Had to give my cat to the shelter today, hoping it was the right thing to do.

[Planogirl]

Have you ever regretted opening a thread?? (Not diredted at the OP, I totally understnad your situation it's just so sad for that kitty.) Not to stir the pot.... but I worked at a vet clinic for 3 years as a vet tech, we charged $75 to euthenize an animal. I was shocked at how many people brought animals in to be put down for no reason except for the "We just do not want him/her anymore" The vet I worked for was very greedy and was not concerned with the animal, but more about making the buck, so me and the other vet techs started our own little aliance there... if there was ever an animal brought in that was clearly in good health and the owner wanted them put down, we would take the animal to the back and put it in cage (kennels) and put simply his name on the card, no owner name. There the animal would live until we found it a loving home. The vet never even knew about the animal. The front desk girl was also in on this and she would charge the client and then me and the other vet techs would place the animal in a loving home later. The owner would just drop it off to be euthenized and never knew otherwise. I was ALWAYS the one that screened potential pet owners; I was pretty strict too! LOL! This was a very large clinic and the vet (owner) of the clinic never had any clue what went on in the back kennels; who the pets were or anything. It was wonderful.... the clinic got the money, the animals got great homes. There was another vet that worked there too who was the clinic owner's buisness partner and he would help us out on this little secret. If someone came in looking for a pet, he would do whatever they wanted for the animal before we adopted it out like, flea dip, spay, nueter, clip claws... all free of charge just to get someone to adopt these sweet animals. I really miss that job and loved what I did there. This whole production was my idea and I pride myself on how many animals we saved! I often wonder what happens now that I'm gone.

Wow, I love this.

 

[perdidobay]

Thanks to everyone who has offered support. I appreciate it.

I hope it is a matter of she wants to be the one and only pet, and that the shelter figures this out and can place her with a loving pet-less family.

I'm praying for the best and that someone will be able to love her even though she's a little off.

I hope so too acejka I adopted a border collie who is ALOT off and knew it when we adopted her. We love her quirks!

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Have you ever regretted opening a thread?? (Not diredted at the OP, I totally understnad your situation it's just so sad for that kitty.) Not to stir the pot.... but I worked at a vet clinic for 3 years as a vet tech, we charged $75 to euthenize an animal. I was shocked at how many people brought animals in to be put down for no reason except for the "We just do not want him/her anymore" The vet I worked for was very greedy and was not concerned with the animal, but more about making the buck, so me and the other vet techs started our own little aliance there... if there was ever an animal brought in that was clearly in good health and the owner wanted them put down, we would take the animal to the back and put it in cage (kennels) and put simply his name on the card, no owner name. There the animal would live until we found it a loving home. The vet never even knew about the animal. The front desk girl was also in on this and she would charge the client and then me and the other vet techs would place the animal in a loving home later. The owner would just drop it off to be euthenized and never knew otherwise. I was ALWAYS the one that screened potential pet owners; I was pretty strict too! LOL! This was a very large clinic and the vet (owner) of the clinic never had any clue what went on in the back kennels; who the pets were or anything. It was wonderful.... the clinic got the money, the animals got great homes. There was another vet that worked there too who was the clinic owner's buisness partner and he would help us out on this little secret. If someone came in looking for a pet, he would do whatever they wanted for the animal before we adopted it out like, flea dip, spay, nueter, clip claws... all free of charge just to get someone to adopt these sweet animals. I really miss that job and loved what I did there. This whole production was my idea and I pride myself on how many animals we saved! I often wonder what happens now that I'm gone.

I think you (and the people who worked with you) are a wonderful person for doing this.
Oh, and OP...I can understand why you did what you did. I don't think it's the choice I would have made but I'm not in your shoes. I hope the cat gets adopted.

 

[babytrees]

I agree. We adopted an older cat from a shelter for my grandmother as her doctor said it would do her good to have a companion and we knew she couldn't handle a kitten. The cat had some litter box issues at first but then they went away.

As to "putting down" your own animal, I can't even imagine that moment if I have to make the dreadful decision to put my beloved pet down through a vet, let alone look at my beloved pet as I pulled a trigger on it .

A kitten and Pearl were the families final choices....and I won the battle for Pearl. Kittens are great, don't get me wrong, but there is just something extra special about an older animal.

We started out with a smaller (but not tiny) litter box with Pearl...she had nothing to do with it...now she has one that is specifically made for more than one cat...in a special shape and a place to wipe her paws as she exits the box (she is a very meticulous pottier) AND a mat underneath....bless her heart...sometimes that isn't enough space (but that is usually when she isn't feeling well).

