Pet Adoption Getting Out of Hand

[Cowgirl]

No, Cari, I don't think people should give up their cats instead of declawing them. Why don't they just work with the cat and teach it not to claw the furniture??? My point is (and I think you totally missed it) is that pets are not born knowing how to act in a house. Owners have to teach them...just like parents teach children not to touch hot things or how to crap in a toilet. I was using the example of cats and furniture, because sometimes owners take the easy route instead of teaching the cat that it is not acceptable to claw the furniture. For example...an owner could supply the cat with a scratching pad, clip the cat's nails, or use a spray bottle to spray the cat with water when the cat claws. It won't take long before the cat learns not to do that. That was my point.

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally posted by cmcdanal
By that, do you mean it costs more? It can't be anymore than requiring the animal be fixed, since any vet worth anything would insist on a check up and shots before or at the time of the spay/neuter.

Do they make you jump through hoops? I mean require home inspections, extensive interviews etc.?

I adopted an already neutered dog from them 4-5 years ago. My son and I went in, filled out application. I can't recall the $$ but it was under $100 but he'd already been neutered. I've been involved with animal fostering, etc. for most of my life. I give references and have never had a problem adopting any animal. Heck...they find ME!! A lot of places will check with your vet to see that your animals are vetted as necessary, etc.

I don't get what the problem with is with home inspections and interviews. These people put a lot of time and effort into these animals, not to mention bucks. If you've ever been involved on the "other" side, you'd certainly understand a little better where they are coming from. To me, an animal is not much different than a child in that you are responsible for providing a caring, happy and safe environment for that animal.

Originally posted by Cowgirl
how to crap in a toilet

Way to turn a phrase! So, what are you wearing?

[Cowgirl]

This is annoying. You're putting words into my mouth. I think it is good to spay/neuter pets. I don't agree with cosmetic things such as tail docking, ear cropping, etc. I never said ALL declawing was bad. Geesh. I gave the example of nails and furniture. Are you satisfied?

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally posted by cariblue
I'm still a little confused.

It's okay to nip any pets nads so it doesn't reproduce, run away, behave aggressively, etc. It's okay to snip away at ears and tails to make them more attractive (completely cosmetic), but it's not a good idea to have a cat declawed. Help me out here.

Cari, I'm not in favor of snipping ears or declawing cats. Docking tails at a few days old is relatively painless. I've worked at a vet and have seen the pain of ripping claws from the sockets and slicing a dogs ears...no thanks. However, I'm a realist. If it's the only way an owner can keep the pet and the owner and the pet are happier, then I think that's what counts in the end.

[Cowgirl]

@ Frostillicus

[Oz (Premo)]

My cat was declawed with a laser ($75 extra) when she was about 6 months old. She's a happy camper, and her back claws still tear up enough stuff, including my arms from time to time. I'll never have a cat with claws. But the declawed kitten/cat will have plenty to eat, fresh water, toys, and never have to step out of her air conditioned environment. She seems to love me, everyone else, and her life anyway.

[Hello6]

Check out the Animal Controls/Animal Mangements in the area that don't post their stuff on the internet. Pound dogs are a pretty good investment. Down here in Norfolk, its 65 bucks for the spay/neuter, distemper shots and an additional 17 at the vets office when you pick up the dog from surgery. Not that it'll help you but there's a GSD female there right now, kinda timid that needs a home. I've been in animal rescue mode lately, just thought I'd share another perspective. My S/O couldn't get a dog from a local rescue group cause he didn't have a fenced in yard. Got a dog from Washington DC Humane Society and it's happy ever after for them. Rescue groups do go pretty far to ensure the dogs they've rescued aren't in danger of being abandoned again.
And the declawing debate: Not for it, but only because I saw how the "country vet" did it about 16 years ago: Pulled them out with a pliers while the cat was knocked out. I'm letting my cats keep their claws. Nobody really is claw agressive in my clan.

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by cattitude
I adopted an already neutered dog from them 4-5 years ago. My son and I went in, filled out application. I can't recall the $$ but it was under $100 but he'd already been neutered. I've been involved with animal fostering, etc. for most of my life. I give references and have never had a problem adopting any animal. Heck...they find ME!! A lot of places will check with your vet to see that your animals are vetted as necessary, etc.

I don't get what the problem with is with home inspections and interviews. These people put a lot of time and effort into these animals, not to mention bucks. If you've ever been involved on the "other" side, you'd certainly understand a little better where they are coming from. To me, an animal is not much different than a child in that you are responsible for providing a caring, happy and safe environment for that animal.

I never said I had a problem with any of the adoption procedures that animal shelters have today. I'm sorry if it sounded that way. I know they are trying to do the best thing for the animals.

I was actually addressing the original subject of this thread. The idea that pet adoptions often require an investment of time and money before you can even take the pet home. I was just suggesting that Bru actually check our local Southern MD shelter because I don't think the process there is too involved or too expensive. I mentioned the adoption interview I had, to illustrate that it didn't have to be a big deal.

[Oz (Premo)]

Originally posted by cariblue
That's how Jack was, and always the life of the party. His agression didn't get too bad until he was about 3, and at 13 healthy, muscular lbs he was a kitty to be reckoned with. Had I known he would become aggressive, I would have had him declawed when he was still a kitten. He never scratched the furniture. He did tear up a few door jams trying to climb them, though. He was a hoot. RIP.

I actually "converted" the coolest cat on earth from 3 years of outdoor/porch living, to an indoor cat. He loved being indoors, but he thought my chair/stereo speakers/everything was a scratching post. After 3 months of trying to "train" him, he clawed through my living room chair. I then had him declawed. He never told me he minded, and he remained the coolest cat on earth. He was in the center when company visited. He was in my lap every night and laid along my legs while I scratched his head every night until we both fell asleep. (Don't tell my wife about that or she'll want her back scratched every night! -- He didn't jump on the bed until lights out so she never knew!) When he wasn't there to go to bed one night, I went looking for him. Unfortunately, he was gone when I found him. He had a good 11 years, and I still miss him!

After a miserable Friday that started about 5:30am digging in the back yard, Saturday we went looking for a new pussy. After checking at the Pet Wellness Clinic's Saturday adoption, we found a kitten at a mennonite nursery in Loveville. There was never a question about whether or not she would be declawed. Laser surgery cuts the recovery period by 2/3rd's. After she was declawed, I went out and bought a new chair, and guess what? Those back claws can still tear up the furniture. But, we'll just have to make the best of it!

My point is that an outdoor cat should not be declawed under any circumstance. But it certainly should be an option for 100% indoor cats. And I don't see any indication of the cruelty that some people claim it to be. If it were, I would think the cat's disposition would be effected by the procedure.