Cat rescue or cat hoarder?

Question

I am almost a little ashamed to ask this. I have a small dilemma. I work with multiple animal rescues, and try to understand that everyone is trying to do the best they can to help the animals. However, I have been hearing a lot about this one rescue in particular. The cats seem to be sick and at adopt-a-thons they get other cats sick. My cat personally came from them and since adopting him (like 6 months ago) I have spent over 500 in treating a skin condition that was present when I got him – which the rescue never told me about, I noticed it the first day he was home. I thought my cat was an exception and did not think too much about it – I love my cat and would never think about getting rid of him. Yet the more and more I deal with this rescue, I keep hearing about other sick cats, and they seem to have a strange number of kittens. The woman who runs the rescue told me that she had over 100 cats in her home.

I don’t know if I should have animal control go by her house to check on the cats or not. She sounds like a hoarder to me, but as I also work in rescue I am worried that the animal control officers may just feel that I am trying to “eliminate the competition.”

Answer 1

I think maye you should have animal control go to her house she really looks like she's just collecting cats.  And it's definetely a hazard if the cats are also getting sick.  

Answer 2

Hi Our Family,

I can certainly understand your dilemma and concern for this particular "rescue" group. From what you have described about this facility, one has to speculate that while the person who has the rescue may consider themselves to be just that, it sounds like she is actually a hoarder.

From what I know about reputable rescues, cats are well cared for. Yes, it is a financial committment to have a rescue group, but one has to take that into consideration prior to opening one. Additionally many rescue groups are registered.

I think you have placed the responsibility on your shoulders to ensure the safety and health of these cats. Having 100 cats without being able to care for them correctly smacks of hoarder behavior. They may love them but are ill equipped to care for them.

Make sure you can document what you have learned about this "rescue" group and do contact animal control. These cats need attention badly and quickly.

I wish you all the best. As far as "competition" is concerned, I don't think that should be an issue. Rescue people appreciate help from others to make sure that the animals under their care are provided for, and with the huge number of animals needing homes, the more people willing to get involved in the right way, the better it is for the cats.

Good luck to you.

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

http://frequentlyfeline.blogspot.com/

Answer 3

If she has 100 cats IN HER HOUSE, that's freaking extreme.  Call animal control and let them know that she has an insane number of cats.  In some states there are laws regulating how many cats you can have in your home.  OMG, if they're sick, no wonder!  She definitely sounds like a hoarder, and if she's not even bothering to fix them, then she's definitely irresponsible.

Answer 4

I think you should make an appointment to speak to someone at animal control and ask them to look into this. They can attend one of the adopt-a-thons and see for them self the condition of the cats then take it further if necessary. There is no such thing as competition with rescue agencies. They are all supposed to be working towards the same goal. When you speak to animal control keep the conversation about the health of the animals and not include any personal feelings you may or may not have about this woman. Sick cats should NEVER be allowed to attend adopt-a-thons! I would also avoid going to her house yourself. This is a matter for the authorities.

Answer 5

100 in her house??? omg ....

I couldn't imagine having 5, lol.

You should definitely call the animal control because if she has that many cats, you know they are not getting the proper care they need.

Answer 6

If the animal control officers are professionals they'll do a check anyway-- They shouldn't let your occupation get in the way of the safety of those cats.

Try looking to see if there's an anonymous tip line you can call. That way you can leave your report without having to worry about something like that.

If you think there's a problem (and it really sounds like there is) then give them a call. Do what's in the best interest of the cats.

Answer 7

I would, If there is an animal control. But be careful, just tell them you want them to take a look, but your not sure, thet is much more nice than telling them she has alot and they need to be removed. So be nice about it.

Answer 8

This needs to be checked out.  If she is a genuine rescue she'll have nothing to hide from an SPCA visit and will be happy to show them her home.  The fact cats are coming from there with illnesses and adopters aren't being told of health conditions rings alarm bells.  If she is found to be hoarding or have very poor standards of care then a visit from the SPCA will stop her from damaging other cats.