 

[NeverlandClub23]

OP, I know a lady that has millions of dollars and has never had any kids or been married. She lives in a huge house and loves animals. She goes to the shelter every once in awhile and adopts dogs/cats that are close to be put down (she'll actually ask the staff). She can't have as many as she wants (as there's laws against that in VA) but it makes her feel good to give these animals a peaceful/good life before they leave this world. A lot of the animals she gets have issues but she works with them, has access to trainers, and these animals are really her life (it doesn't hurt that she has a cleaning person too ). I hope your kitty ends up some place like this or with a good family.

 

[babytrees]

Thanks to everyone who has offered support. I appreciate it.

I hope it is a matter of she wants to be the one and only pet, and that the shelter figures this out and can place her with a loving pet-less family.

I'm praying for the best and that someone will be able to love her even though she's a little off.

A little off is best for some families (like mine...we have no idea what normal is)

 

[Cinderella94]

Thanks to everyone who has offered support. I appreciate it.

I hope it is a matter of she wants to be the one and only pet, and that the shelter figures this out and can place her with a loving pet-less family.

I'm praying for the best and that someone will be able to love her even though she's a little off.

OP I'm very sorry that your thread got way off track, and that you have to go thru this .

Both of my cats are MORE than a little off, and we love them. Someone will give her a great home .

 

[KandD]

Have you ever regretted opening a thread?? (Not diredted at the OP, I totally understnad your situation it's just so sad for that kitty.) Not to stir the pot.... but I worked at a vet clinic for 3 years as a vet tech, we charged $75 to euthenize an animal. I was shocked at how many people brought animals in to be put down for no reason except for the "We just do not want him/her anymore" The vet I worked for was very greedy and was not concerned with the animal, but more about making the buck, so me and the other vet techs started our own little aliance there... if there was ever an animal brought in that was clearly in good health and the owner wanted them put down, we would take the animal to the back and put it in cage (kennels) and put simply his name on the card, no owner name. There the animal would live until we found it a loving home. The vet never even knew about the animal. The front desk girl was also in on this and she would charge the client and then me and the other vet techs would place the animal in a loving home later. The owner would just drop it off to be euthenized and never knew otherwise. I was ALWAYS the one that screened potential pet owners; I was pretty strict too! LOL! This was a very large clinic and the vet (owner) of the clinic never had any clue what went on in the back kennels; who the pets were or anything. It was wonderful.... the clinic got the money, the animals got great homes. There was another vet that worked there too who was the clinic owner's buisness partner and he would help us out on this little secret. If someone came in looking for a pet, he would do whatever they wanted for the animal before we adopted it out like, flea dip, spay, nueter, clip claws... all free of charge just to get someone to adopt these sweet animals. I really miss that job and loved what I did there. This whole production was my idea and I pride myself on how many animals we saved! I often wonder what happens now that I'm gone.

I was sorry that I opened this thread until I read this.
Thanks for doing what you did....you probably made a lot of families very happy with their new editions and a lot of animals enjoy life the way they are supposed to!

 

[tasha99]

well while I appreciate all the JUDGEMENTS.... AND the focus being moved here...well , wait, Why not talk about me some more. It is all about me.. ANYWAYS....will be back later to see all the lovely mature chat...

I don't have time to read further, but I get it. Some people here are criticizing you for having the nerve to do yourself what they would have paid a vet to do. Shotgun to the head or euthanasia at the vet's--same result, but actually getting shot would be faster.

I had to have a cat put to sleep for similar reasons years ago (pooping everywhere and the vet said there was nothing that could be done about it.) It was horrific, but my cat was in a lot of pain, and the cruelest thing to do would have been to "just put her outside" as someone else here suggested.

 

[sunlver]

well it does upset me (how I am being attcked), and maybe it is still a little funny how people pounce on you for no reason. If I were to be honest and say to people how much it hurts to be attacked like that I think I would give them more of an excuse to say all that stuff. No my cat's death and how we came to the decission to put her down wasn't easy, but then again I am just a horrible person for putting my cat down in a different (yet acceptable) way. I wrote it knowing people might say they would never do that.. but I never thought I would be attacked like this.

How is it acceptable, to take a cat and shoot it??? Maybe if we were living in the 1890's, or it was attacking your child......

 

[RadioNate]

well it does upset me (how I am being attcked), and maybe it is still a little funny how people pounce on you for no reason. If I were to be honest and say to people how much it hurts to be attacked like that I think I would give them more of an excuse to say all that stuff. No my cat's death and how we came to the decission to put her down wasn't easy, but then again I am just a horrible person for putting my cat down in a different (yet acceptable) way. I wrote it knowing people might say they would never do that.. but I never thought I would be attacked like this.

But that is where you are wrong. It is NOT an acceptable way by any civilized standard. I'm sorry but it isn't. It would be illegal in many areas. You didn't want the cat abused so you shot it? How does that even make sense? You don't think that cat felt pain?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

OP...did you call the Humane Society or cat rescue in your area first? Did you try to find her a new owner, explaining her situation?

