Oregon Humane Society, Portland veterinarians collaborate in program to help cats

 

The Oregon Humane Society and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association are teaming up for a pilot project aimed at encouraging people who adopt felines from the humane society to give them a lifetime of care. (Oregon Humane Society)

 

Lynne Terry, The Oregonian By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
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on July 30, 2013 at 2:03 PM, updated July 30, 2013 at 4:31 PM

 

A Maryland nonprofit has picked Portland for a pilot study aimed at giving more cats good homes.

 

The study, which kicks off Wednesday, involves the close collaboration of the Oregon Humane Society and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. The groups will work together to encourage people who adopt felines from the humane society to give them a lifetime of care.

 

It all starts with a free exam. During the pilot program sponsored by CATalyst Council in Maryland, people who adopt felines from the Northeast Portland shelter will be given a certificate for a free exam from a vet of that person's choice. The Oregon Humane Society will then email the feline's health records to that vet, who will contact the owner, encouraging a visit.

 

The certificate will be good for 10 days. The idea is to get new owners to the vet as soon as possible. When that happens, studies indicate that animals are more likely to stay with their owners.

 

A study by the American Humane Association and PetSmart Charities, Inc. this year showed that more than 93 percent of dogs and cats that were taken to the vet soon after adoption were still in the same home six months later. 

 

"It shows a commitment to the cat," said Barbara Baugnon, spokeswoman for the Oregon Humane Society. "We're hoping to create a connection where the cat becomes a forever pet."

 

The society has always offered free exams as part of its feline adoption fees, which range from $100 for a kitten to $35 for a cat. But in the past, the society didn't follow up with vets.

 

That will change under the three-month program, with the society in contact with vets and vets in touch with owners. Then in a year, the CATalyst Council will check on the felines to see if they remain in their homes.

 

If the program proves successful, CATalyst Council will expand the program into other communities next year. 

Jane Blunt, the council's executive director and a veterinarian, said the nonprofit picked Portland for the pilot project because of the close collaboration among the shelter, rescue and veterinarian communities.

 

Oregon Humane also has been successful in finding felines new homes. At any one time, the shelter has about 70 up for adoption. It will adopt out more than 5,000 this year, Baugnon said. 

 

NOTE:

Rebuttal by Watchdog:

 

OHS can afford its own publicist. If nothing else OHS knows how self promote and make money while providing business to local veterinarians. The "close collaboration of the Oregon Humane Society and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association" is about making money.

 

Now they have been given a grant to make money.  Who wouldn't love that scam? 

 

That is where the Oregonian fails to think  critically.  Why not  cover the complex relationships between animals and "animal protection " organizations?

 

Analyze the grant?

 

So often they quickly  switch from raising money for animals to using animals to raising money: animal profiteers.

 

Doesn't the public deserve analytical political animal news instead of just one more profiting animal welfare organization press release? The fourth estate shouldn't be a lap poodle.  

 

All cats are vetted when they leave OHS. That is also true of most organizations ( organizations that did not receive a grant for what is common practice including a follow up vet visit at their vet of choice). 

 

 If anything MCAS (of whom I am often critical) does a far better follow up on animals needing veterinary care after they leave the premises on a far smaller budget.

 

I have taken some of those animals and am keenly aware of the descrepency between OHS and MCAS on that point. When was the last time OHS supported a dog on hospice?

 

Never that I know of. And why did OHS initially refuse to take back a  wonderful Labrador Retriever with a previously undiagnosed defective ureter that they had adopted out and instead told the owner to take the dog to MCAS? Would you like that record? I have it..

 

The infomercial OHS/PVMA grant: Here is the steal of a grant deal. After adopting a fully vetted cat, you are encouraged to take your healthy cat to a veterinarian of your choice ( and your cat just left healthy) and get a free exam!!!  But it has to be within 10 days. 

 

That is BS. OHS and PVMA were given a grant to promote their economic relationship not animal health. Who set the 10 day rule?   I do want to know. So should you. Why  not  6 months?  That is how you know it is about the money. And their program will run only for three months. You are kidding!!! a quick cash cow masquerading as animal welfare.

 

Was anyone thinking  about this infomercial grant? Isn't it just a variety of animal exploitation? Encourage OHS to pay for their own infomercials. But then maybe it is easy money for The Oregonian to also use animals for quick readership gain.

 

Gail ( O'Connell-Babcock) PhD

Watchdog

503.625.4563

 

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