Purrfect Pals

Purrfect Pals
Category: Animal Shelters
Update - 5/7/2009
Several weeks ago I had a new experience with Purrfect Pals, one NOT recounted in my original review of February 28, 2008. Its significance is important enough that I believe it should be made public.

On Wednesday, March 31st, 2009, I was contacted by a member of their organization, who nastily threatened to sue me unless I came around.

This kind of behavior is consistent with the other behaviors by Purrfect Pals I have described in my original review. This is the kind of place that will adopt out a seriously sick cat and then excoriate you for "dumping" it if you find you cannot care for it.

I hope this organization, instead, uses the time and expense they would expend on such vindictive action to take concrete steps to improve their own operations.

One would think that if an organization does not like reading critical reviews that it might seriously consider doing something about those areas of deficiency*, instead of engaging in such inappropriate behaviors.

I stand by my original review and refuse to submit to such intimidation.

* For example, I recently noted that the Petco University District and West Seattle Purrfect Pals locations, which originally had small, nasty cages housing forlorn cats for adoption--in a Wal-mart-like environment--have been closed. This is definitely an improvement.

** The adoption fees for a cat one year or older in age is $25 at the Seattle Humane Society and includes 30 days of free pet health insurance, while they would be $100 at any Purrfect Pals location. I have heard of no issues with screening for health issues at the Seattle Humane Society, actually in Bellevue. I wish I had there instead of here 18 months ago.
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2/21/2008
No one should ever have to go through what I went through at Purrfect Pals.

I'm sure many sincere volunteers work here (I salute them). But that's not the point.

This is a VERY badly managed shelter.

Much as I admire the overall goals, there are major problems adopting a cat here.

Good intentions, bad follow through.

If you adopt a cat and it becomes ill within hours, you will get the brush-off... unless they tell you to "Bring him back, we'll take care of everything" (without telling you that you'll have to surrender your cat).

At this point, you may wonder: "Since NOW you say he needs medical treatment, why didn't you do it before?"

Is PP adopting out cats on a "revolving door" policy just to support a "no-kill policy"? Do they encourage surrender of cats just so that they can adopt them out again... and again, to maximize donations?

At the Petsmart on 130th & Aurora, the adoption process was flawed--no explanations given, just a rush to fill out paperwork. Lots of hidden "fine print."

Vicky Frye, the volunteer, falsely claimed that the cat was up-to-date on his vaccinations. Later she admitted she had been wrong but offered no apology, rationalizing that she was "only a volunteer."

These who care for the cats in the stores do not note if the cat has been eating, drinking, defecating, etc.

The day-shift volunteers are high school students doing community service. The day we adopted, no one showed up during TWO afternoon shifts. We had to wait over two hours.

Max, the cat I adopted, Frye stated, was "extremely shy" or "depressed." Within two hours of arriving home, he had diarrhea. He didn't eat or drink anything so, his health spiraled downward the next 5 days.

It is not credible that he had shown no previous symptoms.

Their screening of incoming cats is sloppy, limited to checking neuter status and for leukemia. In fact, the turn-around time for putting cats out for adoption is about 24 hours.

Though it IS impossible to guarantee perfect health, animal shelters DO have a responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that health issues are spotted.

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, MAX NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT UP FOR ADOPTION.

Frantically, I repeatedly emailed them and explained the emergency. They took 4 days to respond: In essence, "WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE (FOR OUR MISTAKES). YOU ARE."

A simple "What's going on?" or "We're sorry the cat got so sick. Is there anything we can do to help?" was too much to ask of them.

You may be lucky and get a healthy cat. Maybe not.

In any case, I don't see how they can "match" up senior cats with senior citizens, as the latter often do not have the financial or logistical wherewithal to deal with a sick cat.

Their glossy, abundant promotional "literature" is deceptive and treacly, misleading seniors to believe they can raise these cats with nary a worry.

They also grossly inflate ($500) the cost of pre-adoption care they give incoming cats. No other shelter makes such claims.

For a non-profit, this kind of manipulation is shocking. DOES BEING SOLICITOUS OF THE HEALTH OF THEIR CATS MEAN THEY HAVE TO FOIST SICK CATS AND/OR PASS ON COSTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT ONTO UNSUSPECTING WOULD-BE OWNERS?

The day after I surrendered my cat (2-26-08), he was back online ("adoptable")! My vet could not help Max, although she suggested further testing ($1000+).

PP must have a magic wand to turn around a very sick cat in 24 hours.

AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. After supposedly being adopted out a second time (April), Max was once again back online listed for adoption a third time (mid-May 2009).

Apparently, cats adopted from PP are returned all the time.

Costly, time-consuming...
and a lot of unnecessary heartbreak.

The final indignity was to be placed on their mailing list--with invitation to the Spring Masquerade Ball.

Later, when Purrfect Pals blocked me from adopting a (healthy) cat from another shelter--because of my original review--, my grave doubts about their honesty were only confirmed.

* In response to my BBB complaint, instead of candidly addressing the issues, Janice K. Johnson, the acting head, resorted to Ann Coulter-style (she might be flattered by the comparison) ad hominen attack:

Crude innuendo ("The guy must crave attention"), factual misrepresentations ("He demanded within 24 hours we give his cat sub-q's" and "he missed his appointment"), and self-righteous statements she knows to be untrue ("I'm furious! He didn't show the slightest concern for the cat's well-being");

Insults ("he must know nothing about cats") and arrogance / pseudo-generosity ("we were willing to allow him to return the cat to us").

RECOMMENDED: Seattle or King County Animal Shelters. Humane Society. (Less than half the cost. Health guarantee/refund at KC).

ADVICE: File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. They're in denial. Wish there an AA for organizations such as this one.

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