted and innoculated *before* bringing them to the Adopt-a-Thons -- you don't want to take any chances of spreading disease. They also must be socialized in a foster home first -- you also don't want any scratches or bites. We always have several people from the local rescue group on hand and bring chairs for them to sit in. Each of them will have a kitten or two out of the cage and in their laps if there is not too much activity going on, and this gives prospective "parents" an opportunity to pet and cuddle with the cats. That is a very good way to attact attention -- but they *must* be very calm cats or kittens because we *also* do not want to take any risk that the cat will become frightened and try to run away. It would be a good idea to place the cats in a harness with lead when they are out of the carriers. We *never* simply send a cat home from the Adopt-a-Thon, and we also do not make a definitive decision regarding the question of whether we will approve the adoption. Instead, we have paperwork available, conduct an informal discussion with questions about experience and how the person intends to care for his or her new furbaby, and a potential adopter can place a temporary "hold" on a specific pet (or pets). The paperwork includes references (especially from vets). We do a preliminary assessment of suitability, later check all references, and then do a more complete assessment later in the home of the foster parents when all parties can be brought together in a more normal atmosphere. We have had a great deal of success, but it is not intended as an "instant" process -- we want good homes, not future tragedies. MaryL One final point: It is *very* important to *charge* a minimal amount for expenses (vetting and boarding). The amount charged usually does cover the actual expenses, but it is important (1) to discourage those who will not provide necessary care for their new furbabies and (2) to provide a continuing source of income to rescue still others. At least in the US, there is another reason -- some people would adopt these little ones to be used for other larger animals. That won't happen if an adequate fee is assessed (but this is an adoption fee and not selling, as I said earlier, because actual costs are considerably higher). On a related note, I only paid $25.00 to the shelter when I adopted Duffy. That's because they had a standard fee of $75.00, but Duffy had previously been neutered an adopted (then returned -- an idiotic decision). I have often told people that that is the best $25.00 "investment" I could ever have made! Duffy is so wonderful that I later sent checks to the shelter in his honor. MaryL |
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