Looking for a kitten! (Arlington, Alexandria: attorney, house, legal)

[ACWhite]

xleyxashx,

There are several great rescue organizations in this area. Three are Homeward Trails, SPCANova, and Tails High.

I strongly recommend, if you want kittens or young cats, that you adopt two of them. They need the stimulation of another cat and generally are happier. You will see more explanation of this on most rescue orgs.' websites.

Kitten season starts in a few months, so I would also recommend that you wait a little while so that you will have greater selection.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by ACWhite

xleyxashx,

There are several great rescue organizations in this area. Three are Homeward Trails, SPCANova, and Tails High.

I strongly recommend, if you want kittens or young cats, that you adopt two of them. They need the stimulation of another cat and generally are happier. You will see more explanation of this on most rescue orgs.' websites.

Kitten season starts in a few months, so I would also recommend that you wait a little while so that you will have greater selection.

We once "adopted" two free kittens from a couple in Arlington, both males. The two kittens were as companionable as could be. Three days later, the woman called and said she'd inadvertently given us a kitten that her brother had already picked out, and that she was coming over right away to "swap" kittens. You can see where this is going - the two kittens we ended up with, still both males, fought non-stop with each other from the moment they were together in our house.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought it might have had something to do with the fact that one of them had been on the scene longer than the other. So, if you do adopt two kittens, get them both at the same time (and don't answer your phone when someone proposes a kitten swap)!

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Another reason some people are reluctant to go to a "rescue" organization is that some of them go way beyond due dilligence in screening potential adopters, to the degree that people get fed up and go to a breeder. This article from Slate Magazine I thought was very eye-opening.

Good luck in your search!

The good news is there are dozens (literally) of good organizations and shelters locally, so you can pick from one whose policies you are comfortable with.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

The good news is there are dozens (literally) of good organizations and shelters locally, so you can pick from one whose policies you are comfortable with.

I'm sure there must be some good ones not populated by crazy people, but seriously, how do you suss them out? How do you find the ones that aren't full of bitter old misanthropes who will disqualify you because you have a job? Or will insist on the right to drop by any time to make sure you're not waterboarding your new kitten? I truly would like to know.

We adopted our dog from an individual we found on Craigslist who was moving overseas, but it's hard to do that, because the "rescuers" flag the ads that aren't from other "rescuers."

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I'm sure there must be some good ones not populated by crazy people, but seriously, how do you suss them out? How do you find the ones that aren't full of bitter old misanthropes who will disqualify you because you have a job? Or will insist on the right to drop by any time to make sure you're not waterboarding your new kitten? I truly would like to know.

We adopted our dog from an individual we found on Craigslist who was moving overseas, but it's hard to do that, because the "rescuers" flag the ads that aren't from other "rescuers."

To be honest, I've never run into the type you describe. I've adopted from one shelter, and volunteered with 3 different rescues in the area. All of them have done a phone interview/vet reference/home visit (heck, I've been the person to DO a lot of the home visits), but the philosophy is "See if there is anything in this house that could change to insure the dog/cat is able to stay there forever". For example, at one house I told the guy he needed to get all his home office stuff off the floor or behind closed doors. The shredder on the floor was a bad idea. At most houses, I suggested good areas to contain the pet during the day, or suggestions on how to puppy proof a room. I'm looking for blatant red flags (mangy animals, ridiculously obese/starved animals, dirty/dangerous living conditions). I've never once reported that anyone should not get the dog.

None of the rescues or shelters has ever stated they can drop by unannounced to check on you. Or heck, check in at all. They've all said that in the event you can no longer keep the animal, they want it back (which prevents it from going to a kill shelter or an improper home).

I guess if I was worried about a rescue's policies, I'd ask to see a copy of the adoption contract/application. Many rescues have this posted on their website, and I don't know any reason why a decent rescue wouldn't be willing to share that with you.

The only rescue I don't like in this area is the opposite of intrusive--they will give a dog sight unseen to just about anyone. They do vet checks and home visits and such, but they send you home with a dog the day it gets off the transport from North Carolina, never having been in a foster home. If it doesn't work with your family, too bad, you adopted it. They want it back, of course, but they don't refund your fee, even if you decide within 24 hours that it's not a good fit.

[Pandoras]

Originally Posted by JEB77

We once "adopted" two free kittens from a couple in Arlington, both males. The two kittens were as companionable as could be. Three days later, the woman called and said she'd inadvertently given us a kitten that her brother had already picked out, and that she was coming over right away to "swap" kittens. You can see where this is going - the two kittens we ended up with, still both males, fought non-stop with each other from the moment they were together in our house.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought it might have had something to do with the fact that one of them had been on the scene longer than the other. So, if you do adopt two kittens, get them both at the same time (and don't answer your phone when someone proposes a kitten swap)!

This is like a tale of two kitties. My gosh, that kitten swapper lady sounds crazy!

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

To be honest, I've never run into the type you describe. I've adopted from one shelter, and volunteered with 3 different rescues in the area. All of them have done a phone interview/vet reference/home visit (heck, I've been the person to DO a lot of the home visits), but the philosophy is "See if there is anything in this house that could change to insure the dog/cat is able to stay there forever". For example, at one house I told the guy he needed to get all his home office stuff off the floor or behind closed doors. The shredder on the floor was a bad idea. At most houses, I suggested good areas to contain the pet during the day, or suggestions on how to puppy proof a room. I'm looking for blatant red flags (mangy animals, ridiculously obese/starved animals, dirty/dangerous living conditions). I've never once reported that anyone should not get the dog.

Sounds fair. Don't get me wrong; I'm all about making sure the adopters aren't animal abusers (or as I call them, "death penalty justifications"). But then you read about these bad experiences it seems like a lot of people have had.

If we ever are in a position to adopt a dog again, we're comin' to you!

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

If we ever are in a position to adopt a dog again, we're comin' to you!

And I'd be happy to recommend you

[choff5]

I'm chiming in on the recommendation of getting two kittens so they have company. We've done that twice, well once really. The first set of sibs came from the animal shelter and lived to 13 and 14 years old. Then we adopted one from the shelter with the plan to get another, instead we got a "package" deal - she was pregnant! We ended up keeping two of the four kittens and while mom only lived to about age 9, the two sibs just celebrated their 16th birthdays. In other words, you are in for the long run, but they are fun, and do well keeping each company.

[ICS67]

Originally Posted by ACWhite

xleyxashx,

There are several great rescue organizations in this area. Three are Homeward Trails, SPCANova, and Tails High.

I strongly recommend, if you want kittens or young cats, that you adopt two of them. They need the stimulation of another cat and generally are happier. You will see more explanation of this on most rescue orgs.' websites.

Kitten season starts in a few months, so I would also recommend that you wait a little while so that you will have greater selection.

I wholeheartedly second ACWhite's recommendation of SPCANova, and support this group with a yearly donation. The best cat I ever had came from them, an affectionate "80 percent Maine Coon" (to judge by his appearance and behavior) whom I got as an ten-week old kitten. I think the fact that he was raised with the rest of his littermates in a volunteer's house (SOP for the group) really made a difference in his personality and temperment. SPCANova does have a few requirements such as neutering and no declawing, a questionaire for prospective donors, and a fee -- all of which in my opinion are reasonable. They will, however, require you to adopt two kittens rather than one so that the kittens have each other for company.

You can check out the organization at www.spcanova.org. Good luck!