Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
The thing is.. at our shelter they test cats/kittens on intake. Then those cats and kittens are exposed to other cats and kittens. There aren't enough cages to truly keep the cats separated. We also have an 'open' cat room with no cages. The cats are NEVER retested after 90 days. If they get that first negative they tell everyone their cats are negative. If there are cats in there who have been recently exposed and tested false positive it is never known. Positive cats are immediately put down. So false positives who could really be negative are put down for no reason.We are all going to die from something. Cats can have so many things wrong with them... heart conditions, kidney problems, etc. just like people. I wish they would not test at shelters. tonya[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Testing is VERY expensive when you take in numbers of cats. It's hard to break even as it is... most people don't want to pay over $70 for a cat's adoption fee... the FIV/FELV combo snap test is $35. Add the spay/neuter... and you're already losing money. I have never ever once made any profit on saving a single cat in my 1 care. My typical loss is upwards of $50 for every cat I rescue, just in vet work, that's not saying how much in food, litter, and supplies I spend for every cat. I am really lucky that I can get cats tested for $16 each. I do have to wait, sometimes for hours, though. We charge a higher adoption fee and I still lose enough money that I can't take in any more fosters. Missy has to go to the kitty cardiologist and we are having layoffs at my job. Adoptions are down this year too.Oh, I also have a wondeful vet who doesn't charge me an exam fee. He loses money on me big time. I still spent over $125 in meds just for fosters in the month of May, not including my own cats.
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
I totally agree with this view for fiv and felv. I am trying to get my shelter to STOP testing WELL cats. Cats can catch and die from worms, uri's flea infestations, all kinds of things. These 2 diseases should not lead to cats being euthanized when they are showing no symptoms. Anyone adopting a cat should have their cats at home vaccinated before bringing in new ones. My 2 cents.tNina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Marlene,Someone just sent me an article about just this topic, (to test or not to test). What he had to say made some sense to me and it sounds like the same sort of logic that the administrator at the SPCA is using: http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/shouldwerelease.pdf Take a look and tell me what you think. Why are you so angry at them? The last manager sounds like a real jerk and I'm glad he's gone, but this new person seems to be compassionate and took the time to respond to your concern and grief with an explanation of why they do things the way they do. I'm sure you and your husband are still reeling from the grief and disappointment of losing your Angels, but would you rather have had them tested and immediately be pts because of their status? Even if they decided to try and place asymptomatic cats that test pos, how many homes would be available to them? Would you have adopted Pekoe and Digby had you known beforehand? You probably would have felt sad for them, but like most people would have left them behind in favor of a kitten with a better chance at a healthy life. If so, you might have saved yourself a lot of heartache, (let's face it there are no guarantees against misfortune), but you would never have known and loved these two precious souls. I don't know Marlene, it's a tough call. Yes it would be better if potential adopters were prepared for the possibility of adopting cats that were exposed to fiv/felv, but as we on the list know, that risk is inherent in most of the "rescues" out there. If you were willing to converse with this woman, you might be able to help put a program in place that would advise all potential adopters of the possibility, and their recourses if their new loves do indeed test pos after they get them home.Are you saying that this shelter doesn't neuter the animals they adopt out either? I would have more of a problem with that, then I would their logic about why they don't test. I do remember someone on the list, (I can't remember who right now, maybe Patti, or MC, someone that had experience with a large shelter situation), saying how they sometimes wished people wouldn't test at all because of the negative outlook regarding fiv/felv and the needless euthanasia that occurs because of it. I'm sorry if I've distressed you more with my opinions, but you did ask and you know I'm not one to keep my views to myself. I know you are a caring, thoughtful human with only the best interest of the cats in mind. Sometimes it isn't possible to deal with people whose views on emotional subjects are too far from our own, but it does sound like this manager might be open to discussing different methods in the way they deal with testing. If you feel strongly about how they do things at the shelter, if you think they should be changed, you owe it to the memory of your sweet babies to do whatever you can to make things better for the kitties still there. At least that's my perhaps not so humble opinion.You are in my thoughts,NinaMarlene Chornie wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a _terrible_ attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.) "With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming cats for FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the cat population as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Since the most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only test high risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. We don't as a
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
I wish we had NEVER started testing at all at our shelter. The tests are not reliable enough to show who will end up positive or negative after several months. You can't isolate every cat from another at a shelter, so even if they test (like my shelter does) on entrance and euthanize positives there is still a big chance that positives tested negative because they had just contracted felv and had not had time for it to show on the test. The opposite is true if a cat tests positive. In a few months it could end up negative.tonyaMarlene Chornie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.)"With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming catsfor FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the catpopulation as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Sincethe most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only testhigh risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. Wedon't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are veryunreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence ofantibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a testwould be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmitantibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit thevirus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive andbe euthanized unneccessarily.I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but Ifelt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur." I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements.Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .)
