Sign of things to come?

[Backwoods Boy]

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Hey everyone. I just have a short story for today.

Today, as with every Thursday, I was at the vet's office. I arrived around 8:00 this morning. The receptionist was there already but the vet wasn't there yet (usually arrives around 8:15). Shortly after I arrived, a man from animal control came in and dropped off a Pet Taxi. I didn't think much of it at the time but a few minutes later I checked the charts to see what was being done. Come to find out, a group of 4 kittens (maybe 3 months old at the most) were set to be euthanized. Apparently someone had dumped them on someone else's porch and they had the animal control come to pick them up.

I was talking to the reception and was telling her that if they weren't set to be euthanized I'd take them home myself and take care of them. The receptionist told me to discuss it with the vet. I talked to the vet about them and he told me he was glad that someone wanted them.

So long story short. Four kittens that were set to be euthanized less than 12 hours ago now have a new life at my house.

I am not much of a cat person. I have nothing against them. I've just never been much of a cat person. I simply felt that these young fellas deserved a new lease on life.

Anyone else have a similar story? Normally the euthanasia's do not bother me but this one was different to me.

 

[twelvetigers]

No similar stories, but I probably would have done the same thing. Kudos to you for saving some innocent little kitty lives! Maybe they'll grow on you and you'll be a cat person before you know it. 🙂

 

[Backwoods Boy]

Haha. Thanks twelvetigers. It's possible but I wouldn't count on it too much. Although small dogs are starting to grow on me. That's probably due to the vet's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel being at the office every time I am there.

 

[david594]

Anyone else have a similar story? Normally the euthanasia's do not bother me but this one was different to me.

I took a 1 week old kitten home one time after ACO brought it in to be euthanized for lack of a nursing mother/foster home for it.

Tested it for FeLv 2 days later and it was positive so I euthanized.

 

[Backwoods Boy]

I took a 1 week old kitten home one time after ACO brought it in to be euthanized for lack of a nursing mother/foster home for it.

Tested it for FeLv 2 days later and it was positive so I euthanized.

At least you gave it a shot. I'll have to get these kittens tested soon enough.

 

[LaurenKittie]

I think you definitely did the right thing. It's so unfortunate when people euthanize animals just because they don't want them...they're not disposable, you know?
I love cats, so I'm jealous of you 😛

 

[AUhopeful]

No kittens, but I took in a 6 month old cockatiel that was getting its feathers plucked by its cage mates, couldn't fly (ended up having a broken wing) and has nubs for feet (she has no "fingers" or nails). She also does not have any flight feathers so I don't think she'll ever fly. Sure makes my life easier, no nail trimming or clipping feathers. So I built her a handicap ramp so she could get to her feed and her feathers have now grown back. She looks like a real bird now.

 

[bunnity]

Good for everyone who took home unwanted animals.

I don't exactly know how to say this, but coming from shelter med background gives me a different perspective on this type of situation. I have seen so so many animals be put to sleep for lack of space, or for treatable health problems. I have been the person drawing up 5 syringes of Euthasol at a time, and I have been the person doing the "death check" with the stethoscope for 20 cats in a row. There is no possible way I could take all those animals home (and if I did I would be a hoarder and the shelter would have to come take them back...). Working in shelter med you are constantly faced with situations where if you don't take the animal, it dies, and you have to learn to say no to most of them for the sake of your own sanity and your own animals. I do what I can, of course, and I have two fosters right now in my two room apartment, but it is weird for me to read this type of story from private practice because it is such a different world, where you do have the luxury of saving an animal and knowing there won't be 20 more the next day to save.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are ALWAYS animals out there that need homes desperately and there are always animals being euthanized because there are not enough homes. If you (not you backwoodsboy, but you in general) are sad at the thought of euthanizing a healthy adoptable animal, don't wait until it happens at your practice because it is happening every day in shelters and you can be doing something about it every day. Foster, adopt, volunteer, impress upon your friends and clients (in the future) to spay/neuter and adopt. I feel strongly that if every veterinarian had spent some time in a shelter they would try much harder to push s/n and adoption, because it's one thing to know theoretically that animals in shelters are dying and it's another thing to hold that animal in your lap while it's dying and know it should be living a happy life with a family.

