Adopt, Foster Or Buy A Pet During The Pandemic
Difficult times require some changes in our life. The pandemic lockdown has been inspiring many to adopt, foster or buy a pet.
Loosing a companion and later trying to adopt or buy another is even harder during a pandemic. After three months of struggle, I summed up the highlights but also the ugly face of adopting, fostering or buying a pet in 2020.
Wanna know how I was either ignored or told I must be living a miserable vegan life? Keep reading, it’s fun.
Adopt a pet during the pandemic
Sadly, sooner than expected, we had to ask ourselves: adopt, foster or buy a cat now? By the end of March, our Birman boy has passed away, leaving us heartbroken.
As it happens to be 2020, adopting in UK is out of question since the coronavirus pandemic. All shelters closed and the only thing they ask for is money in order to sponsor or rescue animals, as they claim. Yep, including the good ol’ mama RSPCA. What about adopting or fostering the rescued ones? Complete silence.
LATER UPDATE: RSPCA is slowly re-opening gates for adoption and fostering through online advertising, still closed centres though. It’s better than nothing.
I mean, it makes no sense to see paid ads on Facebook – like Cats Protection – shelters only pleading for charity while refusing to give away the animals. C’mon, guys, it’s about saving those souls too, not just about money!
This is the standard message you will find when you try to adopt a pet:
In these challenging times with the developing situation with coronavirus (COVID-19), (we are) taking extra precautions to keep our cats, volunteers, employees and the public safe and continue to provide high levels of care for the cats in our centres and branches as well as helpful welfare advice to cat owners.
For this reason, we are not currently homing cats from our branches or centres. (as seen on Cats Protection page)
In other words, in these challenging times, some stopped providing either good service or any service at all.
The times are challenging because bad decisions are taken to make things challenging.
Foster a pet during the pandemic
Even PETA is advising to adopt or foster during the pandemic. Yes, thank you, I so agree and I’m up to it! But it’s another dead end here.
Why Lockdown Is the Best Time to Adopt or Foster a Dog or Cat
Of course PETA would remind us why adopting is the only way, while buying from breeders is the antichrist. No, it’s not, guys. It’s like asking parents to only adopt children instead of having their own. There are other decent options to welcome all the needs.
Bottom line, I really wanted to adopt or at least foster. I wanted it so much! One cat, maybe two, or even three, why not? The more, the merrier, right? After our boy has passed away and the lockdown just started, it was very difficult to deal with the grief.
But, I will say this again – the pandemic is going to be the perfect excuse for some to provide low quality service for a very long time from now on. Or no service at all. Like the pet cemetery that I desperately contacted at the saddest time. They read the message and never replied.
Pet fostering in UK during the challenging times is impossible, unless you were already a volunteer.
Whoever said only the pandemic would turn the world into a better place they never had cats.
Adopt, foster or buy a pet during the pandemic? He’s a little angel I’ve been fostering a few years ago. Having to let them go to forever homes is never easy.
Buy a pet during the pandemic
So then, let’s try the online market! It’s the only option anyway, unless you know somebody at the right time. I didn’t. The good part is you can either adopt, foster or buy a pet during the pandemic with just a click. But is it really this easy? Let’s find out.
pets4homes – the main website for selling/buying/adopting pets in Britain. This place could be really funny if you don’t take it seriously. Or it could end up with tears as it’s home to many scammers (Trustpilot reviews).
One thing you can see from the beginning: most sellers are SO angry by default. A common note, that you can easily find in any ad description, is written with capital letters:
“NO TIME WASTERS!!!!!!“
I’m not exaggerating, it is written like that.
I keep wondering – what is the exact moment you become a time waster? When you ask the first question? Or maybe when you ask for more details? It’s the questions that actually bother the seller? Or when you ask to see the animal before randomly paying a deposit? Or maybe because people change their mind before paying the non refundable deposit?
People can change their mind. It happened to me a few times due to seller’s attitude. Still, I was not wasting anyone’s time. Isn’t it the best if people change their mind BEFORE adopting/buying? It gets a lot worse for the pet if it happens AFTER.
When sellers pretend to care (I can imagine the crocodile tears in their eyes) they should be a little more patient and avoid calling us all time-wasters. But of course, it’s an art – if you can draw a circle, you’re not necessarily a painter too.
And why are all the so called breeders this angry? Many claim it is their first litter, yet, they are mad with time wasters. I mean, when did they have to deal with time wasters if it’s their first sale, right?
Then, there’s a lot of attitude. Dude, you’re selling a cat, for god sake! You’re not giving a child for adoption, you actually ask for money – quite a lot, to be honest. And you put a lot of conditions about the things you are unwilling to offer. Stop pretending you care!
