Intake
Why Y.A.P.S. Doesn't Take All Animals
Y.A.P.S. doesn't take all owner-surrender animals for one, very simple reason, our resources would be overwhelmed in a very short time. Since we do not euthanize animals just to make room for one more, the number of animals we can care for depends directly upon how many adoptions we have. For example: In the spring and fall "kitten seasons", we are full of kittens as well as their mothers. During these times we, as well as virtually every other animal shelter or rescue group in the county, is bombarded with calls and e-mails from people who have a litter of kittens that they "need to find homes for" while the rest of the year is spent trying to find homes for the cats that didn't get adopted during the last kitten season. Despite our never-ending pleas for pet owners to spay or neuter their pets to prevent more animals from being born, each year we see hundreds of new kittens and puppies from people who just aren't getting the message. Too often these people tell themselves, "Oh, they'll find them all a new home" and are quite upset when a no-kill shelter or rescue group simply has no more space left to offer. Its a never-ending battle.
If each of us did something, we could accomplish a lot. Many shelters are taken to task for "killing animals", but in order for it to stop our society will have to change our attitudes about companion animals.
Don't Buy a Pet From an Animal Breeder or Pet Store - Many of these pets come from puppy or kitten mills from other states-does it make any sense to create a market for more pets when we have dozens of shelters that have great pets for far less than you would pay a breeder or a pet store?
Have your pet spayed or neutered and encourage others to do the same - The last thing we need are more puppies or kittens being born into a world that cannot provide homes for them. Pets do not need to have a litter of offspring and altered pets live healthier lives free of several different diseases of the reproductive system.
Help a Shelter & Help a Pet - If you are out shopping, you can buy an extra bag of dog or cat food, cat litter or even office supplies and drop it off at any of the local shelter-we will appreciate your gift. You can volunteer in one of many different ways to help Y.A.P.S. Even an hour each week could mean another animal that is saved from an uncertain fate. You could be that one person who makes all the difference in the world to a pet in need.
Never adopt on a whim-Adopting a pet is a lifelong commitment. Too many people adopt animals that they may not be able to keep for more than a few years or even months. Stop and consider your particular life situation before you adopt a pet because surrendering a pet is never an easy thing to do.
Many people call, e-mail or visit us and relate to us their situation and ask us if we would take their animal and find a new home for it. Many times these pet owners tell us that they do not wish to take their animal to a shelter because they "don't want it to be killed". We understand and sympathize with that sentiment. However, all too often many of these pet owners simply wish to surrender their animals to us and walk away from the responsibility of their animal while congratulating themselves that they know "someone" will adopt their animal.
What these people fail or choose not to realize is, in the event someone does not adopt their animal we will have to provide care for that animal over the rest of its natural life. Providing veterinary care and feeding for one animal easily exceeds $1,000 per year, if we took each and every animal that people who contact us wish to surrender, we would be bankrupt in no time at all with dozens upon dozens of animals that still required care.
Far too often, we get a call or an e-mail from someone who is moving and cannot or will not be taking their animal to their new home. Sadly, most of these callers wait until the last possible moment to try and find their animal a new home and simply expect Y.A.P.S. or some other no-Kill group or shelter to relieve them of their burden. Many times these folks claim to have no money to leave towards the care of their animal, but somehow can afford a nice automobile, a cell phone and high-speed Internet access. Worse still, many of these animals are not up-to-date on their required shots, some aren't even spayed or neutered while others have behavior issues that make them unsuitable for adoption.
Reality check: You simply cannot expect anyone to accept the lifetime responsibility of your pet and contribute nothing towards its ongoing care. Shelters that will take your pet free of charge and not require that the animal be up-to-date on its shots or already altered are generally the ones that euthanize.
But You're Supposed to Take Animals!
We hear this quite often, but it is not true.
There is no legal requirement for any private animal shelter or rescue group take an animal that an owner wishes to surrender. Only municipal animal control agencies are required to do this. Sadly, despite their best efforts many municipal shelters have high euthanasia rates because of the sheer volume of animals that arrive, especially in the spring and fall. In some instances, the only hands that will handle young kittens or puppies are the same hands that will end their lives. No animal shelter, caregiver or staff member at any shelter enjoys performing this task-they are simply dealing with the problem that pet overpopulation creates.