I want to emphasize that I'm not trying to criticize the fact that other people have saved animals from private practice situations (and David I know yours probably was a shelter situation) and I think it's awesome and shows a great love of animals. I just get frustrated because I am so often in the "foster this kitten or it dies" situation and I can't save them all. It's the kind of thing where everyone has to do a little bit because there are just so many animals in need out there.

 

[ckd816]

Good for everyone who took home unwanted animals.

I don't exactly know how to say this, but coming from shelter med background gives me a different perspective on this type of situation. I have seen so so many animals be put to sleep for lack of space, or for treatable health problems. I have been the person drawing up 5 syringes of Euthasol at a time, and I have been the person doing the "death check" with the stethoscope for 20 cats in a row. There is no possible way I could take all those animals home (and if I did I would be a hoarder and the shelter would have to come take them back...). Working in shelter med you are constantly faced with situations where if you don't take the animal, it dies, and you have to learn to say no to most of them for the sake of your own sanity and your own animals. I do what I can, of course, and I have two fosters right now in my two room apartment, but it is weird for me to read this type of story from private practice because it is such a different world, where you do have the luxury of saving an animal and knowing there won't be 20 more the next day to save.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are ALWAYS animals out there that need homes desperately and there are always animals being euthanized because there are not enough homes. If you (not you backwoodsboy, but you in general) are sad at the thought of euthanizing a healthy adoptable animal, don't wait until it happens at your practice because it is happening every day in shelters and you can be doing something about it every day. Foster, adopt, volunteer, impress upon your friends and clients (in the future) to spay/neuter and adopt. I feel strongly that if every veterinarian had spent some time in a shelter they would try much harder to push s/n and adoption, because it's one thing to know theoretically that animals in shelters are dying and it's another thing to hold that animal in your lap while it's dying and know it should be living a happy life with a family.

I want to emphasize that I'm not trying to criticize the fact that other people have saved animals from private practice situations (and David I know yours probably was a shelter situation) and I think it's awesome and shows a great love of animals. I just get frustrated because I am so often in the "foster this kitten or it dies" situation and I can't save them all. It's the kind of thing where everyone has to do a little bit because there are just so many animals in need out there.

Well said. 👍

 

[SaintSamson]

Just thought I'd add a small tidbit to all the other suggestions.

If you are really, truly serious about vet school, then project that confidence.

Even when you have small doubts and you're able to stop yourself and say 'no, I really want this' and keep looking forward and working hard, then you have a very simple answer to the question people give you about if you're sure you want to be a veterinarian.

All you have to do is firmly say: 'This is what I want to do.' or 'This is what I want to do with my life.'

(I got my current vet job by stating that at the end of my cover letter.)

I have flip flopped between 5-6 different majors, but when I realized that there was no other job I wanted to do and that I could see myself doing 30 years from now, I set my goals. I'm not in vet school yet, nor am I ready to apply, but I have a plan and a goal, and when anyone questions me, that simple answer (said very firmly and confidently) makes everyone stop from questioning me anymore.
I suggest that if you are really committed to your decision, that you tell the prof and your boyfriend that vet school is what you want to do, no matter what. if they question money, let them know you are very well aware of the debt and that does not change your decision.

Best of luck 🙂 If you're heart is committed, then you can do it 🙂

 

[Minnerbelle]

Good for everyone who took home unwanted animals.

There is no possible way I could take all those animals home (and if I did I would be a hoarder and the shelter would have to come take them back...). Working in shelter med you are constantly faced with situations where if you don't take the animal, it dies, and you have to learn to say no to most of them for the sake of your own sanity and your own animals. I do what I can, of course, and I have two fosters right now in my two room apartment, but it is weird for me to read this type of story from private practice because it is such a different world, where you do have the luxury of saving an animal and knowing there won't be 20 more the next day to save.

