I lost my beloved Siamese of 12 years to leukemia. The vet gave him 2 years when he was first diagnosed, but through diligent care, love, and attention, he lived another 7. In the end I was hand-feeding him. When he passed I was - obviously - devastated.
I just love Siamese cats for all of their personality and charisma and quirkiness. I believed (still do) that a rescue is the most responsible way to go. What I quickly learned was that an organization called Pacific Siamese Rescue almost immediately takes custody of all stray and surrendered Siamese cats from shelters in the bay area. Rather than buy a purebred or travel out of the county to adopt a cat, I contacted PSR. In two days' time, I'd filled out a questionnaire, an information form, provided veterinary records for all prior pets, and answered some seemingly mindless questions about how my prior pets were handled. I pretty much wrote an essay describing my cat's personality, the disease he'd had, the care I gave him, the treatments, and the tremendous loss in losing my loving pet and companion. Then I waited over 2 weeks to hear back.
In the meantime, I spoke to 2 PSR "foster" volunteers. Both women were loaded up with Siamese cats. For one of the foster volunteers, of every cat I mentioned (from looking at their website), she'd respond with some variation of "I ain't so sure I can give that one up....he/she's a real cuddlebug. I might keep him/her." Here I am just about giving them my blood type and W2 statements, and two-teeth Tillie is trying to decide if she can part with members of her cat farm who she's allegedly "fostering". Something definitely wrong here.
After 15 days of waiting, I emailed Denise Fabel to ask about the status of my application. Here is her response: "We have reviewed your application and decided not to approve you for cat adoption." The reason? This I quote directly: "What kind of cat owner allows their cat to get leukemia?" (I still have the email).
Thanks to Denise Fabel's repulsive arrogance, ignorance, and utter lack of class, one more cat missed out on a great home and likely remained one of the 12 or 13 cats crammed into a "foster" home. This is not mindful cat care.
I finally ended up with 2 beautiful Siamese...but not from the ridiculous and insensitive organization that calls itself Pacific Siamese Rescue. I sincerely hope someone shuts them down, or at least conducts an investigation of their fostering policies and monopoly over adoptable Siamese cats in the Bay Area. I won't tell you not to adopt from them; in fact, please do...if it means getting one more cat out of the clutches of these incompetent women.
Update - July 23, 2012.
I just saw Leigh/Diane's response to my post. I am not Nancy F. I never applied to your organization as Nancy F. In fact, your mistake about who I am and how "similar' my story is to this other woman who made the same claims against you only proves my point: You people just have too much control over adoptable Siamense cats in the Bay Area, and are judgemental and discriminatory in your practices.
I did not have 3 cats, I had one. He was never an outdoor cat in the first place and certainly never went outside once he was diagnosed. You tried to paint a picture of me as a terribly irresponsible cat owner and you are just wrong.
I stand by every claim I make. I was absolutely contacted by not one but two "foster" people (both were women). Obviously this was before my application was denied because I thought I was approved and this was why they were calling me. Interesting you don't even know what goes on inside your own disorganized collective.
Last update - 9/2012.
Nice try, Leigh. If I post the email here that I received in 2005 from Denise Fabel asking me "What kind of cat owner allows their cat to contract leukemia?" then I get sued for libel. I am using Yelp for what it was designed for: Posting an account of an experience and a related opinion. You can call me a liar all you want but I have no reason to make this stuff up, nor to I need to prove my identity and experience to you.
What is libelous is your second attempt at trying to identify me as Nancy F, and in doing so, stating the details of her adoption attempts, then insisting that I am her. I wish Nancy F would show up here and sue your ass.
Good riddance to you. read more