Finding a REAL No Kill Rescue...

...shouldn't be that hard...right? Wrong...

Imagine a cat needs a new home or a temp foster home.

Imagine he has past FLUTD urinary issues. He has developed behavioral peeing issues because he is unhappy with something in his home now. He needs a new home. He can't go to the local humane society- Wisconsin HS- because they kill animals they deem not easy to adopt.

His mom has may have to move in a hurry and can only take a few of her babies. She can't take any that will get her thrown out of her new place. She has no money, no job, no car.

Imagine contacting No Kill after No Kill. Most are full. Some are kind. Some are not. Most don't bother to reply.

Some aren't really No Kill...Some want money...

Overall this has been VERY helpful in advising people to not just pick a No Kill (or any rescue or shelter!) to support, but ask some very important questions. 

Anyways...

Here is what I have learned through personal experience...

Happy Endings- assumed FULL. Could not get a reply...:(

Community Cat - FULL -They are full but I got a nice reply back... CC does great work for feral cats and kittens...

HART of WI- FULL- Let me also say that Roseanne, who responded, was great! She had more fosters than me, but was kind, compassionate, and apologetic that she didn't have more suggestions...

KIndred Kitties - FULL- but not NO Kill as advertised- they recommended euthanizing him against the No Kill code that no healthy or treatable animal should ever be euthanized. 

Here was their response...

. "I'm sorry to say though, that even if we were accepting kitties, we probably would not be able to take on a kitty such as the cat you are looking to place.
With a history like this, he would likely be very hard to place into a new home and his behavioral problem would only get worse in a shelter situation. In all honesty, as hard as it is to do, if your friend is unable to keep this kitty, the kindest thing for her to do for him may be to consider euthanizing him.
If he is already unhappy in his current home to the point of behavior peeing and you say you don't think he will do well with strangers and other animals then a shelter situation or even a new home would likely just add to the problem and would be very unfair to him. Also, if you were to find a new home for him, there is no 

way to say who the new family might react if he were to pee outside of the box. They might not be as kind or tolerant as your friend has been and could harm the cat or throw him outside. "

I had to reply that I disagreed. "R

espectfully, I believed 100% in No Kill which means no healthy or treatable animals should ever die because its inconvienient. There would be many, many dead cats then and many of those would be ones I have seen go to happy homes and never spray again."

I cannot emphasize enough how the cats at the shelter that were unhappy sprayers or pee-ers in their old homes were re-homed into homes that were told about their past and were also told that if they were ever unhappy they could return them.  No matter how many times people say it, no healthy animal is better off dead. Ask my feral foster Mina who is slowly coming around if she would be happier dead?

Angel's Wish- REFUSED -Instead of responding, they sent a PDF file of 7 required Re-homing Guidelines and 3 suggestions that were all requirements. Which would have been fine if I hadn't already explained that the owner physically cannot keep the cat, thus making many of those guidelines impossible! The cat is not being re-homed, it is being surrendered!

 1. "Pets must stay in existing home until appropriate loving home is found" because the rescue is foster-based and "foster homes are used for homeless, orphaned, and emergency animals"...The owner CAN'T keep him as stated, and this would be an emergency...

2. No help rehoming animals who have "bite history" or "unwarranted aggressive behavior".

3. Owners need to work with an adoption coordinator and if one is not available, you have to wait...this is. an. emergency.

4. Animals must be fixed and up to date on vaccinations. Cats must have FIV/FeLV test. All records provided. That all makes sense for re-homing if the owner can afford it. Many people giving up pets do it because they can't afford it.

5. "

provide 3-4 cute digital photos and a write-up that describes the personality, likes and dislikes, and other information about your pet to help potential adopters decide if your pet might be a good match."

6.You must be willing to bring your pet to various adoption events so potential adopters can meet him/her. This is required only if your pet is comfortable attending these events. We won't know until he/she attends at least one. FeLV+ cats and dogs do not attend. Most adult cats are going to be very unhappy at a public event. Especially shy ones. We will know that after he is traumatized though for sure. Also, owner has no car. She can't keep him.

7. If the owner finds a home on her own, it has to be approved first and an adoption fee paid to AW

. So...basically an adoption fee is being paid for a courtesy posting service?

#8 is a suggested donation apart from the adoption fee they get when the animal gets a new home.

They would not take him into foster because he was not homeless (YET), but they would be willing to courtesy post him IF the owner complied with all of the above rules. Everything they do is what another rescue will do for FREE!

I replied that I had thought it was a rescue, not a courtesy posting service, and reiterated that it was not a re-homing, but an emergency surrender. 

They replied that they WERE a rescue. 

I replied by re-stating (again) that the owner couldn't hold on to him or take him to the vet. I asked if they would take him when he was homeless. 

They replied that I could take him (!!) and work with them through the 7 requirements. 

I cannot. If I could, I would CERTAINLY courtesy post him through a shelter for free with no requirements.

I replied asking them if they were refusing to help this cat unless the owner complied with their rehoming agreement...which she couldn't. 

There was no reply. 

New Life- REFUSED WITHOUT PAYMENT -They are full, but would be willing to try to find a foster home IF owner payed the surrender fee. It's $150 for fixed animals, $250 if not fixed. I asked if they would refuse to take him without a surrender fee because the owner had no money (as stated in the original message) They replied that have to ask for a fee because they are non-profit and volunteer only. All the funds are going to take kittens and dogs from a breeder...

I replied that I understood not having funds but that i felt required surrender fees make people throw animals into the street.

Huckbee's -FULL -Very fast reply. Just saved  7 or 8 death row cats from an AC down south.

Saving Paws- FULL -Auto-mated reply

HOPE Safehouse - Only take animals from kill shelters

Cinderella's Hope - no reply

Happily Ever After - no reply

Waiting on replies from other No Kills...