Well said bunnity. I've been having this weird experience lately, having gone from a large shelter to a really teeny no-kill animal rescue. It's been very confusing emotionally for me to say the least. On the one hand, I enjoy being able to give behaviorally unsound/unhealthy animals another chance. For instance, I'm fostering what used to be a semi-feral cat who would have had absolutely no chance at a bigger shelter. For 4-5 months, she was a cat that would go crazy if you went within 5 feet of her. After working on her for months, she's finally snapped out of it and is probably one of the sweetest cats in the world (though of course she would have to go home to someone with considerable cat experience).

On the other hand, it really bugs me sometimes that this whole organization seems so self-indulgent. We have had less than 40 cats and just a few dogs in our facility and foster homes combined... but we've only adopted out like 5 animals since January. Many of these animals have been here over 6 months. And here we are, always patting ourselves on our shoulders about how our standard of care is sooo much higher than that of regular shelters, and about how we're rescuing these animals from imminent euthanasia from these bad baaaaad kill shelters. I try to remind everyone that as we're congratulating ourselves, hundreds of animals are being euthanized right in the city (animals that we obviously can't take in, or even have the capacity to euthanize). To a certain extent I think it just goes in one ear and out the other.

Maybe I'm just super cynical from my past experiences... but when you've seen 20-30 animals being put to sleep EVERY DAY, it makes you think really hard about how to stretch your resources (including man power) on the animals with the greatest potential. As for fostering, I try to do what I can. It's really hard to say no to an animal who is going to be put down that day, when you KNOW they can become adoptable if you could just hold on to them a little while. But when it comes to adopting animals, I have a very strict rule: no matter how much I become attached to an animal, if that animal CAN be happy in another home, I WILL NOT adopt that animal. I'm saving up room for the animals that I just cannot bear to put to sleep, who will never become adoptable to the general public.

Kudos to Backwoods Boys for taking in those kittens though. You'll say you don't like cats now, and I don't think a litter of kittens will change that (since kittens are cute but kind of all the same, and by the time they're 10 weeks you'll be pushing their rambunctious asses out the door). BUT, wait till you foster an adult rescue cat that follows you around everywhere!

 

[ReadyBeVet]

Like Bunnity, I worked at an animal shelter for several years. It got to the point that I just couldn't take any animal home anymore. For my sanity and for that of my parents, and to protect our pets.

I spent numerous sleepless nights awake bottle feeding abandoned day-old kittens. It was very rewarding, but at the same time there were 10-20 cats PTS that week due to lack of space. Shelter med is definitely an eye-opener to the world of unwanted, neglected, and abused pets. If we could all just educate our future clients, our friends, and family- that is where the real difference will be made.

 

[CatVet2Be]

Anyone else have a similar story? Normally the euthanasia's do not bother me but this one was different to me.

I've gotten somewhat good at saying no but for my heart and sanity every once in a while I have to say yes and end up with a foster kitten (or 2, or litter). And though you may not be a cat person right now cats are trying to take over the world one person at a time so just wait...

I get what everyone else is saying about the frustrations of shelter medicine and seeing so many pts every single day. And though saving 1 or 2 kittens may not solve the problem, it does solve their problem. You know the story about the woman throwing stranded starfish back into the water and being told it doesn't make a difference because she'll never save all of them? And she responds it may not make a big difference in the world but it makes a world of difference to them. If you can save one even once, that's one more animal that got a chance.

I'm biased, my favorite pets have all been rescues and I've worked at spay neuter organizations for years and will continue to do that for the rest of my life. I agree that everyone should expose themselves to groups that deal with high volume at risk animals. It's incredibly eye opening but also incredibly frustrating.

But congrats on the kittens and good for you!! It just shows you have a good heart and how can you not be a sucker for kittens. I mean really?😀

 

[bunnity]

Thanks everyone for understanding what I was trying to say... I was afraid of sounding like a jerk but it seems that people are interpreting it in the way I meant it.

CatVet, you bring up a really good point about making a difference for a particular animal versus lots of animals. I think it is important for those of us working in shelter medicine to realize and appreciate the particular animals we do help, because sometimes that can get lost in the overwhelming amount of animals we can't help. And the thing with the starfish or the kittens is that if everyone was saving one (and addressing the root issues that cause overpopulation), then the real problem could be fixed.

