The fostering to adopt has turned into a bigger fiasco then I ever could have imagined. We were told we could foster to adopt so we could get to know the new dog (a.k.a. Harley) and see if he was a good fit for our home. I called at 3:00 Monday afternoon to check that we were still on schedule to pick him up. I was told there was still one more surgery before him and he would be ready for pick-up at 7:30 that night. That was sure not leaving much time for recovery on his part before we picked him up.
We arrived at 7:30 and waited for 20 minutes before we were even able to talk to the person in charge of adoptions. We were told the dew-claw fee would no be included with the adoption fee. Okay, perhaps they should have informed us of that via the phone when I called them twice that afternoon, but since we were only fostering and not adopting that day, I dismissed the concern. When we were finally able to talk to the young lady in charge of adoptions, we were told the protocol had changed and we were no longer allowed to foster him, because we lived too far away. What?!?! We live under 20 minutes away. We were then told the dew-claw removal would cost $20 per paw - the homeless pet rate. But when she took us to check out, the fee for the removal of the dew-claws we were told would be over $150. I nearly choked. So now, not only were we to pay the adoption fee of $175 we were supposed to pay an additional $150+ as well. After one of the tech's went and talked to the doctor, the fee was decreased to $92. At this point we had been there for nearly an hour and I was fried. It was the most chaotic place I have been to and everyone had a different answer for everything. They set us up for a well check visit and removal of stitches in ten days.
We got home and realized the packet of information they gave us was missing many of the things they told us would be included. Not a rescue group or vet I would be willing to work with again, that is for sure. But wait! It gets even better.
Over the week, Harley started sneezing and doing something they call a reverse sneeze. I did some research and found out it is usually linked to allergies. Of course, we would adopt a dog with allergies. But as the week progressed it become worse until Friday night he was actually coughing. I was up most of the night with him due to his problems settling because of all the coughing. Brent was very concerned and thought we should take him to an emergency vet. I convinced him to wait until morning.
We called the Town and Country vet, the Homeless Pets is run out of, and no one answered even though the information they gave us claimed they were open. We then called the vet of our previous fur babies and got in that afternoon. Long story short, Harley is full of hookworms. What kind of rescue group does not d-worm their dogs?!?!? They gave him a de-wormer, a heart worm test, an initial visit, some heart worm pills for six months and some cough tablets. We walked out of their less $225. If you are keeping a running total we are now down $500.
After we got home he began feeling lethargic and would not eat. He eventually had diarrhea and vomited several times. He would not eat in the morning nor drink, so we returned to the vet who gave him some fluids, an injection of anti-nausea medicine, and an oral antibiotic - anther $135. She believes the amount of parasites that showed up in his stool sample is why he is vomiting and having diarrhea. He is heavily infested. Did I mention that humans can also get hookworms?
To say that I am annoyed by the Homeless Pets organizations and Town and Country Vet is to put it lightly. What kind of rescue group does not do testing on their rescues to make sure they are up to date on all their shots and healthy. We will see how I feel tomorrow, but this evening with my still lethargic and extremely sick Harley next to me I am ready to call and give them a piece of my mind. Needless to say, our appointment for a well check and removal of stitches is canceled.
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