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Testing is VERY expensive when you take in numbers of cats. It's hard to break even as it is... most people don't want to pay over $70 for a cat's adoption fee... the FIV/FELV combo snap test is $35. Add the spay/neuter... and you're already losing money. I have never ever once made any profit on saving a single cat in my 1 care. My typical loss is upwards of $50 for every cat I rescue, just in vet work, that's not saying how much in food, litter, and supplies I spend for every cat. I am really lucky that I can get cats tested for $16 each. I do have to wait, sometimes for hours, though. We charge a higher adoption fee and I still lose enough money that I can't take in any more fosters. Missy has to go to the kitty cardiologist and we are having layoffs at my job. Adoptions are down this year too. Oh, I also have a wondeful vet who doesn't charge me an exam fee. He loses money on me big time. I still spent over $125 in meds just for fosters in the month of May, not including my own cats.
SPCA's Views on FelV
Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.) "With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming catsfor FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the catpopulation as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Sincethe most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only testhigh risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. Wedon't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are veryunreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence ofantibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a testwould be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmitantibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit thevirus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive andbe euthanized unneccessarily.I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but Ifelt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur." I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements. Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .)
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Marlene, I didn't see anything that I didn't agree with in her letter to you. Most cats in any shelter I have been in have been separated, unless they are very young kittens, probably already littermates. So the risk of contracting FeLV in a shelter would probably be very minimal. As far as not testing before adopting out, I would think the best way to do it if the SPCA cannot afford to test every cat that comes in is to let the adoptive parents know when kitty is adopted that she/he has not been tested and that it would be a good idea if they were once adopted, with the stipulation that the cat may be returned if any tests are positive. I can completely understand the limited funds of the SPCA. Testing every cat that comes through does not seem realistic to me, as it seems that tens of thousands (if not more) of cats go through the SPCA annually, but then again, I have never worked in a shelter and don't really know specifics. Digby and Pekoe are still with you and what you did for them will not be forgotten by them or the powers that be. You were their angel. :) Wendy --- Marlene Chornie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.) With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming cats for FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the cat population as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Since the most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only test high risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. We don't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are very unreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence of antibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3 months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a test would be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens 3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmit antibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit the virus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive and be euthanized unneccessarily. I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but I felt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur. I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the high risk ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements. Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .) __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Hi Marlene, First of all, I am so sorry for your loss. Secondly, the rescue group I work through does not take cats that have not been combo tested, unless they are too young. Then it is up to the individual foster whether or not to take the untested litter. We have a limited number of foster slots for FIV+ and one foster mother who takes FELV+. If they are owner surrenders, the owner must provide proof of combo test before we take them. We never adopt out cats that have not been tested. All our cats are spayed/neutered, flea treated, have all shots, and have been combo tested prior to adoption, with the exception of kittens that come in with a mother who is neg/neg. Our local kill shelter combo tests all cats before they are pulled by rescue or adopted out. I don't think they combo test the cats that are PTS. This is just what is done in our area. - Original Message - From: Marlene Chornie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, June 16, 2006 7:31 am Subject: SPCA's Views on FelV To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.) With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming cats for FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the cat population as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Sincethe most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only test high risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. We don't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are very unreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence of antibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3 months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a test would be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmit antibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit the virus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive and be euthanized unneccessarily. I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but I felt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur. I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the high risk ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements. Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .)
