Rescues which claim to be overrun.

[WannabeKittens]

Have been looking to adopt some kittens. I have registered with multiple charities, all of which claim to be overrun as it is now kitten season.

I have even put in a query about some kittens which are being shown on the Celia Hammond site.

And none of them ever return my enquiries. Chat actually did send me an email asking for my details in order to do a home check, and I never heard from them again.

I’ve known several other people who have been through the same, charities claim to be overrun, but when push comes to shove they either never return calls or claim that they no longer have any cats available.

Same with dog rescues.

So if these centres are all so overrun with rescue animals, why is it virtually impossible to rescue one?

If I can’t rescue then I just won’t bother as I have no intentions of buying kittens on the internet. But it’s easy to see why so many people do.

I had a straightforward kitten adoption from Cats Protection. The volunteers all were pleasant and it was all sorted and cats collected and within 4-5 days. I ignored their criteria which said they would only re home kittens with children 5years+ (I stated my youngest was 4).
They didn't mind. Begs the question why they set criteria if it's sometimes flexible- they will be putting people off.

It seems to me that it is bigger rescue centres dealing with hard-to-rehome dogs that need the cash to care for those dogs and put in the time to find the right owner. Rather than seeing it as ‘coining in the cash’ 🧐

Was the same when I looked into dogs. I worked 3 hours per day locally and could take the dog with me, kids were 9&11 and we had a 1/4 secure garden - turned down by every rescue centre. Some cited the kids, some cited me working despite the fact the dog could come with me if I wanted, one said no because we lived in a city (I could see the countryside from my house 200m away!!!)

I'm probably going to buy one now, which goes against my principles (have had two previous rescues) but I want a cat before the winter and this is totally ridiculous now
well that seems unusual to go against your own principles because you want something in a certain time frame.

I criteria is very strict and most are run by volunteers. After our awful losses we've adopted another cat. I was initially told she wasnt available and then she was. I had to send in photos of equipment for her, our apartment, a written form. But once those hurdles were sorted we picked her up in days. They also checked on her twice. This was the RSPCA.

Please keep trying. There are so many cats and kittens that need homes.

Sadly, during lockdowns a lot of people adopted and then surrendered them back when they went back to work. So rescues are going to be a lot more weary now of those that work and animals being left alone. I knew someone who adopted during lockdown and then went back to work with the puppy in a cage the whole damn day. So I applaud rescues for being so strict. Nobody is entitled to an animal.

I get where you’re coming from Op, it’s frustrating and I say that as an ex CHAT volunteer!

I can imagine they have a lot more older cats & kittens rather than young kittens. Maybe this is what they mean by overrun? Too many adult cats or dogs

Tbh I think that’s possibly a different discussion.

It’s never a popular opinion but it could be argued that in some cases it would be kinder to put some of those difficult to rehome dogs to sleep rather than have them languishing in kennels for the rest of their lives.

The charities which claim to “never put a healthy dog down” but then go on to ask for sponsorship to support a dog which can never be rehomed. Reality is that if it can never be rehomed, then it is not a healthy dog.

Not necessarily. If you want an animal and the rescues are all saying no, then it absolutely does not mean that you’re not suitable to have an animal, it simply means that the rescues in many instances have far too strict criteria. But if you still want an animal then it stands to reason that you then might buy one elsewhere.

Personally I won’t, because i find it disgraceful that people cash in on the fact that their cat got out before they could be arsed to spay it. There is literally no excuse to have an unwanted litter of kittens, so if I can’t get one from rescue then I won’t have one at all.

But that doesn’t mean that someone who does get one from a private sale is wrong.

Our local CPL answers most calls, returns many calls, ignores all web-based queries. They are over-run with enquiries so only respond to the most persistent cat-seekers. And never put pictures of the prettiest cats online. Funny enough I always ask about older cats & they keep steering me to kittens (which has been fine).

I have learned to understand that the only comms that can proceed is direct chat on phone about our offer. No point in anything online such as forms etc.

l agree, it is very difficult these days trying to rehome a pet, especially if you already have a cat or dog. Have you tried Cats Protection league?

I think the timeframe comment has missed that we've been trying multiple rescues for over 6 months! We just want to give a very loving home to a cat and have some company in the dark evenings... our home does not feel complete without a cat. I wfh every day, the cat will not be left alone for long periods. We are experienced cat owners. I've called and called and filled in forms and still not got anywhere. I do think it's totally ridiculous. We can't have kids and absolutely loved having our previous cats

Do they @RunningFromInsanity? Their website suggests otherwise so a shame if kittens are missing out on homes ☹️

Most charities don’t get kittens to be fair- they tend to have older cats
people who don’t want their kittens usually sell them on gumtree Or something as it’s unfortunately easy Money
the only kittens charities get are rescues ie a litter of ferals or some troll dumping them

@bailarbailar Battersea dogs and cats home have cats x

I know your post is about the rescues themselves, but the fact that you've contacted Celia Hammond, maybe go over to the litter tray and ask thecatneuterer for some help. She works with Celia Hammond and might be able to advise?

You're right about black cats. It's such a shame, as in my opinion, they are gorgeous. I've got 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛

@WannabeKittens if you're OK to go about 30 mins to dartford bow lodge where I got mine are fine with kids - I have a 4 year old, and while I couldn't adopt from celia Hammond, I never heard back from foal farm but bow lodge were fab. They have a pair of black kittens they're desperate to home.

My little kitten is from them, and my big boy cat we bought off a guy locally because at the time we couldn't find a rescue that would home with an under 5. I do understand why, but it was a shame. I'm so glad we found one second time round.

I think the tiny rescues can be a bit more flexible on restrictions.

Bless them, yes the rescues I contacted were overrun with exactly the dogs I love (lurchers) and applied for many. We have 2 lurcher already who is very sweet and calm, large fenced garden… kids are teens, no small children

we thought we’d be allowed one

but no. We were rejected many times because I am not home 24/7. I work from home but sometimes have to go in for a meeting. Or go to the shops, dentist, you know, life. But they would only allow you DS to be adopted by people who would never leave them alone.

no wonder they can’t get them adopted then!

so we got a deerhound pup instead.

but yes, they may be right to be so strict, but I can’t imagine many people can fulfil all the requirements. A few turned us down for having too many men in the house (DH and sons) as some dogs have fear of men 🙁

Anyone that thinks rescues are too strict are wrong. The reasons are valid, people just don’t want to hear them because they think their wants should be met before the needs of the animal. They often prove it by then buying from a breeder who had the same morals.

As for the poster that said they couldn’t get a dog because they sometimes popped out to a shop, that’s just bullshit on the whole. We have had a few dogs that we’ve needed to say couldn’t be left at all, but generally they just stay with us at the rescue and we take turns in taking them home for nights to give the dog a break from kennels. When/if we’ve rehomed them we’ve had to say they can’t be left for even an hour due to their distress from past trauma.

For most dogs, we’re fine for them to be left for a couple of hours once they’ve settled in. Again with the too many men in the household, it will be based on the dog. We had a dog come in a couple of months ago who was very gentle but when a male member of staff came near, she was growling. Looking into her background, it was obvious why.

No one is entitled to a dog. We can get them adopted, we just want to get the right person.

@SimonaRazowska I have worked/volunteered in animal welfare and dog rescue for many years in 4 countries. If you let me know the name of the rescue that wouldn’t let you have a dog unless you never left it, I’ll have a look into it and get back to you. Our rescue has contact with a lot of others in the U.K and I’ve never known this unless it’s dog specific due to trauma.