My roommate and I recently found a very friendly stray male cat near our cabin. He was sweet, hungry, and clearly needed help, so we drove him 30 minutes to this shelter hoping he would be cared for. I want to be clear that I have no reason to believe the animals here aren’t being cared for. My review is based solely on our experience with the staff during and after the intake process. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing. From the moment we arrived, we felt like an inconvenience rather than people trying to help an animal. We were given very little communication, and when we brought the cat inside, he was taken from us very abruptly and placed into a kennel. He cried out as he was taken, which made an already emotional situation even harder. We understand that intake procedures are necessary, but the interaction felt rushed and lacked compassion or any explanation. We cared about this cat deeply, even in the short time we had him, and tried to share information that could help with his transition, but there was very little engagement. Afterward, we went out and purchased lots of donations for the cats at the shelter. When we returned with the donations, we again felt dismissed. We were simply told where to set everything. There wasn’t a “thank you” or any acknowledgment of the donation. When we asked how the cat was doing, the responses were very brief and didn’t make us feel like our concerns mattered. I even called a couple of days later hoping for an update and was simply told, “He’s fine,” without anyone checking with the staff caring for him or offering any additional information. I also work in animal rescue, so I understand that shelter staff have incredibly difficult jobs. I know intake procedures are important, and I understand compassion fatigue is real. My concern isn’t with the policies, It’s with the lack of basic kindness, communication, and empathy throughout the entire experience. Handing over that stray cat was heartbreaking for us. A little compassion, reassurance, or even a simple “thank you for bringing him in” would have gone a long way. We left feeling sad not only because we had to say goodbye to him, but because the experience lacked the warmth and understanding we hoped to find from an organization dedicated to helping animals. I truly hope he finds a wonderful home, and I hope this feedback encourages a little more compassion for the next person who walks through the door trying to do the right thing.
