Resisting Change: Still happening as of June 2008

How sad when KittyKind uses such poor people skills with the public they rely on
for donations.

Recently , I received emails about how people are still being pressured to adopt
specific cats and not the ones they wanted from KittyKind.

How sad when a child is told the kitten they held for over half and hour and
hoped to take home is adopted out from under them to someone who just walked
in and never spent time with the kitten.

How sad when children have to cry because mom can't afford 2 cats. How sad
when mom is pressured to adopt 2 to keep her child from crying.

How sad when after making the adoption the original kittens they wanted weren't
adopted anyway because at the last moment, a critical question was asked and the
second set of people walked out empty handed with a crying child.

On another topic: How much good do you do if people who foster KittyKind cats
can't reach you for medication (not vet prescribe and cat not vet checked) and
arrive to pick them up only to find no one knows anything about the meds, the
foster or the cat?

KittyKind is still trying to get their sick cats into the hands of good people and
Seniors. Can't believe they consider diabetic cats who also have cancer as not so
hard to take care of, why don't they keep them if it's so manageable?

I was with KK for over 6 miserable years and they deserve to be exposed for what
they have done to me; to other foster people who also had all the cats they could
handle; and to vet techs who were overwhelmed and then not allowed to bring
back cats for the same reasons I was given. These are all good people who should
have just brought all the cats back to the store and walked away from KittyKind
but probably felt doing so was an abandonment of an already miserable animal.
When I tried to return all their cats to them they called me "hateful". All of us I'm
sure believed KittyKind's story that they "just don't have the money" that this is
ultimately all about the cats.

By the way, are they going to admit liability when they adopt out a cat as shy
when it is really feral and when that feral cat attacks and seriously hurts the
guileless adopter? A cat bite merits medical care because of infection that is
generated by the cat's saliva. This is a serious medical situation. I understand 2
people have already posted cat bite situations. So many more just don't post.

KittyKind still thinks they are cat savers when they move an animal onto a home
that they will then forget about.
Expose That Ripoff By Posting it on the Internet
(Commentsearch.com)

No satisfaction from the BBB? Has someone out there acted less than ethically?
Misrepresented pet's health . . . Don't let others fall victim. Report them.
Anonymously or not
KittyKind Breach of Contract (All New York)

Go to http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls and see

what happened when I fostered an Extra Special Cat that needs meds etc. actually
received an email promising me vet care for the cat and 3 mos later the VET
received a letter saying they would no longer pay for his vet care. The Board of
Directors of KittyKind was changed and no one knew anything about the cat. The
cat has one kidney and a compromised bladder.

Is this anyway to run a rescue?

Maddie's Fund Award to Extra Special Cats (All New York)

Shame on you KittyKind. See:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls.

In their 2006 form 990s KittyKind’s income was declared to be about $210,000.
Maddie’s Fund awarded KittyKind, a Mayor’s Alliance APO, $49,000 in grant
money for 2007 and in the Spring of 2008 an additional $25,000 which was for
special needs cat adoptions.

Although at a trial in 2007 the Judge said to KittyKind’s attorney (from the law
firm of Vernon & Ginsburg) “I advise your client to give this woman some kind of
compensation because we have just been to trial and she can do whatever she
wants to with this information."

Despite the Vernon & Ginsburg’s protestations about how wonderful the group
was the Judge also told the attorney, "I don’t know how other groups operate but
from what I have heard, this group has taken advantage of this kind hearted
woman for over $25,000”. Referring to a lawsuit in which “this woman”, a World
Trade Center survivor, who lives on disability and who because of continued
promises for reimbursement, paid for many KittyKind vet bills for fostered cats
the year 2004.

Isn’t it coincidental that KittyKind received $25,000 from Maddie’s Fund,

according to the Maddies Fund Jan/Feb 2008 newsletter, and that this amount
would satisfy the claims of this woman yet, KittyKind has failed to respond in any
way to the Judge’s recommendation that some kind of compensation be made to
her? At this point it is beyond illogical for KittyKind to claim that they “just don’t
have the money.” KittyKind also claimed that these cats were not KittyKind
rescues.

Because these fosters were taken in good faith with repeated verbal promises that
these expenses would be reimbursed, this woman – as was the case with many
regular KittyKind adoption representatives and volunteers, was never given
Foster Forms by KittyKind to fill out – even though other Individual foster people
were required to fill out foster forms. The Judge made his decision based on lack
of paperwork although KittyKind also claimed lack paperwork for the Five cats
they admitted were theirs.
A Promise is Just a Bunch of Words

If KittyKind promises to give you medical care and follow up after adopting
Special Needs cats from them BE SURE TO GET IT ALL ON Their Letterhead
AND SIGNED TOO.

