They kicked me out of the shelter...

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Today I went to the shelter to see the cats and kittens. I asked about doing petfinder.com ads for the cats, and again they said the person I had to talk to wasn't in, even though it was the hours they told me he'd be in.

I have been going there two or three times weekly, for three hours or so at a time, to play with the cats, hold them, just generally spend time with them. I also brought a dangle toy and some treats.

I couldn't do any more because when I first came there, they said they had no volunteer program; but that the shelter was open to visitors. So I became a "visitor".

After I had spent a little time with the cats, one of the employees called me into the office and told me that a man wanted to speak to me. I don't remember either one of their names; maybe they were never said. The man had gray hair and it seemed like he might be in charge.

He told me that visitors were starting to think I might be an employee; and that anyone who spent this much time at the shelter would have to be either an employee or a volunteer. They were starting to think I worked there.

"But you don't have a volunteer program," I said. "No, we don't," he agreed. And they can't/won't hire me.

He was trying to be polite about it, I suppose; but what I heard was a lot of beating around the bush, to the effect that "We don't want you here."

So I said, "I'm leaving now," and left. He was still talking. I did this because otherwise I would have started crying and that is very impolite.

I did cry on the way home. I'm glad no one heard me, because I must have sounded more like a wolf howling than a human being. I suppose I had a grade-A meltdown...

I don't understand that they won't let me come anymore.

I'm not doing any harm to the cats. They like me, and I like them.

Maybe I'm not doing much good, either; but surely it must get lonely and boring living in a cage all day? At least I'm a diversion... at least they get petted (if they want it) or played with (if they're interested) or at the very least a kitty treat... I've never seen any of the shelter employees playing with or even touching a cat. All they ever do is change the litter and feed the cats.

They put cats to sleep because they have too many cats and not enough funds... and they won't let anyone help them with the cats, even though people like me would do it for free, and wouldn't get in anyone's way. So they go on putting cats to sleep...

I wonder whether there have been other offers of help, maybe even by people who were more experienced than me, and could have done more? I wonder how many cats have had to die because these people just want things the way they are, and want to run their shelter their way and not accept any help... Have these people desensitised themselves so completely that they no longer make any effort to make sure their cats leave the shelter in a carrier and not a garbage bag?

I understand some cats have to be put to sleep; if they're too wild or sick, they're completely unadoptable, it's not kind to make them live out their whole lives in cages. But some cats have a chance; and shouldn't they have every chance they can get? It's not their fault they weren't wanted.

I know I look a little weird. I have short hair and I'm fat and I'm socially and physically clumsy... Maybe I look ret*d or something, though I'm only Asperger's. But I like cats, and I know how to take care of them, and I'm not stupid or incompetent.

I'm crying again just typing this... I know the cats' lives will go on without me, of course; but is it so wrong to want to give them a little bit of attention, just so living in that kitten orphanage isn't so dull?

Yeah it suck that they want let you help out. No telling why. Maybe you can find out more
info. Is there some online forum for your local newspaper? Can you write to your paper and ask about this. I bet you can find the truth or force them to take you.

darn i was all ready to tell you of my expieriances at the rescue missions i stayed in when i saw the title to this topic.

Calista

Your story made me really sad, for you, and the cats who had so little else to enjoy besides your company, and how so much of what goes on in this world punishes simple goodness and rewards those who only care about their own egos. I'm on the verge of crying myself despite my hyper male brain and inability to empathize.

I hope you can find some other way to fulfill this portion of the destiny you were obviously born to.

Choking up. My thoughts are with you.

My heart goes out to you. I think that it's terrible that those people did that to you. They should at least hire you. People are strange. All that they want to concentrate on, is what they see on the outside. There are certian people that I hate, and it's people like the ones who gave you trouble, today.

Hang in there.

That makes no sense. Can you take a normal back there with you to translate whatever B.S. they're trying to tell you? This is incomprehensible.

