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I tried to adopt a cat from one of those "rescue" organizations. I even filled out their stupid form with more info than I usually give people. This is the crap that ensued.
The form: (I've *** the stuff that I filled in, but have redacted for here)
>> ----- Personal Data -----
>> Name: ********** ***************
>> Occupation: System Administrator
>> Address: ********************
>> City: San Jose State: CA Zip: 95***
>> Daytime Phone: 408-***-****
>> Work Phone:
>> Evening Phone:
>> Best time to call:
>> Email:*****@*********.***
>> ----- Personal Reference -----
>> Reference Name: *************
>> Reference Phone: 408-***-****
>> Best time to call the reference:
>> Relationship to reference: co_worker
>> ----- Personal Reference -----
>> Housing: rent
>> How long have you lived in your current home?:
>> Prior Address: ************
>> Prior City: ************ (somehow got typed incorrectly) Prior State: CA Prior Zip: 95***
>> If rent or house-sit, do you have landlord's permission to keep a
>> cat? yes
>> Landlord's Name: *************
>> Landlord's Phone#:
>> How long at this residence? 6m
>> How many adults and children are in this home? 4
>> Children's ages: no kids
>> Does anyone in your home have allergies? no
>> What are the allergies?
>> ----- Current/Previous Pets -----
>> Do you own other cats? yes
>> If yes, are they spayed or neutered? yes
>> Are they indoors only? yes
>> Are they up-to-date on rabies/distemper vaccines? yes
>> How do you feel about declawing? opposed
>> How many other cats have you owned in the last five years? 2
>> If you no longer have the previous cats, what happened to them?
>> Do you have other pets? no
>> Type of Pets?
>> How many?
>> How do they react to cats?
>> Reason for wanting a cat? The more the merrier
>> ----- Veterinary Information -----
>> Do you have a regular veterinarian? no
>> Veterinarian's name:
>> Clinic Name:
>> Phone:
>> If you do not have a regular veterinarian, please explain why? we
>> just moved and need to find a local vet
>> ----- About the Cat You Wish to Adopt -----
>> Name of MC/Mix you are currently interested in: Snow White
>> MCA Representative/Case Manager:
>> Have you owned a Maine Coon before? no
>> Why do you want to adopt a Maine Coon? I like them
>> Desired age: <6
>> Desired sex: no preference
>> Willing to adopt: none
>> Where will the cat spend the day? house
>> Where will the cat spend the night? house
>> Number of hours cat will spend alone? 0
>> Who will have primary responsibility for this cat's daily care? me
>> and roomies
>> How will you care for its coat? brush/comb
>> Do you agree to provide regular health care by a Licensed
>> Veterinarian? yes
>> Do you agree to contact MCA if you can no longer keep this cat? yes
>> Are you be willing to let a representative of MCA visit your home by
>> appointment? yes
>> If not, why?
>>
>> How did you hear about MCA? web
This elicited this response:
> Kathleen McGirr wrote:
>> Dear ************,
>>
>> After careful review of your application, we regret to inform you that
>> you have not been approved to adopt a kitty.
>> Many of our kitties have come from unknown or bad backgrounds and
>> therefore we have a list of criteria that must be met. Unfortunately,
>> your application does not meet these criteria.
>>
>> We wish you luck in finding a cat.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Katy McGirr
>> Director of Adoptions
>> Maine Coon Adoptions
Please note that the snot didn't ask any questions, or even call me to explain anything I didn't fill out. Some "careful review"! They also don't say what their criteria actually are!!
So I replied:
> From: ********************
> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 8:40 PM
> To: Kathleen McGirr
> Subject: Re: Maine Coon Adoptions
>
> I'm actually surprised that you manage to adopt any of these cats out,
> with how many nosy, personal questions you ask. Considering that our
> current two cats were rescued from a supposed "good" home (a foster home
> for kids) where they were neglected and abused, it makes me wonder about
> your criteria, also.
>
> But whatever. I'll probably be rescuing a kitten from feral instead.
>
> I do better at actually doing the work than filling out nosy forms.
>
> Tell Snow we're sorry she can't come home with us.
>
> **********
Yes, I was annoyed, but this is rather tame for me.
This is what I got back:
> Actually, good families are delighted that we ask so many questions. Your
> comments make us conclude that we were right to not adopt to you.
