On 4/18, Alex and I visited "Puppet", at the CC Animal Shelter. We fell in love with her, filled out the paperwork, paid the adoption fee of $120 in full (the adoption was to include: spay/neuter, vaccinations, worming, flea & tick preventative, microchip and first vet visit...all stated on signs w/i the facility and also on their website). She was to be spayed that day or the next and we could bring her home the day after surgery. We went back later the same day to introduce our other dog.
On 4/20 (the day after she was to be spayed), the shelter director called to say Puppet might have been exposed to parvovirus. That's when we were told she might be under two and more susceptible to parvo, so would have to stay another 7 days before she could be released. We visited Puppet nearly every day...she seemed fine, started to bond with us, very frightened by the other larger dogs all barking. At one point, they put another small dog in her cage for company but that dog was adopted and left the shelter (why were they still adopting out dogs that were exposed?). I took Peeto in for a booster just to be on the safe side (cost of $60).
On 4/22, we were told if she didn't show any symptoms, she would be spayed on 4/26 and come home on 4/27. We continued to visit.
The morning of 4/26, the shelter called and said Puppet DID have parvo, tested positive twice and was very ill. The director (employee?) asked whether I wanted them to have her treated (with us paying the vet bill, her estimate $500+) or she would put Puppet down and refund the adoption fee. I called my vet-- who was optimistic for recovery and agreed to treat with a $150 deposit. I called the shelter back and they agreed I could take her to my vet. I was told to bring a crate because, again, Puppet was very ill.
When I arrived to pick her up, I was surprised to see her alert, active, excited to see me, trying to get out of the crate. My vet was very surprised as well, expecting a very ill pup. He gave her an antibiotic shot to be on the safe side. She spent 48 hours at the vets, with absolutely no signs of illness--no vomiting, no diarrhea, no fever, eating and drinking well. She was released to me, the bill was $132. (so that's $252 I've spent on Puppet-- plus the additional $60 for Peeto's booster--and she's still unspayed, unvaccinated, and not microchipped...though that will all be done soon, my vet recommended she gain some weight first).
While Puppet was still in the vet's care, I called the shelter back to tell them she was fine so far. I also asked whether spays were done on or off site as they hadn't spayed her (or done anything, actually). I hoped it was done off site and I could take her to their provider directly (no further exposure!). I was told since the dog had left the shelter, she was now my responsibility.
WTF?
I never considered Puppet as being officially adopted at that point. It was my understanding that I was being allowed to transport her to another vet for treatment in hopes we could still adopt her. We were told no dogs could be released/adopted until altered, vaccinated and microchipped as specified by state law. Dogs certainly could not be released if sick.
Since none of these things were actually done, I asked for at least a partial refund. She told me they did not have the money to return. She did point out the "$35 spay/neuter voucher" included in the "records" (supposedly all Puppet's records since coming to the shelter to give to my vet but actually just a folder of literature on dog training, etc.) given to me when I picked her up. She also suggested I call the local humane society (one of two places the shelter uses for spay/neuter) and maybe they'd help me out if I explain the situation.
WTF?
I don't really know what happened here. Perhaps the shelter did not have the money to properly vet Puppet and the whole parvo story was a smoke screen to avoid admitting that? If they felt she did indeed have parvo, they should be required to provide the promised services at this point, since she is alive and well.
I whole-heartedly support animal shelters. We donate time, funds and supplies as much as we are able. But, without any further explanation, this kind of treatment/service from a shelter is deplorable. As much as it disturbs me to do so, I've written to the local paper and filed a complaint with the State Attorney General's office.
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