I know, I got b*tchy tonight. Probably totally uncalled for, true ... but I can't believe some people can function in the real world and be such creeps. I guess after 25 years, I should know better!
My sister is looking for a puppy and this one she really liked was in NJ, but the adoption fee was $375. I wrote the group anyway asking for info and maybe an app ... it was then I found out that the pup wasn't even going to be fixed prior to adoption - crazy for a rescue, I thought, let alone one charging $375.
Below is my b*tchy response when the woman responded. Ok, maybe "fishy" wasn't a polite word (I said something like "$375 for an unfixed pup sounds fishy"), but her response was still totally uncalled. See for yourself:
Puppies should NOT be fixed till their urinary tract and reproductive tract is FULLY developed at 6 months of age. If you would like to adopt a puppy, under 6 months old, that is already fixed, you must look into another rescue group. We believe in adopting out HEALTHY pets to loving homes, that can AFFORD their veterinary care and up keep. We are a 501c3 pending small rescue group. Our adoption fees, help cover the pups first and second set of vax and deworm/ and any other medical needs they may need before adoption, their transport, and boarding costs inccured while saving their lives from abuse and euthaniasia. Sorry if this sounds fishy to you, but you should ask around and call vets to see how much it costs for a puppies first and second shot/worm/exam, frontline, and heartgard plus or advantix. If you are still interested, we may consider your application...but you sound kinda fishy to me.
R****** (and this person is their freakin vice president. Work on your people skills, jerkface)...
I haven't gotten the chance to yell at someone stupid lately (let's see, how long since I resigned from my rescue group...), so in response, I sent:
R******, Vice President of ****** ********* Inc. in *********, **, I'm a bit aware of all you've got to handle with a rescue - the fees, volunteer hours, federal & state paperwork, heaven-sent process of transporting, prices of testing, vaccinations, veterinarian costs, care and financial responsibility of beloved furbabies (and fosters), etc.
I do rescue work myself, actually. Started a group and built it the to point that it was functioning on its own and I could resign (<--- ok, I might be sounding a bit too full of myself here...). I can tell you personally such curt comments and trying to "school" people in the manner you did are poor public relations skills (let's hope I caught you at a bad moment - I know I've had a long day and needing to look up fairly common knowledge for this email (yea, definitely a b*tchy comment there) isn't a fun way to wrap it up).
http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_welfare/spay_neuter.asp
***"Lowering the number of stray dogs and cats is a high priority for anyone who cares. The AVMA is on record as endorsing early age spay/neuter. As president of the AVMA, I feel it is unconscionable not to use early spay/neuter since it is safe and very very effective in achieving our goals." -Dr Sherbyn Ostrich, President, AVMA, 1996
http://www.petfinder.com/for-shelters/pediatric-spayneuter.html: "Urinary incontinence, or the inability to control urination, may be observed in female dogs whether they are spayed or intact, and regardless of the age when spayed. " - "The surgery is much faster, so it is less stressful on both the patient and the surgeon."
http://www.bestfriends.org/archives/forums/pediatric.html: "In summary, prepubertal spay/neuter, when approached carefully, is just as safe as postpubertal spay/neuter. While there is still insufficient data to conclusively determine when the best time to fix a pet is, new research finds few consequences, and in some cases definite benefits to early spay/neuter." - "To make a decision on how to proceed we need to compare the benefits and risks of early spay/neuter. I believe the benefits are quite clear. Many people believe that pre-adoption spay/neuter has the potential to spare millions of animals the pain of shelter abandonment and euthanasia. With all the research that has been done on early spay/neuter to date, there has been very little evidence of any increased short-term or long-term risk to the pets. In my eyes, the tremendous benefit of preadoption spay/neuter significantly outweighs the small risks that may accompany early spay/neuter.
I feel that shelters and rescue groups that adopt out intact animals are spinning their wheels. In my opinion, the only responsible alternative to early spay/neuter is to delay adoption until 5-6 months of age, when the animal may be conventionally spayed/neutered before going home with the new owner."
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/early-spay-neuter.html: "No conclusive controlled studies have ever been done to determine the best age to neuter dogs and cats. On the other hand, current research does show that spaying before the first heat prevents the development of mammary gland tumors. Since females can go into heat as young as four months of age, they should be spayed before then to receive that protection." - "Concerns about obesity, stunted growth, underdevelopment of secondary sex characteristics, behavioral problems and increased incidence of both lower urinary tract disease and urinary incontinence have been addressed in the veterinary literature and found to be unwarranted. Any differences that have been found appear to have no clinical significance, or occur regardless of the age at neutering."
http://www.maddiesfund.org/Resource_Library/Ask_the_Vet_Pediatric_SpayNeuter_Programs.html: "Another study on early age neutering of dogs and cats in the US by Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. states "Early-age neutering does not stunt growth in dogs and cats (a once-held belief), but may alter metabolic rates in cats. The anesthetic and surgical procedures are apparently safe for young puppies and kittens; morbidity is lower and recovery is faster than adult animals. To date, adverse side effects are apparently no greater in animals neutered at early ages (7 weeks) than those neutered at the conventional age (7 months)."
http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/early-neuter.html (thrown in merely because it's the Cat Fanciers Assoc. ~ big on breeding, showing and judging both breeds and practices lol)
http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/04-sterilization_methods/sn_articles/index.asp: The Controversy is Over: Prepubertal Neutering is the Surgery of Choice "Prepubertal dogs never develop ovarian or uterine tumors, get pyometra or go into heat. Mammary cancer (the #1 cancer in female dogs & the # 3 cancer in female cats) is almost eliminated with prepubertal neutering."
I understand you may feel differently about the topic than myself and a great deal of animal medical and rescue professionals. We're all entitled to our own options. Maybe consider that next time before responding to such a question from the public and insulting them.
I was merely inquiring into Maya as my sister was specifically interested in her and was surprised her adoption fee was so high and she wasn't even going to be fixed. Since Maya already has applications on her, I'm sure she's got great chances in finding an excellent home.
And then after sending it, of course, like a brat, I blocked the email addresses so they can't even respond to me. I feel it best I put myself into contact with people that only lessen my brain skills as little as possible.
Either I need to become a hermit to avoid the desire to verbally tear people apart or I need that stupid people shaking job I mentioned it one of my friends earlier "Tell me, is there a job where I can just totally shake stupid "rescuers" and, if it's possible (cause some of them are just too stupid and/or selfish), teach them what they really should be doing??? Cause if so, I want that position :)" lol
I've got a lot more to blog about (and much more positive, up beat things as well), but I just figured since I had already put the time into researching some good links & info on pediatric spay/neuter that I should probably add this as a post as well.
"Word warfare? Do you really want to call me out into the arena for word warfare?" -Maya Angelou
