confused! Animal shelter is nuts?

[dogsarebetter]

I have concluded that the animal shelter I foster for is nuts!

when I had Narnia the shelter called me at the last minute, and told me they needed Narnia for a health cert and her appointment was in an hour. So i had to LEAVE WORK and drive home to get her. I told them that I need more noticed and cannot be leaving work. And they did the same thing again the night of the rescue transport. they called me an hour before they needed me and AGAIN i had to go home and get Narnia.

Then they sent me Oliver who had a sever case of heartworms. I never have messed with a dog that had heartworms, so i asked if there is anything i should know, and can he still run and play like a normal dog. They told me that he could. So we were out playing and running and poor Olly could barely breath and became soooooo lethargic. Well, come to find out.... dogs with heartworms are suppose to have minimum exercise! they could have a heart attack....
AND know one told me that he could not have dairy with his meds! I have been giving him his meds in cheese since day one. I had no idea until they pick him up for a health certificate and mentioned it.
And again.... the rescue transport for Olly was yesterday at 5:00pm. they called me at 4:00pm!!! WTF! what if i was at work?

And now I have a possible pregnant dog named Nicole.

I assumed the shelter spayed, neutered, and vet check ALL dogs before they could be fostered. Oh boy was I wrong. I wish I had asked....
They do not spay/neuter OR get the dogs vet checked before they are fostered. they just give them a rabies shot.

It's not the dogs at the shelters fault... but this is ridiculous

I did talk to my vet though. and she said that as long as my dogs were up to date on all shots and bortitella (sp) and are regularly wormed I have nothing to worry about. So maybe i shouldnt be so upset....

 

[stardogs]

I mentioned this in the other thread, but it's important so I'll say it here too: I would have SERIOUS doubts about fostering for a group like what you describe. Vaccines aren't always 100% and worms can be transmitted regardless of vaccine status. If I was brining in an unvaccinated dog (which they are since they've only be vax'd for rabies) I'd be 100% quarantining the dog for about 10 days, including a separate area for pottying.

Heck, if I were you and continued to foster for this group, I'd be taking the dog to *my* vet for vaccines and a once over before taking it home.

The lack of notice is horrible - that's something that you might want to speak with them about.

 

[dogsarebetter]

Thanks. I think she will be my last foster with the group. I cannot risk my own dogs health.
I just hate it though, because I feel like those dogs really do need me. they stay outside, very over crowded, and they are usually covered in pee, poop, mud, and fleas

 

[stardogs]

Please tell the group why you are not fostering any longer - they need to know that their policies are making them lose fosters.

FYI, the HS I work for is high intake (18000/yr), but yet all fosters are vax'd, dewormed, and vet cleared before foster. Many are underage pups so they may not be s/n (will be at adoption tho), but most adults are s/n I believe.

 

[colliewog]

Please tell the group why you are not fostering any longer - they need to know that their policies are making them lose fosters.

This is very important. If they lose all of their foster homes, they might wise up.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Please tell the group why you are not fostering any longer - they need to know that their policies are making them lose fosters.

Agreed. I'd put it in writing and also send copies to all the members of their Board of Directors.

Bordatella doesn't actually have a very good rate of preventing the dogs getting kennel cough, it doesn't protect against every strain of the disease. I think I've heard there's only like a 40% success rate with the vaccine? Could be wrong, but I know it's not great. And I don't htink there are any preventatives as far as wormers (including heartworm), all the meds do is kill the baby worms before they can cause any damage. So even getting your dogs wormed every year, I'd still be very cautious.