Tuesday, March 6, 2012

My formal complaint to the Oakville/Milton Humane Society

Subject: Disappointed in the Oakville/Milton Humane Society

Dear Oakville/Milton Humane Society,
I am writing to you to tell you how disappointed I am in your adoption process. I have read, over and over, about your demand for adoption rates to increase and about the struggle with overcrowding. Yet you do not seem to be eager or have time to even read applications for your sweet animals!
On February 25th I came to your shelter and inquired about one of your dogs, Suzie. You informed me that there was an application in for her but you were looking to take more, just in case. That Monday, I asked to see Suzie and spend time with her and I instantly felt a connection and a desire to mother her and give her a forever home. I filled in an application for her, despite there having been one since the weekend (or longer, I do not know, I did not inquire). Your staff informed me that you would contact me to keep me updated on the status of Suzie, even if her first applicants were called for a meeting with her. Wednesday arrived and I did not get a call. I called to inquire and was informed by your staff that you have not even looked at the first application due to time contraints. Yet, some of your other staff went on and on about how they couldn't believe Suzie had not yet been adopted, had been in the shelter since August, and how badly she needed a home. If this dog needed a home so urgently and if she has been there for such a long period of time, why would you let even five days pass without a look at an application? It has now been over a week since I went to your shelter and applied for Suzie and I've yet to receive a phone call regarding her status which leads me to believe you have continued to have no progress or care with this sweet, sad dog.
Thankfully, this Thursday I walked into the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA and that evening walked out with a dog that has now filled the space in my heart that I had hoped Suzie could fill. She is in her forever home. And all HBSPCA asked of me was information about my lifestyle and my desires in a companion in order to make sure that she was the right match for me. They sat with me and my family that night with no need for a meeting later in the week. Your application process involves interrogation, inconvenient meetings at a later, unknown date, and from this experience, it seems as though getting a home for a dog is not your major concern (despite all that you advertise in the Oakville Beaver and the like). It is heartbreaking to know that an application wasn't even looked at for five days when these animals need loving homes immediately, more than anything in the world.
I am so disappointed in your shelter and I feel so sorry for your animals if this is how you treat the adoption process, and I just wanted to let you know.
Sincerely,
Claudia Amendola



A few hours later, I received a call from the Oakville/Milton SPCA asking if I was still interested in adopting Suzie. I told them, "Actually, no, I just e-mailed you guys," to which the woman replied, "Oh, I have yet to have it forwarded to me!" Coincidence that they call me mere hours after I send my e-mail, or their attempt to cover their butts when the Oakville Beaver comes to question them? That's okay; I took a photo of the exact time they called and it's nothing but suspicious. 

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