I fostered a cat that needed meds etc. actually received an email promising me vet
care for the cat and 3 mos later the vet received a letter saying they would no
longer pay for his vet care. The cat has one kidney and a compromised bladder.

See: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls
Looking to Adopt: Who's Healthy/Who's Not (All New York)

A few clues as to the health of the cat you're looking to adopt. Bottom line: you'll
need to take it to the vet after adopting - it's expected of you by one rescue group
in Manhattan. If you're looking at a cat or kitten and it's **sneezing,** it's time to
check the nose. Is there mucous on the nose? This cat/kitten has an upper
respiratory infection. A vet will recommend an antibiotic depending on what type
of bacteria is causing the infection. Giving antibiotics without a vet exam is not
the way to "treat" a cat.

Look at the **gums** too. If they are pale it means the cat is not getting enough
oxygen or is anemic. If the gums are blue - this cat needs a vet ASAP because it is
really low on oxygen and may have heart or other complications.

Look at the **ears**. Are they dirty? Does the cat shake its head alot? See if the
swabbed ear comes up with gritty, black stuff that looks like coffee grinds. That is
ear mites. It is treated for 2 weeks with a product by the vet and for 30 days with
mineral oil.

Does the cat have **diahhrea**? It is not always due to change in diet. Diahhrea
can be caused by parasites and must be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Diahhrea
that smells extremely awful can be attributed to Coccidia a parasite that can kill a
kitten within days. Another extremely awful smelling diahhrea is caused by
Giardia. The cat loses weight and has projectile diahhrea everytime it eats. Cats
with Diahhrea usually are also somewhat **dehydrated** because of the fluids
they keep losing with the diahhrea. The vet may want to give the cat
subcutaneous fluids. Some people recommend raw meat diets or tells you to give
the cat rice. While you're doing this the cat is just getting worse.

Look at the **eyes** and see if they are clear without mucous. Look at the
**teeth** to see what condition they're in. A cat with dirty teeth that are not
cleaned by a vet can develope mouth infections that cannot be cured but need
regular care for the rest of its life.

Be sure the cat has been checked for **fleas**. VERY important, and finally be
sure to receive paperwork showing dates of deworming and vaccination. Be sure
to get all medical files on your newly adopted pet. Be aware that some of the
above conditions can be easily treated by a vet. However, if you adopt a cat and
think it is healthy the vet visit never happens and the cat only suffers in silence
until it's health becomes seriously compromised.

Beware of Ringworm adopting a cat. If you are adopting a cat and it has lots of
round, rough looking bald spots around the ears, eyes, neck and paws. Stop a
minute. This could be due to a liver/kidney problem or it could be Ringworm.
Ringworm can be treated. It is actually a fungus that attacks the cats hair and can
spread over a good portion of the cats body. It is contagious to other cats and
people can get it too. It can be treated with Athlete's Food Cream or a lotion
called Fungisan. I recently used an ointment of goldenseal and myrrh and the
results were FAST. A vet can give the cat a pill and a skin ointment to help get rid
of the problem. Ringworm is itchy and looks like hives on a person. Always wash
your hands after handling a kitten or cat with RingWorm.
Always get medical records to take home with you, promises of getting them in
the mail are not going to happen. Promises are made to be broken and repeated
calls to get them can be ignored. Take the Medical Files home with you.
Incredible opportunity to foster/volunteer for KittyKind
(All New York)

The year 2000. How could you see all these cats in carriers with runny noses and
miserable looking and not extend a hand to help? I wanted to stop going to Petco
but I already had too many cats from 1999 to return to KittyKind. If I stopped
going to their adoption site, KittyKind would forget about the cats I had. I would
have been stuck with all the cats from 1999. I didn't seem to realize that I was
digging a deeper hole for myself in the year 2000.

Was told to help diabetic cat with 9U of insulin!!! Lucky the vet was there and I
insisted that the dosage was too high. It would have killed the cat, who only
needed 1U. Told by Director, "If he goes home with me, he'll die for sure."

Leo bit me through the palm of my hand tonight, I almost passed out from the
pain. Cat is very upset. Marlene said to bring him back that they would euthanize
him. I was shocked and later she laughed and said she was kidding – that she was
not going to euthanize him.

Eventually Leo became a lovely cat but too sick with ear polyps and mouth cancer
to just adopt out. KK Director said, “He’s your cat now.”