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
From a rescue standpoint, I don't test everyone who comes in and I especially don't test kittens beecause I consider the tests unreliable when the kittens are so young. I also don't euthanize a healthy animal on the basis of a test result ever.One shelter I work with tests before transport to a rescue and for this I am eternally grateful. They make my job much easier. One cat bound for me tested FeLV+ before transport and I was able to place her in an only cat foster home. (Esprit is still looking for that forever home, everyone. Keep her in mind.)Adults are usually tested before they arrive. Kittens are tested when they are old enough for spay/neuter. I always give adopters what medical records exist and specify what tests have been performed. In California FIV and FeLV testing is the norm with rescue groups but rarely done by shelters. I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements. Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .)__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
As a rescue myself all kittens/cats are tested when they arrive. However, kittens that are tested do not clearly give accurate tests. That is documented in their adoption papers that they should tested at a later date by the adopters. If adopters do this and some time later the they are tested positive the choice is theirs. To either contact me or the kitty remains in their home forever. It is stated on my application/adoption forms that any kitty that is adopted I have no control over 30 days if major health problems arise. They are welcome to bring it back but no refund is due. If it falls within the thirty days refunds are given within 7 days of adoption. It is explained that all adoption fees are use to pay for testing, sterilization, medicalcare that may be needed for all kittens/cats under the care of Tazzys. I have been very lucky and this works for me. My doors are always open to the parties that have adopted from me. Many still contact me over the course of years to send me photos and updates. Thanked me for being honest and upfront with them. I don't pull any punches. Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE COLLIE RESCUEOwner/DriverCheck sites for available Siameses for adoption!http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/Click Here to Join WASHINGTON SIAMESE RESCUE Yahoo Group!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlPetfinder.comAdopt a Homeless Pet!http://www.petfinder.com/http://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.petloss.com/TAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTShttps://www.paypal.com/http://www.frappr.com/wasiameserescue
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
We test ALL our cats for both diseasesMarlene Chornie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.)"With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming catsfor FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the catpopulation as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Sincethe most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only testhigh risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. Wedon't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are veryunreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence ofantibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a testwould be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmitantibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit thevirus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive andbe euthanized unneccessarily.I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but Ifelt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur." I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements.Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .) Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football 06 - Go with the leader. Start your league today!
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Also felv can be transmitted through food and water,grooming and such.Fiv is transmitted through bites.Marlene Chornie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a terrible attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.)"With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming catsfor FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the catpopulation as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Sincethe most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only testhigh risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. Wedon't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are veryunreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence ofantibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3months or longer from the time of transmission to the time that a testwould be positive. Therefore, false negatives are very common in kittens3 months and younger. Conversely, positive nursing moms will transmitantibodies to their kittens, but only 20% of the time will transmit thevirus itself. In those cases, the kittens would test false positive andbe euthanized unneccessarily.I know this information is of little comfort to you at this time, but Ifelt you were owed an explanation as to how this could occur." I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us! I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements.Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe Digby .) Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Hi Marlene, Someone just sent me an article about just this topic, (to test or not to test). What he had to say made some sense to me and it sounds like the same sort of logic that the administrator at the SPCA is using: http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/shouldwerelease.pdf Take a look and tell me what you think. Why are you so angry at them? The last manager sounds like a real jerk and I'm glad he's gone, but this new person seems to be compassionate and took the time to respond to your concern and grief with an explanation of why they do things the way they do. I'm sure you and your husband are still reeling from the grief and disappointment of losing your Angels, but would you rather have had them tested and immediately be pts because of their status? Even if they decided to try and place asymptomatic cats that test pos, how many homes would be available to them? Would you have adopted Pekoe and Digby had you known beforehand? You probably would have felt sad for them, but like most people would have left them behind in favor of a kitten with a better chance at a healthy life. If so, you might