I'd ask them what their problem is. Since it really is their problem, not yours. They can't handle people assuming your an employee, then it sounds like they're not good at handling much else. The whole thing makes me so mad and I'm not even involved. There's a really nice place near me called Orphans of the Storm if you live in or around IL. They let people visit the cats in this big cat-room, with no problem. I could tell you where it is. Other then that I really don't know.

I am so sad to hear this....the cats will miss you!! !!The more socialised the cats are to humans the better they are as pets...I wish there was a local small paper that you could report this to....makes me think they are trying to hide something(maybe they think you are undercover PETA?)maybe you should contact local PETA group and see if they can check this place out?Really, the whole thing makes no logical sense.....who with any compassion would do this to the animals or a human being?If they dont have compassion....what are they doing in that business?Do you have a social worker or advocate that you can talk to about this...maybe if they understood the "theraputic" nature of what you are doing they would reconsider....Most the time when people are doing something illogical it is out of fear...my question is it fear of getting "caught" doing something wrong or fear of you(everyone who is different is veiwed as "crazy" and nothing scares people more then "crazy"...I dont think you should just let this drop....It seems important to you and the cats.If you have the energy ,,,,fight .

That really sucks. Did you look to see if there are any other shelters in your area? They might be a little farther away, but maybe they'll let you volunteer there.

Other than that, I don't know what advice to give you. This sounds maybe a little underhanded, but if you see a psychologist/psychiatrist, maybe you could get the doctor to call the shelter on your behalf and have him explain the situation to the people at the shelter. Have him tell them that it's good for you to go there, and have him ask if they wouldn't change their minds about allowing you. Maybe he can talk them into letting you volunteer.

There aren't any shelters close enough to reach by bike, except for that one; I don't have a car or driver's license.

It seems to me that if you won some victory over these people, you'd still have to be around them to be around their cats. I suspect you'd rather be around the fleas. I also suspect you might not be the first animal lover they've offended or failed to impress.

I don't know if this would be feasible, but I'd be happier than hell if I heard that you had managed to get hold of some warehouse space, or a barn, or something with a roof, and started your own pirate animal shelter/adoption agency, run the way it should be run. There may be people that would be interested in working with you.

If you could get anything started at all, the newspapers would love it, and so would a lot of their readers.

Oh wow

hugs

thats harsh

real harsh

I see no harm in what you are doing. Love is what they need and it helps you aswell I bet.

Yeah... Cats aren't only an obsession to me; they're therapy. Why else do they put autistic kids on horseback, or get dogs for people who have depression? Animals are quite simply good for you. Connecting with something nonthreatening and straightforward is such a relief after all of the craziness of human society.

There are several things you can do.
If you have the time, contact your local Boy Scounts or similar organization. You can bet theres some kid who is going to try for his Eagle Project or something and needs a public service deal. If you can wrangle it, I bet you can BUILD a shelter at minimal cost, because its good publicity to sponsor such things and big companies LOVE it.
After that you would need to rely on charity and donations, but if you have the time, starting your own shelter would be a great idea.
As an Eagle Scout myself, I know how this sort of thing works. I almost did something similar, we were going to build a shelter for pets of abused spouses, as said abused spouses often did not have the means to care for them and the abuser would usually kill or tourture those animals if they could get a hold of them. The shelter gathered enough money to do the project itself though, and as part of the project is organizing the whole deal yourself, I couldnt do it.

(((((Hugs for you Callista!))))) How unfair of them!

I don't know how these shelters work, but I don't understand why they can't have volunteers there. If they're interested in getting their cats adopted by good families then wouldn't it make perfect sense to have someone come in a few days a week, and just spend time with the cats? From what I've seen at shelters, animals are there because they were abandoned by their owners for various reasons one being the animals temperament. If someone spent the time with them they would get used to human touch and interaction and be friendlier. (Not all animals would benefit from it, but some would)People would want them more. Instead the cutest ones get picked and then the owners end up bringing them back to the shelter because they're not what they wanted.

I give you a lot of credit for being willing to do something like that. I can't be in an animal shelter for very long as I get too sad at seeing them live in cages.