And to the PP who solved her "problem" by murdering in the woods....


sorry, I'm speechless.

 

[RadioNate]

Did it ever occur to anyone that it costs money to have an animal euthanized and perhaps the pp couldn't spend the money? Its not what I would have done, but just don't figure its up to me to judge her for it.

DD has a friend whose family had a pit bull that they loved very much; he was part of the family. You would have had to see the way they treated that dog to understand what I am saying, but many times the dog was treated more special than the kids. The dog bit the mother and they knew they would have to put him down. There was no way on earth they could possibly afford to take the dog to the vet to be put down, so the father shot the dog. And then he cried and held the poor animal. Every situation is not the same as those in your own life.



OP, don't feel bad. You did everything you could do and its not like someone else would have taken the cat knowing it wouldn't use a litter box. Don't worry about what "will happen", you don't know that for sure. I have seen plenty of older cats and dogs up for adoption at the shelter--maybe someone working there will be able to figure out the problem and find her a wonderful home.

If you don't have enough money that you can barely feed your children why do you have a dog in the 1st place? Can't afford the vet bill? Don't own a pet.

In this situation they could have called animal control who would have taken custody of the dog and put it down humanly. Any shelter would have taken the dog and put it down, likely free of charge, since it was not adoptable.

There were many other options than shooting it.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I don't have time to read further, but I get it. Some people here are criticizing you for having the nerve to do yourself what they would have paid a vet to do. Shotgun to the head or euthanasia at the vet's--same result, but actually getting shot would be faster.

Using this argument, there would be no problem with using firing squads on a regular basis rather than lethal injection for criminals that are sentenced to death. After all, you get the same end result.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I don't have time to read further, but I get it. Some people here are criticizing you for having the nerve to do yourself what they would have paid a vet to do. Shotgun to the head or euthanasia at the vet's--same result, but actually getting shot would be faster.

I had to have a cat put to sleep for similar reasons years ago (pooping everywhere and the vet said there was nothing that could be done about it.) It was horrific, but my cat was in a lot of pain, and the cruelest thing to do would have been to "just put her outside" as someone else here suggested.

Faster? How would you rather die? Out in the woods at the business end of a shotgun from the person you love, or in a quiet vet's office where you just drift off to sleep with your person holding you and petting your head? What if the first shot didn't kill? Sorry, I just can't wrap my mind around this backwoods thinking.. I also wonder what kind of person could carry out this act of violence on a pet they loved? I mean, the cat wasn't terminal, it had problems the PP didn't want to deal with.

 

[RadioNate]

You know what, I do want to say that I do support the OP. She did the most humane thing that you can do when you can not keep a pet. She gave it to a shelter and hopefully it will be re-homed soon. You never know who will fall in love and work with her. If she isn't adopted, then at least she'll be put down in the most humane way possible.

We had to return a puppy to the shelter where we adopted it from. It seriously attacked a cat, nearly killing it, the cat was saved with costly vet bills (in the thousands.) Because we had small children we weren't comfortable keeping the dog. It was put back up for adoption with the stipulations that it couldn't go to a home with cats or small children. It was adopted the day after we returned it.

 

[joyjoy]

... if there was ever an animal brought in that was clearly in good health and the owner wanted them put down, we would take the animal to the back and put it in cage (kennels) and put simply his name on the card, no owner name. There the animal would live until we found it a loving home.

Awww, you and your co-workers are like angels to those poor pets. Thank you.

OP - I'm sorry for you. Don't feel like a failure, you tried and tried. I'll bet someone adopts her. I got my middle-aged boxer at a rescue and I love her to pieces.

Ginna74 - You seem a little unbalanced, frankly.

 

[Disney Doll]

I feel like this is one of those cases where it'll just be a waste of our energy .

You are correct. ginna's posts on other threads lead me to elieve that "shock value" amd "attention" are two big "buzzwords" to her.

Meanwhile, OP, sounds like you did the best you could.

 

[Planogirl]

We had to return a puppy to the shelter where we adopted it from. It seriously attacked a cat, nearly killing it, the cat was saved with costly vet bills (in the thousands.) Because we had small children we weren't comfortable keeping the dog. It was put back up for adoption with the stipulations that it couldn't go to a home with cats or small children. It was adopted the day after we returned it.

That is another good reason.

I had forgotten about a situation where someone tried to take in a dog and it turned out to be vicious towards cats even though they'd been told otherwise. This isn't fair to the already established cats and too chancy even with training.

 

[safetymom]

We got a cat through an ad. Stitch had been abused. He has litter box issues and goes around the house. He also didn't like humans much when we first got him. He has turned out to be a very sweet cat. I feel it is my pleasure to love him since he had been abused. He has been checked out and has no physical issues. We have tile floors and have oven liner pans in numerous places for him to go on. I couldn't put the cat down for something that is out of his control.