If you find a lost or abandoned animal (in this instance, a very young kitten) which clearly has health problems requiring a vet ...?

Question

... should you feel obligated to take it to your own vet for evaluation and treatment?  If so, are you willing to take responsibility  for payment and for the animal's ultimate placement in a new home?

Or is it better to try to take it to a shelter and hope they'll be able to get it the care it needs and, if it recovers, into a good home?  Not even sure if any shelter would accept an animal so young, sick, and needy.

This happened to me today and I'm wondering if I did the right thing.  Thank you.

DeAnne · Answer

Take it to an animal shelter.  They have vets and meds there and, when it is old enough, they will get a home for it.

Nameless · Answer

Personally, I take it to a vet and see how much it would cost to fix it up. I could afford more minor things but if it was serious and very expensive I would bring it to a shelter. There is no wrong answer. If you can afford it, great. If not its ok to bring it to a shelter. Its not your cat and it just fell into your care unexpectedly.

Eva · Answer

If you take it to the vet, they expect you to be responsible for paying for treatment.  If you surrender it to a shelter, they take the responsibility.

ZotsRule · Answer

If you bring it to the vet of course you are liable for paying the bill.  So if you don't have a lot of money and don't intend to keep it take it to a no-kill shelter.

? · Answer

Shelters kill most cats and kittens since dogs are more popular. They also would not bother having a vet take care of it's health problems.

Ken S · Answer

Most shelters would accept it and probably kill it or send it to a kill shelter.  If you can afford it then you have been chosen and I'm sure you would get paid back many times more

If you find a lost or abandoned animal (in this instance, a very young kitten) which clearly has health problems requiring a vet ...?

6 Answers