It's a bad idea to piss me off. Or, Dear Discovery: Bad karma catches up with you.
Messing with the lives of the animals I care for is an even worse idea. I hope bad press is HEAPED on and advertiser support pulled from under the feet of Petfinder.com for their recent shenanigans regarding pet profile updates. Hey, Discovery: bad karma catches up with you.
Good afternoon...
I did not request "an import of your pets from RescueGroups" nor an email filled with derogatory comments about this group or their services. I requested an FTP account, which, according to the Admin area and FAQs of your site, is freely available for the use of all members. I would have appreciated a simple yes or no regarding that request.
Since RescueGroups has been made the topic of your reply, note that I resent receiving an email calling RescueGroups an illegitimate program. The work this group does FOR FREE and free of advertising to support small rescues like mine who cannot and will not spend the amount of money your so-called "legitimate animal management shelter software providers" charge cannot be given a price tag. I am appalled that such a wonderful site and service as Petfinder has decided to complicate the operation of our rescues and refuse to allow us to use a service that streamlines our daily tasks so efficiently to allow us more time to do what we do--save pets' lives. Quite frankly, this entire "policy change" smacks of greed, kickbacks and a questionable relationship between Petfinder and those programs.
You are doing mine and many other rescues an incredible disservice by making our management decisions for us. How sad that thousands of wonderful pets are now likely to NOT be featured or kept as up-to-date on your site. Mine is a small, home-grown rescue, and I know I certainly do not have the time to log into Petfinder and update profiles nearly as often as I log into RescueGroups to update all my adoptable animals. I also know I have absolutely NO INTENTION of reconfiguring my entire setup, which thanks to RescueGroups includes a great number of networks I might never have know existed, to use PetFinder to enter and update my pets.
It is an understatement to say I am offended by this entire chain of events and strongly urge Petfinder to reconsider its stance on this issue--and perhaps spend your time on something more important like supporting pet rescue or educating the visitors WE bring to your site about the importance of sterilizing their pets. We ALL have much better and more important things to spend our time on.
Sincerely, Susan
Hayden's Promise is a better tomorrow.
CC: RescueGroups.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: XXX_XXX@discovery.com
> On Behalf Of help@petfinder.com
> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 1:27 PM
> To: XXX@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: FTP Account Request TX1327
>
> Hi Susan,
>
> We received your request to set up an import of your pets from
> RescueGroups. Our import system is set up to accept pet data and
> photos from legitimate animal management shelter software providers.
> We do not accept imported data from RescueGroups; however, we have a
> better solution for you and your pets.
>
> Posting your pets directly into Petfinder will allow you to be sure
> that they are seen by the 5.2 million visitors we bring to see them
> each month, as well as by all the visitors to the other sites powered
> by Petfinder
> data. Because we want to help your pets get maximum exposure, we
> offer
> other websites the ability to access the Petfinder database for the
> purpose of promoting adoptable pets. We have offered this ability to
> the folks at RescueGroups, as well.
>
> This means that you can post your pets one time on Petfinder.com
> and
> they (and you) can reap all these benefits:
>
> • Over 5.2 million potential adopters visiting the Petfinder web
> site each month
> • Millions more potential adopters through over 275 popular Web
> sites powered by Petfinder including AOL, Petco.com, Oodle, MySpace,
> ZooToo, and Kijiji.
> • Automatic feed to any websites who display pets for adoption
> (including RescueGroups/Pet Adoption Portal, and thus any sites they
> may
> feed) through our API
> • Eligibility for Petfinder.com Foundation programs and grants
> • Eligibility for Petfinder.com contests, programs and
> initiatives
> (such as the ARS Shelter+ Challenge and the Maddie's Fund Put Your
> Best Face Forward customer service contest)
> • Media outreach and support resulting in over 37 million media
> impressions each year
> • Inclusion in the Ad Council's first-ever pet adoption campaign
> which will be powered by Petfinder pets
>
> There is no other web site or adoption tool which promotes your pets
> the
> way Petfinder does. And we will continue to share your adoptable pet
> data with web sites featuring pet adoption to provide maximum exposure
> for your pets with the least amount of effort on your part.
>
> Your Petfinder account is available for you to begin posting your
> pets, their pictures and video right now. Doing so is simple and we
> are here to help you and your pets in any way we can. You can get
> started right now by logging in with your ShelterID and password at
> http://www.petfinder.com/admin
>
> Thanks for your support and please let me know if I can be of
> additional help.
>
> Please include the history of this message with your reply.
>
> -----------
> XXXXXXXXXXX
> Petfinder.com, Technical Support Representative
> http://www.petfinder.com Adopt a Homeless Pet!
>
> From:
> XXX@gmail.com
> To:
> help@petfinder.com
> Date:
> 09/13/2009 07:50 PM
> Subject:
> FTP Account Request
>
> Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
> (XXX@gmail.com) on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 19:50:05
> ----
> name: Susan XXX
> shelterID: TX1327
> password: XXX
> password2: XXX
> Submit: Send
> ----
> **********************************************************************
> This e-mail, and any attachment, is intended only for the person or
> entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or
> privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, copying,
> dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities
> other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this
> in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
> computer. The contents of this message may contain personal views
> which are not the views of Discovery Communications, LLC.
