Why Does the Adoption Process Take So Long for Formerly Abused Pets?
High profile animal abuse cases get the public's attention, and people sometimes wonder why rescuers cannot just provide a loving home for the animals.
The SPCA Tampa Bay has received a steady stream of phone calls and emails from people interested in adopting the three surviving kittens that were found in a freezer in St. Petersburg on Dec. 2. But the kittens are not yet available for adoption. It's not because of the kittens' health, but because of the legal process that must be followed, said Nora Hawkins of the SPCA. The SPCA Tampa Bay typically serves as the advocate for the animals in such cases. "Animals are helpless; they are totally dependent on their owners for care ... There's a public outrage when pets and innocents are battered and abused," said Jim Helinger, attorney for the SPCA Tampa Bay. The process typically starts when the SPCA Tampa Bay gets a phone call to assist …
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