Y.A.P.S. believes that the animal overpopulation crisis can be solved, but not by simply providing an easy means by which pet owners can divorce themselves of their animals so that others can deal with it.
We are willing to help a pet owner who makes every reasonable effort to prevent their animal from facing euthanasia but we will not provide an easy, guilt-free means by which owners can simply be rid of their pets and walk away. If you are willing to meet us halfway, we are willing to help. If you simply want to hand over your pet and forget about it, we can't help you.
The assistance that Y.A.P.S. offers requires owner-participation.
We will be happy to direct you to resources for low-cost spay/neuter services and shots, such as distemper and rabies.
We can display, at no cost for you, an adoption flyer of your pet. We are happy to make these flyers available to potential adopters.
We will be happy to direct you to resources for free or low cost advertising.
Y.A.P.S. can display a photograph and bio of your pet on our website, if the following requirements have been met. Your pet must be current on all vaccinations, including DHLPP and Bordetella. Pets over one year must be spayed or neutered and show proof of sterilization. You pet's information will be displayed for 30 days and interested families will contact you directly. There is a $50 cash donation that is made at the time of registration per animal that is featured on our website. Contact us for breed restrictions and further information. Y.A.P.S. accepts absolutely no responsibility towards the adoption and behavior of your pet.
In the event that we have room, we will make every effort to re-home your animal. We will search, on your behalf, for a loving “forever” home. In the event that we are unable to do this or your animal becomes “unadaptable” for any reason, you will agree to take back your animal.
The following is a brief summary of our Intake Requirements
CATS: All cats must come from homes where they were “indoor” only. Cats must pass a health and temperament evaluation by the Cattery Manager.
DOGS: All dogs must pass a health and temperament evaluation by the Kennel Manager. All vaccinations must be current, administered by a veterinarian and written proof must be provided. It is preferable to have Rabies but an animal will not necessarily be turned away simply because the Rabies vaccination is missing. Vaccinations must be a minimum of 21 days past the date they were administered prior to being admitted. There are breed restrictions.
PUPPIES: All puppies must pass a health and temperament evaluation by the Kennel Manager. All vaccinations must be current, administered by a veterinarian and written proof must be provided. It is preferable to have Rabies but an animal will not necessarily be turned away simply because the Rabies vaccination is missing. Puppies must be at least seven months of age. Y.A.P.S. IS UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY PUPPY UNDER SEVEN MONTHS. Puppies must receive a series of THREE vaccinations. Puppies must either have three 7 in 1 vaccinations or three 6-1 vaccinations AND Corona or three 5 in 1 and Corona plus Leptospirosis. Vaccinations must be a minimum of 21 days past the date they were administered prior to being admitted. There are breed restrictions.
7 in 1 Vaccination
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis
- Parvo
- Corona
- Parainfluenza
- Adenovirus
6 in 1 Vaccination- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis
- Parvo
- Parainfluenza
- Adenovirus
- DOES NOT INCLUDE CORONA
5 in 1 Vaccination
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Parvo
- Parainfluenza
- Adenovirus
- DOES NOT INCLUDE CORONA AND LEPTOSPIROSIS
SPACE AVAILABILITY: Y.A.P.S. is a limited intake shelter. Space must be available, if an animal is going to be accepted into the shelter.
STRAY ANIMALS: Y.A.P.S. is unable to accept stray animals. Those left at the gate, tossed over the fence or brought to the shelter for intake shall be referred to the appropriate county agency.
CONTAINMENT AND HANDLING: Staff must be able to contain and handle all animals. Animals that show aggression or those that can't be contained will be returned to the original owner or transferred to appropriate county agency.
INTAKE FEE: There is an intake fee of $100 for those animals that can provide proof of sterilization. The intake fee for animals without proof of sterilization is $150. CASH is only accepted.
|