>
> Elaine
> Director
> Maine Coon Adoptions
Riiiight. "Good families" are willing to let strangers pry, and judge them on unstated criteria. The arrogance, it burns. My response to madam priss:
-----Original Message-----
From: *********
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 3:32 PM
To: elaineln@*************
Subject: RE: Maine Coon Adoptions
Ah, I see. So "good" in your world means people who don't care about
their privacy, and have very standard living arrangements. I'm surprised
you didn't ask for photos of our white picket fence.
I don't know what little box that I didn't fill in to your satisfaction,
but I found the survey very intrusive. I don't feel comfortable handing
out other people's data on web forms, much less my own.
Considering that I know you didn't call the person I had as a reference
(after asking their permission, btw), I can only conclude that you must
have a set of "golden answers" that makes a "good family" to you.
If I were not already owned by cats, I might understand. But while I
won't fill out a great deal of stuff on web forms, I notice that you did
not even call me to set up a time to come meet me and my roommates'
existing cats.
About veterinarians: our previous vet was a place near Cupertino (24 hour
something). We really need to find one closesr to our new home. Your
volunteers at petsmart said they knew of more local ones, but never came
through. Not surprising.
Quite frankly, I am really finding much of the attitude these days of
adoption groups, even shelters, to be downright puzzling. I guess that
you'd rather kill cats than have someone who doesn't fill out all the
little boxes on a form just right.
This is the first time I've had to fill out such an intrusive thing,
although other agencies and groups have them. This experience tells me
not to bother with any others.
Thank you for the insult. It's nice to know that I'm not a "good family".
*********
Her final "parting shot" -- oooooh, I'm so wounded, a yuppie bitch doesn't think I'm good enough to even read mail from:
Just so you know, all your emails to us will now go into our "delete" files.
Enough of you.
Elaine
So, now you know. If you don't tilt your head just so, or tell the right lies, Main Coon Adoptions decides you aren't a "good family" (I guess they thought 4 adults with no kids is "bad").
I just saved $125 for not adopting a cat through a snotty group.
Too bad I also won't be donating any money to them either... "Enough of" them.
The form: (I've *** the stuff that I filled in, but have redacted for here)
>> ----- Personal Data -----
>> Name: ********** ***************
>> Occupation: System Administrator
>> Address: ********************
>> City: San Jose State: CA Zip: 95***
>> Daytime Phone: 408-***-****
>> Work Phone:
>> Evening Phone:
>> Best time to call:
>> Email:*****@*********.***
>> ----- Personal Reference -----
>> Reference Name: *************
>> Reference Phone: 408-***-****
>> Best time to call the reference:
>> Relationship to reference: co_worker
>> ----- Personal Reference -----
>> Housing: rent
>> How long have you lived in your current home?:
>> Prior Address: ************
>> Prior City: ************ (somehow got typed incorrectly) Prior State: CA Prior Zip: 95***
>> If rent or house-sit, do you have landlord's permission to keep a
>> cat? yes
>> Landlord's Name: *************
>> Landlord's Phone#:
>> How long at this residence? 6m
>> How many adults and children are in this home? 4
>> Children's ages: no kids
>> Does anyone in your home have allergies? no
>> What are the allergies?
>> ----- Current/Previous Pets -----
>> Do you own other cats? yes
>> If yes, are they spayed or neutered? yes
>> Are they indoors only? yes
>> Are they up-to-date on rabies/distemper vaccines? yes
>> How do you feel about declawing? opposed
>> How many other cats have you owned in the last five years? 2
>> If you no longer have the previous cats, what happened to them?
>> Do you have other pets? no
>> Type of Pets?
>> How many?
>> How do they react to cats?
>> Reason for wanting a cat? The more the merrier
>> ----- Veterinary Information -----
>> Do you have a regular veterinarian? no
>> Veterinarian's name:
>> Clinic Name:
>> Phone:
>> If you do not have a regular veterinarian, please explain why? we
>> just moved and need to find a local vet
>> ----- About the Cat You Wish to Adopt -----
>> Name of MC/Mix you are currently interested in: Snow White
>> MCA Representative/Case Manager:
>> Have you owned a Maine Coon before? no
>> Why do you want to adopt a Maine Coon? I like them
>> Desired age: <6
>> Desired sex: no preference
>> Willing to adopt: none
>> Where will the cat spend the day? house
>> Where will the cat spend the night? house
>> Number of hours cat will spend alone? 0
>> Who will have primary responsibility for this cat's daily care? me
>> and roomies
>> How will you care for its coat? brush/comb
>> Do you agree to provide regular health care by a Licensed
>> Veterinarian? yes
>> Do you agree to contact MCA if you can no longer keep this cat? yes
>> Are you be willing to let a representative of MCA visit your home by
>> appointment? yes
>> If not, why?
