I can't get my kitten....

[sugarpops]

I have recently adopted a second kitten from a rescue. This is the second kitten I have adopted through them. I have also helped to rescue a cat through the same rescue. Everything seems above board and the lady is nice enough. Never assumed anything dodgy.

When I adopted my first kitten, I told her how I would think about getting another one. It just depended on financial things and if I could afford it.

A few weeks later (3 weeks ago now) she messaged me to say she has a little kitten who needed a home and has a very similar personality to my first kitten I adopted. She said they would be a perfect match and would I be interested. She sent me some photos and I agreed.

I then paid the adoption fee and a fee for neutering. She says if I pay for her neutering then she can get it done through her rescue (she is also a veterinary nurse) and it is cheaper.

She told me the kitten would be ready at the end of the week - 2 weeks ago. We were supposed to collect him 2 weeks ago today.

When I text her to arrange a time, she told me she was drunk at a party and would arrange text me the next day. She didn’t.

A couple more days passed by and I messaged her again. She didn’t reply for 2 days and told me her grandad had passed away. I replied with I was sorry to hear that, hope she was ok. She didn’t reply and I left it for a few days.

I text her again and to say I hope she was ok, and was there any update on when we could collect him. She told me she would drop him off this last week at some point. She hasn’t.

I have then text her again and I am being completely ignored.

I understand she may be having a tough time. But aibu to expect that I should still be able to collect the kitten? It would only take 5 minutes (she knows me well enough) and it would also be one less animal for her to look after.

I am getting concerned. Before she told me about her grandad, I was also trying to ask about the kitten I have got who is due her vaccinations and spay (which stupidly I have paid her for) and I’m getting absolutely no where with that either.

All in all she has about £250 of my money for 2 kittens, vaccinations and neutering and I am getting no where with any of it.

I thought I would text her again on Monday and ask one last time. If I get no response, I’ll have to take it further.

Who would I even speak to regarding this?

Or - am I just being completely unreasonable here? I have 3 dc at home who are asking when our new kitten is coming and I’m at a loss of what to tell them! My gut is he isn’t coming at all .

I'm fuming. The more I try sort it, the more angry I'm getting.

It was the receptionist I spoke too so obviously she maybe didn't know what to say but she does know her obviously. Maybe I've just made it worse.

She just kept saying 'the rescue is completely separate to the vets so it's not our issue'

I'll still go into the vets on Monday and try sort it out. Or maybe just go straight to a small claims court. I don't know.

I'm just about to start a divorce so I could really do without all this extra stress!

Who is in charge of the rescue?

She is. It's just her on her own. She has some volunteers that help her but I don't know who they are.

I agree, this all sounds dodgy. You'd think she'd be happy to hand over the kitten as it'll be one less thing for her to be dealing with. She's clearly lying to you though.

Exactly. This is what I said to her. It would literally be a case of putting him in his basket and off I go.

The vet did say she was off for personal reasons.

Then I start to think I'm the problem again...

If she’s going away who is looking after the kitten? Most rescues wouldn’t want to hold onto a kitten for weeks after it was originally meant to be rehomed. My guess is either she no longer has the kitten (eg: she’s given it or promised it to somebody else) or she wants to keep it.

You know where she lives so why don’t you go round there and demand to take the kitten?

It is nothing to do with the vet practice, she is acting as an individual not as a representative of the practice. And at the moment it is just a dispute between the two of you, she could claim she IS going to give you the kitten/refund you. Have you actually asked her for your money back? If not, you should do so. If (when) she fails to produce the kitten or a refund, pursue it via chargeback/small claims.

She is clearly not a formal rescue charity, she is just a woman who sometimes rescues cats, rehabilitates them at home and sells them on.

Next time you look for a kitten you will know what to do. Visit the kitten and assess its personality and health, and do not hand over the money until you collect it.

Even small unregistered charities must follow Charity Commission rules and guidance. (Broadly, if a charity's annual income is under £5000, it doesn't have to register.) And the Commission can - and does - investigate poor governance in unregistered charities. So if you wished, you could raise a complaint with the Commission and tell this woman that you're doing so. https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity

I’d first of all pay her a visit in person, and then if you have the time and resources at least start the process of taking her to court (spays are expensive). You’ve got a written contract there and have fulfilled your part, she’s legally in the wrong.

@moggerhanger I wouldn't assume she is a charity though, it sounds so chaotic and unprofessional. The income may not be declared.

I don't understand why you haven't gone to her house OP. She lives a one minute drive from you. I'd be turning up unannounced at random times until she answers the door. Sadly I suspect the kitten might have been sold elsewhere or might even have died but either way there is no kitten and she has spent the money. In that case small claims is your best bet. But go to her house and confront her and see what she says.

Ugh, sounds like shes using the rescue/your kitten as a way of getting money out of you.

I'd be shocked if kitten is still with her, I suspect it either died or shes sold it to someone else.

Your other kitten, as long as its vaccinated with the same brand vaccs, you can just carry on, there is NO need to start over at this point. The vacc manufacturer/brand details will be on the stickers on your card so take her to a vets that uses that brand and whilst yes, you'll need to pay, it won't be as much as starting from scratch (and its not good to over-vaccinate either, theres no benefit from it!)