5 star homes
Some make it sound like it’s a race. If your home is a “5 star”, then it may be the lucky forever home of their kitten. The seller is the one to decide either you qualify or not. And there begins the battle with the windmills.
But what’s a 5 star home? Is the furniture more important that the fact I had a cat for 17 years and we’ve been happy together? I have never left my companion behind when plans changed. Always gave him all my love and all the time I could possibly have. And I had plenty for him. So again, what’s a 5 star home?! Just a cliché.
What’s the right price for a pet?
Should I even mention the prices? That’s the most ridiculous part there. I will not question the pedigree papers, vet checks and all the costs, but I’ve seen hundreds of kittens of no particular breed at outrageous prices just because… they were cute in the seller’s opinion. Well, kittens are cute, surprise! 🙂
Some pet ads are fraud
Most sellers would ask for details about the buyer and their homes. Um, sorry, is it just me or does this sound very disturbing? I am supposed to pay around £1000 or more and also give details about my home to a complete stranger who claims we cannot meet due to coronavirus blah blah. Remember the 5 star home contest. So, I don’t even know who’s on the other side of the chat.
And fake ads are already starting to add up.
Spare parts sale
Then there are the breeders selling both female or male cats, usually aged between 1.5 – 3.5 years, once they are no longer needed for the business. There are hundreds of ads sounding like this example here:
Our lovely Seal Pointed Female Caxxx is now looking for her forever loving home.
If she’s yours and she’s lovely, why selling her? Because she was only used for your business (giving birth to many series of kittens) and once she’s no longer needed, it’s for sale. All these mama’s and papa’s are neutered before the final sale.
Examples of communication gone wrong
I haven’t interacted with many sellers, either because they failed to reply or because the conversation was escalating with no warning. But here’s a few attempts, for a laugh:
- a lady was selling a £950 British Shorthair and suddenly seemed bothered I wanted a boy. She actually insulted me out of the blue, saying she met strange couples fighting and causing problems (wait, what? who? what’s that got to do with me?!). And it’s not so important if it’s a boy or a girl and we should not wish to choose the kitten. Huh? Just pay the deposit and then wait and see what you get, she said. Then she never replied. Um… This was my first attempt to buy a cat online.
- a lady whom I asked to bear with me for 2 hours as I had to consult with Mike. She agreed, then, 10 minutes later, she asked “Have u decided yet???” then never replied again. The kitten was available for another few days.
- a guy who was selling no particular breed for £1300 and I politely asked for a boy and if parents are to be seen. His reply was sharp and cold “all sold. bye”. Needless to add they were still available for days.
- a guy who kept reading messages but no answers. When the ad was removed (probably reported for being fake as the photos seemed stolen from some Chinese website lol), he finally replied. I was asking for a few more details, availability, kitten’s parents, papers, vet checks etc. His reply was “yep”. Whoa, plenty of info…
- a guy assumed I was living a miserable vegan life because I asked what breed was his cat. Later he wished me a wonderful life while eating dead meat. Er, he’s by far my favorite seller and the most fun experience I had on that website. Sadly, it was also the last attempt to find a cat online.
Your future pet is out there, don’t despair!
So these are a few examples and fortunately I gave up before something would have hit the fan.
Of course, it’s not dramatic, but just so you know what to expect when trying online in general and pets4homes in particular. I’m sure there are successful transactions and good sellers, as well as happy customers. To me, it seems a lottery I’m not willing to play anymore.
The overall feeling is that you entered a race against the clock. Now you see a pet, a few minutes later is SOLD/RESERVED. If you are like me, not willing to be rushed or to accept anything, then better wait or look for alternatives. Just don’t despair.
Bear in mind that most sellers won’t reply to messages unless you text, call or WhatsApp.
I’ll probably start travelling sooner than finding a cat
Arghh, I would have so fostered or adopted! At least a part of the money would go to other animals to be rescued and given a chance.
It’s been a few months now and no cat here. In the mean time, we are feeding a black-and-white whiskered demon passing by our home every night. She’s cute but I would not try to sell her. Yes, I’m laughing inside.
Maybe travel restrictions will ease a little so we can look for cats around the world. At least one of them is waiting for us, I’m sure. 🙂
Have you tried to adopt, foster or buy a pet during the pandemic? Share your experience in a comment but, please, “no time-wasters!!!” 🙂
Smooches!
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With travel restrictions continuously easing, here’s a few ideas:
Wonders of a train journey in India
Flight cancellation – What To Do
Cuba, a day trip to Cayo Largo
