Think Hard before desperately taking a pet to a Humane Society or shelter.

We all have times when life throws us a real sharp curve as it derails our lives and puts us in situations where difficult decisions are put before us.

Divorce, a change of living arrangements or something else you had no expectation of ever happening. Most often the pets have to be placed somewhere because you may have little time to advertise or search for a great home.

I had one experience I will never forget and hope all who read this article will also agree that legislation must be changed to protect not only pets but their owners as well. I am speaking about pets that are dear to their owners for years and either illness or forced into a smaller living quarters that will not allow more than one pet.

Whatever the cause, what I learned about the law of the Humane Society is terribly unfair and cruel. I am working on a law to prohibit shelters from making a permanent decision about our best friends.

Shadow was a beautiful shaded silver smoke Persian. I had been bringing loving little angels to only families that really could care for them and the grooming. I was not a backyard breeder or a kitten mill. My vet gave my name to anyone who wanted a healthy happy and socialized kitten with a health guarantee and personal private lessons on grooming, training or any other issue one of my special cosmic kitties.

I was featured on the front page of a magazine as my three  kitties were eating dinner on my kitchen table. My cat Yanni produced a kitten under a coffee table when the interviewer and photographer were there. This is why they called me the Cosmic Cat Lady.

I lived in a large modern house with lots of space for my two dogs and three cats. My marriage was falling apart and if that wasn't bad enough I had a special needs daughter who needed a lot of intervention. I had taken kittens to her school on occasions to do some pet therapy with her classmates. My life was about to change drastically and my mother was on her death bed.

I was totally beyond rational with all the stresses and fear for where I would be next month. Having a really difficult day, I realized I could not take everyone with me to my next residence. I tried so hard to place Shadow with friends or family and money was no issue. She was papered and shown, not to mention loved by all and purred pleasurably no matter who she was around.

Desperately, in a place in my mind that saw me as being destitute, prompted me to drive to the nearby Humane Society, hoping and knowing she was so beautiful it would be no problem finding her a great home.

I had never given up a pet to the shelter and it broke my heart. Six hours later after dropping her off, I heard her crying in my heart to come and get her She was in pain. I rushed back to reclaim her, willing to pay whatever fee would be deemed.

 
My heart dropped when they snobbishly told me I could not have her back. It had only been hours since I took her. I could not believe that I had no recourse of changing my mind and getting her back. They knew how well I took care of her and I knew the lady behind the counter had her eye on my Shadow.

I became obsessed with getting my Shadow back and proceeded to go there every day and they wouldn't even let me see her. Nothing I could say or do would enable me to get my sweet Shadow back home. I became irate and desperate, but nothing helped.

I really believe that the policy should be changed. Owners should have at least 48 hours to change their minds. My vet who was an honored doctor and contributor told me I wasn't the first person they did this too. and they were plenty angry.

I am interested in what others think. My Shadow law would force shelters to allow a short amount of time to get your head back on straight and realize you will find a way. I have no problem with a fine or some other form of restitution so I could get my dear pet back.

Pet shelters are for pets or any animal that has no home. My situation was not the case. It was based on a frantic moment in my daily events and I should have been able to get her back. She had a great home and they certainly could not promise that she would have a better one. I never got my Shadow back and I will never take an animal back there again. I would rather board my pets than to ever go back to a shelter, unless I am helping someone to adopt a pet.

I was devastated without being able to have her back and intended to do something about it. Imagine yourself in this position. What would you do? Do you think these places have the right to refuse you your own pet once you sign them in? People are not perfect and are entitled to change their minds when a loving pet was mistakenly taken there out of a desperate moment in time, all the unwanted pets they have to take care of, as they constantly ask for money. You would think they would be happy to reunite an owner with their beloved pet.

The Shadow Law would prevent them from keeping a pet if a person or family comes back within 48 to 72 hours realizing the terrible decision they made. The love is still there. Foster children can be returned to parents, but our pets our other children and we don't get to see ever again. This is heartbreaking.