A question for rescues everywhere: Does this sound like a municipal shelter that wants to see more animals placed and fewer euthanized? I received this letter and adoption partner contract in the mail from Baltimore County Animal Services today. Once again, I will not be signing for a variety of reasons. Not only does the letter present working with BCAS as the bureaucratic nightmare that it is, but the requirements, especially in the hands of such vindictive people, are quite onerous. I highlighted a few examples, but to explain: 1. Providing a list of authorized transporters/agents. Every other shelter we work with allows us to send who ever we like to pick up cats. Typically we email them and let them know the persons name, but I cant think of another shelter where its a steadfast requirement. Of course they have the right to not release cats to that person, and the shelters do take that persons ID info down and have them sign a release, but the point is we are not required in advance to provide a list of transporters. This would severely limit our ability to pull cats, as its based on volunteer ability to often make a long trip during bankers hours. 2. Requiring all animals to be placed in homes or shelters. Some of the cats we place do not end up being adoptable, and go to barn homes. I also see no reason why feral cats could not be pulled from BCAS (as if they should be there in the first place!) and placed responsibly in a barn situation, on a sanctuary or other non-conventional arrangement. This rule will ensure that more cats die. 3. The blanket statement that were to allow them to inspect any facility or home where animals are housed. This statement needs to be better defined. It isnt even clear that they are saying where THEIR animals are housed. It would be foolish to sign a contract stipulating that BCAS be allowed to inspect my home, or anyone else related to the rescues home, for whatever reason they like. This needs to be done only with cause and more narrowly defined. 4. There are multiple mentions of selling animals. What the actual fvck. 5. Holding facility licenses are required for anyone in Baltimore County with 3 or more adoptable animals. Seriously? So someone has to get a licen$e to foster a mother and kittens? 6. The statement that a private adopter will always supersede a rescues request to take an animal. There are plenty of rescues that like to pick and choose sometimes the most adoptable animals, but in many cases, such as sick, pregnant, or special needs animals, they would be better of with rescues over the general public. Other shelters weve worked with have usually encouraged us to take whoever we were willing to take, as any space it freed would help.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:30:45 +0000
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