Bailey 1/15/00 My rescues Pay Intake fee

Mikey 1/29/00 My rescues Pay Intake fee
2/12/00 Given $80 by KK Director to bring Raskol home with me. He cannot eat
dry food. Later found out she had received an intake fee of $250 for this cat, she
had him for all of 2 minutes.
2/12/00: Returned Sadie to (Volunteer). Georgi still had upper respiratory.
2/13/00: Bring Mikey home if not adopted? – That’s what I’m told even though I
paid an intake fee for him.
2/05/00 Jedi Pay Intake fee
2/12/00 Roman/ Raskol intake KK given $250 intake fee for Raskol
KK Director gave me $85 for initial food etc. He needs a special diet $30.50 for
24 cans.
2/12/00 Georgi ((Volunteer)) Bad Upper Resp
2/13/00 Ruthie Intake: Help her get over eye infection & Bad Upper Resp. Once
better get Vet files; spay and return to KittyKind
2/13/00 Mikey Adopted
2/19/00 Georgi Return to (Volunteer)
2/19/00 Jedi to Petco
2/26/00 Georgi Returned to (Volunteer)
2/27/00 Jedi to New Home
3/1/00 Sadie & Georgi Until 3/11/00
3/6/00 Ruthie Spayed: Pyrometria: She’s not a young cat.
3/6/00 Baby Spayed: My rescue
3/11/00 Ozzie Foster for 1 week. 6 mos old and “shy”
3/11/00 Ruthie Pick up from Vet
3/18/00 Ozzie, Georgi, Sadie Return to Petco. Ozzie not ready per KittyKind
3/25/00 Ruthie Return to Petco
5/1/00 Adoption Package Drop off to KittyKind
5/6/00 No cage room for Kissy or Ruthie
5/13/00 Ozzie & 2 Kittens Return to Petco
7/00/00 Cats have scabs around ears & backs Call Vet re Leo & Chatzi
No cage space per Marlene
7/18/00 Gemma My rescue
No Cage Space
7/18/00 Ariel
7/18/00 Gnut Dermatitis
7/18/00 Rumble Kitten/Hold

8/26/00 Update
Passover; Sportshoes; Mushy; Gnut; Ariel; Rusty; Raskol; Hamlet; Honey; Echo;
Blackie; Raven; Baby; Leo; Roman(a); Chatzi; Tracey; Gemma; Kittens (to
Petco); Angelina / Rumble; Little Guy (Adopted); Ozzie; Kissy; Thomas; Ruthie;
Willy; Luciano; Placido; Zoe;
8/27/00 Petco Give KittyKind Director Document for website. P/U bag of Iams?
One bag?!!
9/1/00 P/U Kittens
9/2/00 Momma & Tiny Foster; Return Kittens
2 had eye infections
Bring back next week with red kitten
9/4/00 Director for KittyKind says I’m not a volunteer anymore I’m an adoption
representative now
See xerox attachment for meds update
9/23/00 Bambi and 2 male kittens (Linus/Mel) Discarded at Petco
Upper Respiratory
10/25/00 Roman Senior Cat with diahhrea - turned out to be a very senior female

10/25/00 Mel Kitten: Test/vacc

11/25/00 Bambi / Mel Vaccinated
Took to Petco
Must bring home if not adopted per KittyKind
11/27/00 Frenchie Adopted
12/17/00 Bambi
Tsunami
Linus Return to Petco.
12/24/00 Buster Adopted
*****12/29/00 Sweetie
1. Told cat had seizures on 12/28/00
2. Was dehydrated
3. Vet gave fluids?
4. Cat is female
5. Cat is wobbly
6. No name given for cat
7. No age or other information given for cat
Told by KittyKind Director that she was a housecat surrendered by owner. Intake
fee given to KK? Has vaccs & is spayed. Told to isolate her. I called KK Director
and told her I have no place to isolate the cat. She said to “put her in your closet.”
I argued that the cat is meowing repetitively and I would not do that, I said I
didn’t want her to die in my closet. Finally, was told to “take her to your vet, we’ll
reimburse you.”
Per my Vet cat has encephalitis and fever. It explains why she kept pressing her
face into a towel: Pain. KittyKind Director, told my vet to “just give cat supportive
care” because she could not locate (Board Member) who was the cat’s official
caretaker. Awful event, my vet very angry over KittyKind's protestations that cat
should only be put on fluids and antibiotics.
A Blizzard was expected later that night. KittyKind Director claimed he just
wanted to clear out his waiting room. I was with the cat and saw the time they
gave her. This was definitely not the case. Very disappointed with KittyKind. She
was euthanized at 7:15 pm on my authority. No reimbursement. With exception
of veterinarian everyone acting as if I did something wrong.

This was just a portion of my volunteer days at KittyKind. Aren't you supposed to
feel good as a result of volunteering?
Expose That Ripoff By Posting it on the Internet
(Commentsearch.com)
No satisfaction from the BBB? Has someone out there acted less than ethically?
Misrepresented pet's health . . . Don't let others fall victim. Report them.
Anonymously or not