Pet Lovers

[Drythe]

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@NickNack wrote:

@lolakimono   She should absolutely return the kitten to the foster.  The child is being cruel to the kitten.  She also should not get a kitten until the child is much older.  She shouldn't even get one then unless the child has demonstrated a kindness to animals.

There's no question as to what she should do with the foster.

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@NickNack   @lolakimono 

I agree. it is a sad, and dangerous situation for the kitten.

It should be returned and not be replaced.  

The child does not know how to treat animals, they should not be used for experimental learning.  Has this happened more than once?

Honestly, I find it disturbing that the child laughs when the kitten cries in pain.  I think that is not a good sign for the child’s well-being.

Please try to encourage the poor creature’s safe return.  Or call the shelter for a home visit.

Breaks my heart.   Poor frightened kitten.♥️ 

[mom2four0418]

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@lolakimono wrote:

I am just looking for opinions, as I don't have a "dog" in this fight, so to speak.

I met with a colleague the other day.  A few weeks before school ended, she applied to be a foster for kittens.  She is a cat person, her husband is a dog person.  They have a dog (Corgi) who is mostly outside during the day.  Part of the reason that she wanted to foster is to see how her husband might react to having a cat, since he is allergic.

She has a daughter, who turns three in the fall.  She thought that by fostering, she would also see how the daughter might react to cats to see if they could have a cat in the house.

On three occasions, she has caught the daughter picking the kitten up by the tail.  She has disciplined her when it has happened (time out, cancelling activities, etc.) but she thinks the daughter continues to do it because she thinks it's funny when she hears the kitten cry out.  At not yet three, she does not have the understanding that she is hurting the kitten.

My co-worker thinks that she needs to return the kitten to the rescue because she can't have her daughter alone with the kitten and risk that the kitten is being mistreated.

What opinions do you have?

Would you return the kitten to the rescue?

Continue to foster the kitten and take away the daughter's access to the kitten? 

Right now she brings the kitten in the office where she's working, but the point of fostering is to socialize the kitten, not to lock it up during the day.

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You said that she thinks that the kitten should be returned. Is she asking for opinions? Her daughter doesn't understand that she is hurting the animal. The co-worker is the one with the problem.

[Group 5 minus 1]

Think the toddler DOES know.

[lolakimono]

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@mom2four0418 wrote:

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@lolakimono wrote:

I am just looking for opinions, as I don't have a "dog" in this fight, so to speak.

I met with a colleague the other day.  A few weeks before school ended, she applied to be a foster for kittens.  She is a cat person, her husband is a dog person.  They have a dog (Corgi) who is mostly outside during the day.  Part of the reason that she wanted to foster is to see how her husband might react to having a cat, since he is allergic.

She has a daughter, who turns three in the fall.  She thought that by fostering, she would also see how the daughter might react to cats to see if they could have a cat in the house.

On three occasions, she has caught the daughter picking the kitten up by the tail.  She has disciplined her when it has happened (time out, cancelling activities, etc.) but she thinks the daughter continues to do it because she thinks it's funny when she hears the kitten cry out.  At not yet three, she does not have the understanding that she is hurting the kitten.

My co-worker thinks that she needs to return the kitten to the rescue because she can't have her daughter alone with the kitten and risk that the kitten is being mistreated.

What opinions do you have?

Would you return the kitten to the rescue?

Continue to foster the kitten and take away the daughter's access to the kitten? 

Right now she brings the kitten in the office where she's working, but the point of fostering is to socialize the kitten, not to lock it up during the day.

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You said that she thinks that the kitten should be returned. Is she asking for opinions? Her daughter doesn't understand that she is hurting the animal. The co-worker is the one with the problem.

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@mom2four0418 

Yes, she thinks that is what should happen.  

[lolakimono]

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@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:

Something about this does not sound right. What shelter would allow a family to adopt a pet w/a toddler in it? A dog stays out most of the day? Does that mean the dog is tied up ? No shelter would ever permit someone who MIGHT have allergies adopt.  I think this shelter is probably illegal. If I knew where it was I would report it. No good will come of this. The kitten will run away and get killed on a road. Most shelters ,etc want their adoptees to be in a forever home.

And we will never hear again what the outcome is/was.

Also children learn  how to treat animals fronm their parents. This situation makes me sick.

When we have adopted we had a home visit, and 3 references.

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@Group 5 minus 1 

It's not a shelter, it's a rescue organization.

They are not adopting, they have been fostering the kitten until it is old enough to be adopted out.  Often times they will pull cats and kittens from a high kill shelter to give them a chance at having a long life with a family.

She wanted to foster because she and her husband were not together when she had a cat, so she did not know if having one cat would bother him, if the cat is not in their bedroom.  

[RoughDraft]

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@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:

Think the toddler DOES know.

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And that is what is truly frightening.  Young children abusing animals is a warning sign.

[mom2four0418]

@lolakimono 

I hope that she returns the kitten quickly, so that everyone will be stay safe. Good for her for realizing it.

[WRXtoo]

If she does not return the kitten within the week, you should call the place/person she is fostering for and report it.  I would absolutely do that if I was in your place.  That poor kitten.  Imagine your own kitty in that situation...  

ETA:  I could not have that on my conscience of something happens and I didn't act when I could.  There might already be damage to the kitten.

[candys mine]

Return the kitten to a SAFE place Immiditely.  A three year old does not understand the kitten is More than another toy that makes sound.  Child wil soon try to make it make noise y doing other things to it.  A Corgie that is not accustomed to cats is a danger to a kitten as well.  Husband who is allergic is going to resent the kitten being brought into the house and make him miserable. 

This is an illadvised experiment and the little baby kiten is being abused.  Kitten should have allready been sent back.  The longer she puts it off the more likely the OP will be hearing " I Knew it would end up like this, poor thing." from that woman.

[dooBdoo]

I might be saying what others here already know, but picking up a cat by its tail can cause serious temporary or permanent damage, tearing or stretching nerves which among other things can affect urination and/or defecation.  This can be "invisible" trauma that might show up later in the cat's behavior, and in physical functions and physical disabilities, and could be difficult to diagnose the source of the problem without a complete history of this abusive treatment.   It's emotionally harmful for the little cat, too, of course. 

Breaks my heart to think about it.

Personally, I would consider this an emergency, and ideally the rescue group would let a future adopter know about the specific potential nerve trauma in case the kitty has problems later on.   

Thank you for your caring heart, @lolakimono.❤️