Need some info or at least pointers

[okami_myrrhibis]

I have no clue what kind of keywords to use to look for an animal rescue group that might allow me to temporary house my cat for 1-3 months, for a fee certainly. With the understanding that upon end of contract, if she's not retrieved, I surrender her

Comments

[tiamat1972]

Have you tried pet rescue or no kill shelters? Find a group in your area, any group, and give them a call. Explain your situation and see if they can refer you somewhere. Groups like that tend to know each other and have a network of sorts.

*hugs* I wish you lots of luck.

[seagull2eagle]

Almost all rescue groups have fosters that work with them, so ask even if they don't advertise "temporary housing" on their site. If we have the room and fosterers who are willing, we try and help (though we do ask for the surrender papers because of the legal problems).

I don't have direct contact with them, but I've heard very good things about the Northeast Animal Shelter. They're in Massachusetts but are open to all of the Northeast - don't know if that covers your area or not. At the least, they should be able to help find a good group closer to you.
http://www.northeastanimalshelter.org/

I'll ask around and see if anybody else knows of any groups in your area. Usually, it's kindof a wordofmouth thing more than any real organized network.

[okami_myrrhibis]

Is there a contract for non-negotiable surrender after a certain point? Cuz if I lose her anyhow, then I don't know which is kinder - putting her down or putting her in a shelter to not get adopted - she's 12.5 yrs old.

Thanks for the link - I'll check them out; I also found a few "local" foster shelters, and will be contacting them to see if they can help. I can pay a little to help offset some of her costs, and just the principal of the thing - I just can't come up w/ the deposit for even me & my son in the month I have to move.

[seagull2eagle]

It totally depends on the group and the individuals you work with. We didn't used to ask about the surrender papers until we had a problem... now we're just cautious. If you ask for a contract worded that way, I'm sure they would probably be okay with it. Most people who do rescue and fostering have really good hearts and they will really try and help somebody to keep a 12 year old cat. They know what it's like. Even if they can't help themselves, they can probably get the word passed around. Sometimes these wheels turn very slowly though, it can take a while to find a fosterer who isn't already committed. The idea above about contacting the vet offices is also good -- you might even find some people who work there who might be willing to help. If somebody knows it's only for a few months, they're usually more open to fostering. Does your girl get along okay with other cats?

[okami_myrrhibis]

As near as I can tell, she's ok w/ cats. She lived w/ her brother, a fixed female that came in about a year after she & bro came home, and didn't freak when a feral male was allowed into our home to see if he was potentially adoptable (very mellow boy - I was surprised). She was "ok" w/ our dog too.

Summary: Don't bother me, I won't bother you; both for cats & dogs.

[mmouse15]

Is your cat a breed? Like Siamese or Persian? Or just a mogie? Because if it's a breed, there are breed-specific rescue societies all over.

Ask your vet. They usually have names of rescue groups and no-kill shelters. I'd start with them, honestly.

[kookaburra1701]

As others have said - ask around about fostering. Several of my friends do fostering for local cat shelters, but that doesn't help you on the East coast.

I wish I could help. :( *hugs*