>>
>> How did you hear about MCA? web
This elicited this response:
> Kathleen McGirr wrote:
>> Dear ************,
>>
>> After careful review of your application, we regret to inform you that
>> you have not been approved to adopt a kitty.
>> Many of our kitties have come from unknown or bad backgrounds and
>> therefore we have a list of criteria that must be met. Unfortunately,
>> your application does not meet these criteria.
>>
>> We wish you luck in finding a cat.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Katy McGirr
>> Director of Adoptions
>> Maine Coon Adoptions
Please note that the snot didn't ask any questions, or even call me to explain anything I didn't fill out. Some "careful review"! They also don't say what their criteria actually are!!
So I replied:
> From: ********************
> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 8:40 PM
> To: Kathleen McGirr
> Subject: Re: Maine Coon Adoptions
>
> I'm actually surprised that you manage to adopt any of these cats out,
> with how many nosy, personal questions you ask. Considering that our
> current two cats were rescued from a supposed "good" home (a foster home
> for kids) where they were neglected and abused, it makes me wonder about
> your criteria, also.
>
> But whatever. I'll probably be rescuing a kitten from feral instead.
>
> I do better at actually doing the work than filling out nosy forms.
>
> Tell Snow we're sorry she can't come home with us.
>
> **********
Yes, I was annoyed, but this is rather tame for me.
This is what I got back:
> Actually, good families are delighted that we ask so many questions. Your
> comments make us conclude that we were right to not adopt to you.
>
> Elaine
> Director
> Maine Coon Adoptions
Riiiight. "Good families" are willing to let strangers pry, and judge them on unstated criteria. The arrogance, it burns. My response to madam priss:
-----Original Message-----
From: *********
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 3:32 PM
To: elaineln@*************
Subject: RE: Maine Coon Adoptions
Ah, I see. So "good" in your world means people who don't care about
their privacy, and have very standard living arrangements. I'm surprised
you didn't ask for photos of our white picket fence.
I don't know what little box that I didn't fill in to your satisfaction,
but I found the survey very intrusive. I don't feel comfortable handing
out other people's data on web forms, much less my own.
Considering that I know you didn't call the person I had as a reference
(after asking their permission, btw), I can only conclude that you must
have a set of "golden answers" that makes a "good family" to you.
If I were not already owned by cats, I might understand. But while I
won't fill out a great deal of stuff on web forms, I notice that you did
not even call me to set up a time to come meet me and my roommates'
existing cats.
About veterinarians: our previous vet was a place near Cupertino (24 hour
something). We really need to find one closesr to our new home. Your
volunteers at petsmart said they knew of more local ones, but never came
through. Not surprising.
Quite frankly, I am really finding much of the attitude these days of
adoption groups, even shelters, to be downright puzzling. I guess that
you'd rather kill cats than have someone who doesn't fill out all the
little boxes on a form just right.
This is the first time I've had to fill out such an intrusive thing,
although other agencies and groups have them. This experience tells me
not to bother with any others.
Thank you for the insult. It's nice to know that I'm not a "good family".
*********
Her final "parting shot" -- oooooh, I'm so wounded, a yuppie bitch doesn't think I'm good enough to even read mail from:
Just so you know, all your emails to us will now go into our "delete" files.
Enough of you.
Elaine
So, now you know. If you don't tilt your head just so, or tell the right lies, Main Coon Adoptions decides you aren't a "good family" (I guess they thought 4 adults with no kids is "bad").
I just saved $125 for not adopting a cat through a snotty group.
Too bad I also won't be donating any money to them either... "Enough of" them.
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From:
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They probably didn't like "the more the merrier", is my guess.
Craigslist is the way to go, imo. That's how I found my wonderful, wonderful Becquerel. No forms-- just someone who came across a kitty on a walking path and already had too many pets. I wrote them a nice letter, and within an hour or two I had him home!
See?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/pet?hasPic=1&query=maine%20coon%20&srchType=T