(no subject)
Several weeks ago, two huskies were impounded by the county sheriff's office for killing chickens. One dog was microchipped. As responsible shelter workers, we called the microchip company, which traced the chip to a vet clinic. Called the vet clinic, got two phone numbers and the dog's vaccine history (just over a year prior, so due for boosters.) Both phone numbers were diconnected. Gave deputy all the info we had, and prepared to sit on the dogs until either someone called or they were ours and we could adopt them out.
One day before the dogs become ours, woman calls to find out if we have her dogs. Why yes, we do, and here's how much you owe us to get them out. "Well, I can't afford that." Explain that they become ours tomorrow, that we have adoption applications on both dogs, and if she wants them back, she will need to figure out a way to pay us our boarding fees AND contact the sheriff's office to arrange restitution for the chicken owner.
We don't hear anything more from her or the deputy in charge of the case. We send dogs out for fixing, and adopt them. Unfortunately, one dog doesn't work out in her new home and is returned. But good news, there's another couple wanting to adopt, and are in fact at the facility, paperwork in hand, out back playing with dog this very moment. Enter young woman with pictures on a cell phone, seeking "information" on these two dogs. "One of those dogs was CHIPPED and I never got a PHONE CALL!!" Calmly relate story of vet clinic and disconnected phone numbers. "Well I called the clinic and they said you never called them!" Obviously, that is untrue, or else how would we know A) what clinic it was registered to, and B) that those numbers were disconnected. Besides, you called us, said you'd been "too busy" to call us looking for them for a whole week after they'd gone missing. You then indicated you would not be picking them up due to the expense. (She keeps saying "yeah" or something along those lines during this conversation, so we know darn well she was indeed the one we spoke to on the phone.) So I realize that while you may want your dogs back very badly, it's too damn late. One is happily re-homed, and the other one is currently in progress.
In a nice display of temper and maturity, they leave, slamming the front door so hard that the glass inset is unseated from it's frame (though didn't fall out and shatter... darn...) and scares the living daylights out of every cat in the building.
Wouldn't you know it, nice adopting couple have meandered out front to the parking lot with the dog. Lovely scene ensues. Eventually they leave, I apologize to friendly couple PROFUSELY for them having to be a part of that mess, explain the situation, and generally assure them that everything is ok. Thankfully, they proceed with adoption. Meanwhile, the couple inside the building looking at cats is also rather shaken, concerned for the staff's welfare, and ask if we have to deal with that sort of thing often.
Moral of story: Keep your microchip information up-to-date. Also, don't be an ass-hole.
One day before the dogs become ours, woman calls to find out if we have her dogs. Why yes, we do, and here's how much you owe us to get them out. "Well, I can't afford that." Explain that they become ours tomorrow, that we have adoption applications on both dogs, and if she wants them back, she will need to figure out a way to pay us our boarding fees AND contact the sheriff's office to arrange restitution for the chicken owner.
We don't hear anything more from her or the deputy in charge of the case. We send dogs out for fixing, and adopt them. Unfortunately, one dog doesn't work out in her new home and is returned. But good news, there's another couple wanting to adopt, and are in fact at the facility, paperwork in hand, out back playing with dog this very moment. Enter young woman with pictures on a cell phone, seeking "information" on these two dogs. "One of those dogs was CHIPPED and I never got a PHONE CALL!!" Calmly relate story of vet clinic and disconnected phone numbers. "Well I called the clinic and they said you never called them!" Obviously, that is untrue, or else how would we know A) what clinic it was registered to, and B) that those numbers were disconnected. Besides, you called us, said you'd been "too busy" to call us looking for them for a whole week after they'd gone missing. You then indicated you would not be picking them up due to the expense. (She keeps saying "yeah" or something along those lines during this conversation, so we know darn well she was indeed the one we spoke to on the phone.) So I realize that while you may want your dogs back very badly, it's too damn late. One is happily re-homed, and the other one is currently in progress.
In a nice display of temper and maturity, they leave, slamming the front door so hard that the glass inset is unseated from it's frame (though didn't fall out and shatter... darn...) and scares the living daylights out of every cat in the building.
Wouldn't you know it, nice adopting couple have meandered out front to the parking lot with the dog. Lovely scene ensues. Eventually they leave, I apologize to friendly couple PROFUSELY for them having to be a part of that mess, explain the situation, and generally assure them that everything is ok. Thankfully, they proceed with adoption. Meanwhile, the couple inside the building looking at cats is also rather shaken, concerned for the staff's welfare, and ask if we have to deal with that sort of thing often.
Moral of story: Keep your microchip information up-to-date. Also, don't be an ass-hole.