I do think that in shelter medicine there has to be a balance between what is best for a particular animal and what is best for the total sum of the animals (and society). I think that balance needs to be applied in shelter policies, where keeping an old sick mean animal up for adoption might be the best for that animal, but might mean that three young healthy nice animals do not get a place in the shelter and get adopted. Treating one animal with heartworm could be best for that animal but it might mean that 50 animals can't be vaccinated. Adopting out an aggressive dog might mean a child gets bitten. Bringing a sick kitten into your house might get your cats sick. There are a lot of things to balance and a lot of tough ethical issues. I tend to be more on the cynical / do what's best for the "herd" side of things but I very much appreciate hearing what CatVet said because it helps balance things out in a very not-black-and-white issue.

 

[Backwoods Boy]

Bunnity, I think we all (or at least I hope) understand what you are saying. I don't like to see anything euthanized (unless there is a need for it), however, we all must realize that we cannot save every dog, cat, bird, etc that steps foot through the door. I have come to terms with that as we all should.

As a side note, many of the animals that come through the practice that I work for are those shelter animals. The vet I work under does a majority of the euthanasia's for the local shelters.

 

[david594]

. I tend to be more on the cynical / do what's best for the "herd" side of things but I very much appreciate hearing what CatVet said because it helps balance things out in a very not-black-and-white issue.

The shelter I am at closed down a few months ago, and was just reopened by a new group. And its kind of interesting as they have gone to a more open adoption policy.

Previously they would screen pretty throughly and would deny a good number of people adoptions. The new policies have been to deny far fewer people as the assumption is that if they don't get a spayed/neutered and vaccinated animal from us, they will get an unfixed and unvaccinated from a friend, the newspaper or craigslist instead. And will only contribute more to the overpopulation problem.

I feel like its an interesting perspective to take on how to do the most good for animals in the region.

 

[bunnity]

That's definitely an interesting idea david594. I'd be curious to hear how it works out over the next couple years. I guess it would depend on how much of the "supply" of craigslist-type animals was due to intentional breeding for profit and how much was accidental. Sure would make people think twice about breeding and selling them purebred labradoodles if no one was buying.

And thanks Backwoodsboy, and that is awesome that your vet does work for shelters. The vet that works with my smaller rescue group is great and I am really glad there are private practices out there that will work with rescues that don't have their own vets.

 

[david594]

They had a case a little while back that kind of supported this idea for them.

They refused an adoption for a slightly less than ideal adopter and they went and got a "free kitten" from wherever instead. A year later the (now adult) cat had a litter of 7 kittens and the person was not back at the shelter to give up the kittens. Hindsight is 20/20 and they realized that if they had just adopted to the person, they would have now avoided the 7 kittens they have to deal with.

 

[Backwoods Boy]

I am also highly interested in how the open adoption policy works out. I understand that everyone wants shelter animals to go to a good home. However, if someone is interested enough to apply at a shelter for an adoption instead of looking in the newspaper or online for free pets, there is something that must be said about them. It is blatantly obvious that they actually care about what they are trying to do.

I may bring this up with the vet I work under. It may be interesting to hear his thoughts on the matter.

 

[Pomona2006]

For me, I've had situations come up where people were interested in adopting an animal that was scheduled to be euth'ed - and ended up saving the animal from being euth'ed.

The one casee that stands out... a cat that had been in the shelter for months was next on the list of cats to be euth'ed if space was needed (and during the summer, space is always needed). This cat was already spayed and could go home with someone that day - and someone expressed interest literally 2 minutes before it was going to be euth'ed. I convinced the other tech not to euth it yet - to hold off for 15 minutes to see whether the woman would actually adopt. Of course, I am NOT a fan of telling people that the animal will be killed if they don't take it home, so I didn't make it seem urgent or necessary. But, nevertheless, the woman did adopt the cat and the cat is still with her. To this day I want to tell her how she (quite literally) saved the cat's life.