The Frustrating Process of Pet Adoptions

A little over a year ago, my family and I decided to add a new kitten to our home.

We had recently lost our beloved cat, who was a valued member of our home for a very long time. We didn't run right out, seeing at the time we had a old dog who was going blind and had gone deaf, but just the same was very very much a part of our lives.

We had searched local online adoptions, and yes, every single kitten was cute, so my husband and I decided to venture out on my birthday to find the right kitty. We spend hours driving around and finely found the perfect kitten at Petsmart in Jenkintown. After about two hours of holding it and bonding, the woman assisted me in filling out the paperwork and told me we were the first to put paperwork in on him.

I left somewhat unhappy to leave behind my new little guy. But I waited for that call to run down and pick him up. That call never came. Even after my umpteen phone messages left.

Finally, after about two weeks, I received a call from the woman who was in charge and guess what, my application sat on her desk while she decided if I was worthy enough to adopt the pet.

After speaking to me she said, "OK, but the cat you want is already gone!" I mean, come on, I had one cat that had passed - mind you I had spent over $2,000 trying to save it - and a dog who was blind and deaf but still no reason to put down, and another old cat who had nothing wrong with it.

So, I ask why? But with that said, I went to a pet store and bought a kitten! Put a real bad taste in my mouth for these shelters! Now time has come to add a puppy to our home, after almost a year since my beloved pet had passed, the hunt begins.

With this in mind things have changed a bit since the last canine purchase: The grandchildren! On Saturday we venture out to Hatboro to visit with the pets for adoption, still a little shaky about them, but there he was, the most adorable little puppy, a black lab mix. My granddaughter fell in love.

Again, the fill in and wait begins. I was determined this time to not be left behind, so I filled in the paperwork, followed up on Monday, and today received the dreaded, "Oh, we gave it to someone else."

Now, I very much understand the fact that they accept paperwork and have to check it out, but what I do not get is why bring a puppy to a festivity for adoption and then not have that puppy given to someone there?

This has very much made me suspicious about the system for these private shelters. Don't get me wrong, I believe the pets deserve a good chance and these people do care for them, but I believe these people do not take into consideration that when a five-year-old sees a puppy at an outing and are told we will put paperwork in for it, and then they don't get that puppy, well, let's just say I think I will be finding a puppy elsewhere!

So the search goes on, for a medium size dog, would love a chow mix, but will look at other mixes as well, no pit bulls, no dog that is going to be a runaway and so on. I know the dog is out there, and it's a shame that that one was not ours, but maybe I will find one soon.......