Last year, some friends of ours adopted a kitty. Despite struggles and sickness and such, these people have the most giving of hearts made of gold. They're animal lovers and do what they can to better the lives of rescue animals. Just recently, they decided to adopt a feline from a "rescue." In the weeks prior to adoption, we corresponded frequently about prepping for the new addition to their family. This family was excited to adopt this unique feline.
A few days after the kitty joined their family, our friends took him to the vet for a checkup and to get everything straightened out with his records. That's when it happened. Their appointment turned into a heartbreaking nightmare.
In addition to discovering that the kitty was sick, the records for him couldn't be located. They had no idea if he was up to date on vaccinations. Our friends attempted to reach out to the "rescue" they adopted the kitty from. They wanted answers. Unfortunately, their requests for answers were met with haste. The "rescue" ended up blocking our friends.
This prompted our friends to dig a little deeper and, eventually, prompted an investigation. Thankfully, their veterinarian and the ACO responsible for the area where the adoption took place, aided in obtaining information. At the end of the day, it appeared this "rescue" was probably a backyard breeder.
Our friend's kitty was put on medication and is on the road to recovery. They're going forth with exposing this supposed rescue.
"I know we're not going to get our substantial adopted fee returned, but what matters to us is this so-called rescue is busted. Our kitty was in pretty poor shape. There must be other kitties there in the same condition, if not worse. The authorities have the information needed. I hope they shut them down and they get charges brought against them to the fullest extent."
Surprisingly, situations like this happen a lot. Whether it's shady rescue groups or backyard breeders or an individual trying to re-home their pet, people are forking over large sums of money only to find themselves in situations like this. Sadly, in our friends' case, it appeared to be a case where a breeder was showcasing the castoffs as "rescue" kitties.
How can you prevent this from happening to you?
Take the time to research any rescue group or organization before you adopt from them. Be diligent about this. Ask questions. Talk to people. Investigate. Going to their website or Facebook page isn't good enough. A website can be misleading. The admins of Facebook pages can delete negative comments.
For more information...
How to Find a Reputable Animal Rescue - Animal Rescue Professionals Association
Finding a Reputable Shelter or Rescue - Dog Heirs
10 things you can do to ensure you adopt a dog from a reputable group - Seattle Dog Spot
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