No sorry, you've misunderstood. The vet is a 1 minute drive from my house - less actually.

Her house is about 25 mins away from me. She's at right at the other side of the city. You are right though, I could have just gone round but it's not really in me to do that.

It's been quite confusing as i really have had absolutely no reason not to trust her until now.

I don't think she has him either. She would usually send daily photos and videos.

That's what she did with the kitten I have adopted and definitely what she did with the cat we were rescuing.

Unless the death of her grandad has really upset her. But she began being strange before that with the drunk text.

I'll get to the bottom of it and definitely take her to a small claims court.

I'm a single mum of 3 kids, I can't just afford to hand money over like that.

Wow, OP. I hope you keep us updated. It's all just so wrong, isn't it?

The one part I think you shouldn't waste your energy on is getting cross at the Vet surgery. She only works there, she's not a partner, they can't be responsible for her side hobby and the contract you made with the flaky rescue person.

After your update this morning, it definitely seems like she no longer has him for whatever reason. I also wouldn't get angry at the vets. It's not really their issue, and honestly, they'd probably rather stay out of it. They won't want her appalling behaviour reflecting on them. If she's not come clean or returned the money by Monday then definitely time to take things further. Don't be afraid to be vocal on your Facebook account about her either. Might save anybody else local being scammed by her.

Unless she has a formal arrangement with the vet, which is sounds likely not, she is just an employee. Maybe you are not the first such enquiry they have had. Is it worth driving over to the rescue, ideally without dc, to see what/who is there? You need to decide if you want this kitten or a refund before taking it further. The process is sending a Letter before Action then filing a money claim online if no joy.

That's useful information thank you.

I think I've let go of the fact that we will be getting the kitten after this morning. I was still holding on to some hope that we would be bringing him home - he really is just gorgeous.

I've been telling myself I'm being too impatient but I suppose that's just me being a complete people pleaser and a pushover!

Do I need to actually write her a letter and post it? Obviously I have her address. Or can I do it as a text message?

I think I will just avoid the vets completely now. It's clear that I'm not going to get anywhere.

The only reason I wanted to contact them was to see if I could get my current kittens vaccinations and spay done under her name but as they are not interested then it's pointless.

But I don't know what to do about her chip. She is chipped under her name.

I'm wondering if the kitten died and she's been hoping a lookalike gets handed into the vets practice which is why she's done the delaying tactics rather than just admit it and return your money. Then its slowly unravelled into this car crash.

Give her a set day/time for handover with the explicit understanding that if there is no kitten then you expect the cash. Dont except the promise of bank transfer as that might not happen either. Kitten or cash or small claims. Her choice.

Most normal people would be glad to get rid of a stray if they have the stresses of death, funerals and moving so it's very telling that she isn't. Good luck.

If she's raising money from the public in order to care for animals (which is a potentially charitable activity) and is publicising her activities as such, then the Charity Commission will want to know. Action Fraud would also be interested.

My guess is that she did have the kitten originally but he died after she had taken your money, which she has spent and can't repay. Same with the money for neutering. So not originally an intentional scammer but someone who is bad with money and can't face up to owning her mistakes. As you say, you can't afford to be out of pocket.

The response from the vets is disappointing but unsurprising. The arrangement was with her not them but the defensive response suggests this may have happened before and they are trying to distance themselves. Although they can't actually help you I bet they will take her to task over it which will hopefully reduce the chance of repeat occurrences. It reflects badly on them to be associated with this and its a pain for them to deal with.

In terms of the Letter Before Action it should be a proper letter but sending by email is fine. Set out clearly what the dispute is (breach of contract - a contract does not need to be in writing), the background facts including the money for the first kitten's op and vacs, the total of what she owes and how this breaks down, the evidence (refer to chain of text messages and bank transfer records) and the remedy you seek (compensation in the form of a refund of x). State the attempts you have made to collect the kitten and arrange the op and vacs (state all dates of attempts to arrange collection and the call to the vets which confirmed the op and vacs had not been prepaid as indicated). State clearly 21 days to pay or you will be issuing a small claim on line to ensure repayment including your court costs.

You don't have to do the letter first technically but it helps the court look favourably to you because you've been fair and reasonable conduct-wise.

I'm a solicitor by the way!

Why don’t you text her “There’s no kitten, is there?”

And see what she says?

This is fantastic advice. Thank you. I will do it through email and then I would suppose I have proof and a copy that I have sent it.

I think she will be in for a shock as clearly I come across as someone who will just be walked all over.

I have been waiting for the kitten for 2 weeks now - is this enough time to say that it is unreasonable behaviour?

I have also been waiting for the vaccinations and an appointment for spaying for my current kitten for 7 weeks and nothing sorted.

In fact she did ask me to pay for it again! I've just looked through my messages and remembered. I corrected her and she apologised for her mistake and realised I had already paid. I can't believe I forgot about this.

Omg it sounds like she started seeing you as a cash point/soft touch!

Yes I think she'll get a shock when she gets the court claim.