Arizona Humane society snafu??

[Tina B and crew]

http://news.yahoo.com/rescue-group-cris ... 26690.html


"Animal lovers threatened to pull donations to an animal rescue group and the public flooded the agency with scathing comments and calls after a man's cat was euthanized when he couldn't afford its medical care, prompting the Arizona Humane Society to go into damage-control mode Wednesday."

[Traci]

I'm not sure if this is the one, but I've heard many stories over a particular Phoenix humane society (from a friend who lives there).

There are so many problems in that story that it does demand public outcry and the HS deserves every "scathing comment" it gets. Let's see, they don't accept credit card info over the phone but accept donations made with credit cards. Don't most businesses have a credit card machine that checks funds instantly?

They didn't have the resources to cover kitten's expenses, but they have plenty of resources to hire a team for damage control? Pathetic!

They practically promised the man that kitten would receive medical care and attempts to place in a new home but did nothing of the sort - they should have on their relinquishment form an option for owners to reclaim their pets if the HS can't treat, can't place, etc. Personally, I feel this should be a requirement on forms in every shelter in the nation.

I have to wonder why the man didn't take kitten to a vet rather than the HS - or found out other ways to pay for kitten's care. Ultimately, he carries some of the blame in this one (also for allowing kitten outdoors to suffer bad wounds requiring care). While I don't blame him for his anger and sadness, whenever someone relinquishes a pet to a shelter, there are never any guarantees for the pet to be placed or even live, period.

I hope the HS has learned a valuable lesson, but unfortunately this happens all the time in many many shelters. There should never be such instances ever, but there are, and a lot of people share the blame, a lot of people are responsible.

Sorry, you can probably tell I detest most animal shelters.

[k9Karen]

How sad and unnecessary. If they had just been honest with him and told him they would have to euthanize, I'm sure he would have never surrendered her and would have done what he could to treat the wound using basic first aid until he received the money from his mother and then would have brought her back the next day. It seems to me they could have at least tried to get in touch with him to see if he wanted her back and had found a way to pay before putting her down.

[Traci]

Karen, according to the HS there, they claimed they "did try to reach out to him", but nothing construed to mean they tried to contact him before poor kitten met her fate (because they didn't, they wouldn't accept a phone payment, nor a money wire, but lied flat out).

That they are changing policies now does nothing for the poor kitten, the man, his mother, or the thousands of other pets needing help before this incident. Kind of leaves a sour taste, yes?

[k9Karen]

Kind of leaves a sour taste, yes?

Yes, absolutely!!!

[Tina B and crew]

A very sour taste indeed Traci. I was rather appalled when I read it. I do agree that the gentleman isn't completely innocent in this, but I do think he was trying to do what was best and in good faith that Scruffy would be treated and adopted out. I'm just livid...

Dangit...if people would just spay and neuter and keep their furbabies indoors!! GAH!

[Traci]

That's what I mean, Tina....there are many humans responsible, and it just makes me cringe (and cry and get very angry and frustrated, you know how it is) when innocent animals pay for human idiocy.

[Tina B and crew]

It's never the animal's fault...humans, quite frankly, suck sometimes.