have saved yourself a lot of heartache, (let's face it there are no guarantees against misfortune), but you would never have known and loved these two precious souls. I don't know Marlene, it's a tough call. Yes it would be better if potential adopters were prepared for the possibility of adopting cats that were exposed to fiv/felv, but as we on the list know, that risk is inherent in most of the rescues out there. If you were willing to converse with this woman, you might be able to help put a program in place that would advise all potential adopters of the possibility, and their recourses if their new loves do indeed test pos after they get them home. Are you saying that this shelter doesn't neuter the animals they adopt out either? I would have more of a problem with that, then I would their logic about why they don't test. I do remember someone on the list, (I can't remember who right now, maybe Patti, or MC, someone that had experience with a large shelter situation), saying how they sometimes wished people wouldn't test at all because of the negative outlook regarding fiv/felv and the needless euthanasia that occurs because of it. I'm sorry if I've distressed you more with my opinions, but you did ask and you know I'm not one to keep my views to myself. I know you are a caring, thoughtful human with only the best interest of the cats in mind. Sometimes it isn't possible to deal with people whose views on emotional subjects are too far from our own, but it does sound like this manager might be open to discussing different methods in the way they deal with testing. If you feel strongly about how they do things at the shelter, if you think they should be changed, you owe it to the memory of your sweet babies to do whatever you can to make things better for the kitties still there. At least that's my perhaps not so humble opinion. You are in my thoughts, Nina Marlene Chornie wrote: Hello Group, It's been a little over 3 weeks now since we lost our beloved little Pekoe. I will be posting more about that at a later date though. At the time, I emailed the SPCA shelter where we adopted both Pekoe and Digby from, merely to let them know that Pekoe had also passed - not that I expected them to care, because the branch manager exhibited a _terrible_ attitude with us when told they were FelV+ and felt they bore no responsibility for it happening in the first place. She was also unconcerned that any other cats in the shelter may have also contracted the disease. Since I had not invited any response from them, I was very surprised when I received one. It appears that the branch manager that we dealt with is no longer there (what a surprise) and I received the following response from the new manager. To be honest, I'm a little disturbed by some of the things she said, and I would appreciate any input/comments from the group. (FYI - Pekoe and Digby were both unneutered males, strays, and were approx. 8 months and 13 months old respectively. They were diagnosed FelV+ 7 months after we adopted them, at ages 15 months and 20 months.) With our limited resources, we are unable to test all the incoming cats for FeLeuk and FIV. Feline Leukemia is only present in 3% of the cat population as a whole, but that is mostly concentrated in strays. Since the most common source of transmission is by bite, we generally only test high risk cats, usually unneutered males who are more likely to fight. We don't as a rule, test kittens under 6 months as the test results are very unreliable. The SNAP test that we use tests for the presence of antibodies which can take weeks from the time of infection to appear. Because young kittens' immune systems are under developed, it can take 3 months or longer from the time of transmission to the time
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
Thank you all for your comments/input.Even though Pekoe and Digby initially tested FelV neg., they both ended up FelV+. This could only have happened if one or both of them had contracted it prior to entering the shelter, or, one or both were exposed to it at the shelter (due to the poor conditions of the shelter at the time). To me, this means that other cats in the shelter at the time could potentially have also been exposed to it. And yet, they seemed unconcerned with that scenario. I guess this is the source of my frustration - the fact that they were unwilling to admit or accept that possibility. Also, when we pointed out that they were deworming incorrectly (Pekoe had a severe case of worms, and they were giving only one pill to deworm each cat) they were most unreceptive to that information. My concern continues to be that no follow-up was made on their part with other adopters with regard to the health status of their cats - which in my mind could have been as simple as a few phone calls under the "guise" of "We're just calling to see how you and your cat are getting along". We do take consolation in the fact that because we pursued the matter at the head office level of the SPCA, improvements have been made with this particular branch. They have moved to a more appropriate facility, and it would appear that they have a more knowledgeable and caring branch manager than the one we dealt with. You may be right Nina, that this branch manager seems to be more open to discussion, and perhaps sometime in the future we may do just that. Marlene (Angels Pekoe Digby)
Re: SPCA's Views on FelV
I only test if the cat appears ill on intake. I DO test before adoption though, just to be able to tell the adopter for sure that I did test (and the result). The info they gave you was what's right for FIV though, not what's right for FELV. It appears this manager is not aware of the difference. FELV is spread by saliva and close contact (but very rarely in adults, kittens are most at risk), FIV is only spread by deep bite wounds (blood contact) and age makes no difference. Testing is VERY expensive when you take in numbers of cats. It's hard to break even as it is... most people don't want to pay over $70 for a cat's adoption fee... the FIV/FELV combo snap test is $35. Add the spay/neuter... and you're already losing money. I have never ever once made any profit on saving a single cat in my care. My typical loss is upwards of $50 for every cat I rescue, just in vet work, that's not saying how much in food, litter, and supplies I spend for every cat. Phaewryn PLEASE Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!!http://ucat.us/adopt.html DONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (for pictures) and HOMES for CATS! No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/366 - Release Date: 6/15/2006