Good afternoon...
I did not request "an import of your pets from RescueGroups" nor an email filled with derogatory comments about this group or their services. I requested an FTP account, which, according to the Admin area and FAQs of your site, is freely available for the use of all members. I would have appreciated a simple yes or no regarding that request.
Since RescueGroups has been made the topic of your reply, note that I resent receiving an email calling RescueGroups an illegitimate program. The work this group does FOR FREE and free of advertising to support small rescues like mine who cannot and will not spend the amount of money your so-called "legitimate animal management shelter software providers" charge cannot be given a price tag. I am appalled that such a wonderful site and service as Petfinder has decided to complicate the operation of our rescues and refuse to allow us to use a service that streamlines our daily tasks so efficiently to allow us more time to do what we do--save pets' lives. Quite frankly, this entire "policy change" smacks of greed, kickbacks and a questionable relationship between Petfinder and those programs.
You are doing mine and many other rescues an incredible disservice by making our management decisions for us. How sad that thousands of wonderful pets are now likely to NOT be featured or kept as up-to-date on your site. Mine is a small, home-grown rescue, and I know I certainly do not have the time to log into Petfinder and update profiles nearly as often as I log into RescueGroups to update all my adoptable animals. I also know I have absolutely NO INTENTION of reconfiguring my entire setup, which thanks to RescueGroups includes a great number of networks I might never have know existed, to use PetFinder to enter and update my pets.
It is an understatement to say I am offended by this entire chain of events and strongly urge Petfinder to reconsider its stance on this issue--and perhaps spend your time on something more important like supporting pet rescue or educating the visitors WE bring to your site about the importance of sterilizing their pets. We ALL have much better and more important things to spend our time on.
Sincerely, Susan
Hayden's Promise is a better tomorrow.
CC: RescueGroups.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: XXX_XXX@discovery.com
> On Behalf Of help@petfinder.com
> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 1:27 PM
> To: XXX@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: FTP Account Request TX1327
>
> Hi Susan,
>
> We received your request to set up an import of your pets from
> RescueGroups. Our import system is set up to accept pet data and
> photos from legitimate animal management shelter software providers.
> We do not accept imported data from RescueGroups; however, we have a
> better solution for you and your pets.
>
> Posting your pets directly into Petfinder will allow you to be sure
> that they are seen by the 5.2 million visitors we bring to see them
> each month, as well as by all the visitors to the other sites powered
> by Petfinder
> data. Because we want to help your pets get maximum exposure, we
> offer
> other websites the ability to access the Petfinder database for the
> purpose of promoting adoptable pets. We have offered this ability to
> the folks at RescueGroups, as well.
>
> This means that you can post your pets one time on Petfinder.com
> and
> they (and you) can reap all these benefits:
>
> • Over 5.2 million potential adopters visiting the Petfinder web
> site each month
> • Millions more potential adopters through over 275 popular Web
> sites powered by Petfinder including AOL, Petco.com, Oodle, MySpace,
> ZooToo, and Kijiji.
> • Automatic feed to any websites who display pets for adoption
> (including RescueGroups/Pet Adoption Portal, and thus any sites they
> may
> feed) through our API
> • Eligibility for Petfinder.com Foundation programs and grants
> • Eligibility for Petfinder.com contests, programs and
> initiatives
> (such as the ARS Shelter+ Challenge and the Maddie's Fund Put Your
> Best Face Forward customer service contest)
> • Media outreach and support resulting in over 37 million media
> impressions each year
> • Inclusion in the Ad Council's first-ever pet adoption campaign
> which will be powered by Petfinder pets
>
> There is no other web site or adoption tool which promotes your pets
> the
> way Petfinder does. And we will continue to share your adoptable pet
> data with web sites featuring pet adoption to provide maximum exposure
> for your pets with the least amount of effort on your part.
>
> Your Petfinder account is available for you to begin posting your
> pets, their pictures and video right now. Doing so is simple and we
> are here to help you and your pets in any way we can. You can get
> started right now by logging in with your ShelterID and password at
> http://www.petfinder.com/admin
>
> Thanks for your support and please let me know if I can be of
> additional help.
>
> Please include the history of this message with your reply.
>
> -----------
> XXXXXXXXXXX
> Petfinder.com, Technical Support Representative
> http://www.petfinder.com Adopt a Homeless Pet!
>
> From:
> XXX@gmail.com
> To:
> help@petfinder.com
> Date:
> 09/13/2009 07:50 PM
> Subject:
> FTP Account Request
>
> Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
> (XXX@gmail.com) on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 19:50:05
> ----
> name: Susan XXX
> shelterID: TX1327
> password: XXX
> password2: XXX
> Submit: Send
> ----
> **********************************************************************
> This e-mail, and any attachment, is intended only for the person or
> entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or
> privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, copying,
> dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities
> other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this
> in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
> computer. The contents of this message may contain personal views
> which are not the views of Discovery Communications, LLC.