At the shelter where I've worked, if we had an outbreak of disease we didn't adopt out or take in cats until we were disease free (unless they'd been housed at a separate location).  We were never offended by visits to check us out.

Answer 9

It sounds like your concerned for good reason to me. Maybe you should anonymously leave the tip for the animal control officers. Some people have their heart in the right place but can easily become overwhelmed by the shear number of animals that need help. This lady may have just gotten in over her head because she wants to help. Call.  

Answer 10

she is definalty a hoarder and u ndont even have to tell them who you are it can be aynonamus. she might have horrible living coditions and she could be making the cats worst. Even if there is no issue please call animal control or the police who have creutly investigaters to check it out!!!!!!

answer mine?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 11

Don't be ashamed to ask such a question. Sadly, there are some rescues that while they start out with just a few, it can quickly escalate to a few too many.  If I were in your position, I would call animal control and have them check it out. The woman may have gotten in way over her head and either does not realize it or may not want to accept the fact that she has too many cats in her home and needs help. She may be one of those that feels she "has to rescue them all" and while her heart may be in the right place, the animals that she has are no better off in her care as they have medical issues that are not being addressed.

Answer 12

Unfortunately, not every rescue is good.

They all usually have good intentions... but those intentions don't matter when the animals they rescue get ill from being in the rescue enviorment. A little sniffle is one thing. Most rescue cats pass those around... but it doesn't sound like a "little sniffle" is what you are describing.

If you feel that there is something unhealthy going on, definitely call. Make your call anonymous if you don't wan them to know who you are, because they know you are in rescue as well. If nothing is wrong, nothing will happen to her rescue. THey will visit and see the animals are in a safe healthy clean enviorment. But on the other hand, if yoursuspicionss are right, then you are saving the animals.  

Answer 13

You should definitely tell them, its a health concern for the kitties. Just explain that you have been noticing sicknesses in the animals, and tell them about your cat that you got from there. That may get them to not ignore your concern.

Answer 14

I would definitely call at least the local aspca and ask them if the woman is legitimate. It may be that she is trying to make an effort but cannot afford to provide health care for the cats.  If that's the case there may be something the aspca can do to assist her, otherwise they may have to move the cats to a proper facility.  Unfortunately, the bare truth is that many of them may end up getting put down which sucks very much, but knowing in my area how full all of the shelters are, there may not be a place for them all.  At least by calling and opening up questions regarding this woman, it may help to get the animals spayed and neutered before she ends up with 500 cats.

I hope this helped.  Good Luck and don't let it stop you from your wonderful work with the animals.

Answer 15

There are a lot of rescuers that start out with good intentions, and then get in over their heads and become nothing more than hoarders.  It's not good for the cats they are "rescuing" as most of them being end up not cared for properly, sick, and overcrowded.  She needs to have an anonymous call put in to animal control.  If she's a legitimate rescuer, they will tell her to reduce her numbers of animals, get them up to date on shots, and so on.  She really needs to be reported, both for the sake of the cats, and for another reason - when people see her sick cats, it gives rescue in general a bad name.  People like her are the reasons that many shelters will no longer work with rescues, as they feel that they are all just hoarders and the cats are better off being put to sleep than to have a miserable and sick life in a cage.  Good luck!  

Answer 16

Sick cats should never be put up for adoption. Our rescue makes sure all the cats have been treated and and are recovered before placing them. I would put in a call to the SPCA or animal control. If there's nothing wrong going on, the woman shouldn't mind. A woman near me is calling herself a rescue but is giving away whole litters of kittens to single adopters on Freecycle. Sometimes these people mean well but things can quickly get out hand. I don't see rescues as competition.  Everyone is in it for the same reasons. The rescues I know are all friends and help each other when they can. Concern over these cats shouldn't be seen as an attempt to eliminate competition. I hope it gets sorted out.