Quincy Animal Shelter Inc

Saturday April 27, 2024, I stopped by the shelter hoping to adopt a cat or dog as I did before.

About 11+ years ago, I was fostering two kittens until they get adopted. After weeks of adoption days, I adopted them myself.

Fast forward two years after Kalypso’s passing, I thought I’d adopt again.

At the shelter, there was ann Asian couple in front of me and a White couple behind me in the doorway.

Staff asked the Asian and White couple “why they were here?” Skipping me so much so, that the white couple behind me had to say, “he was here first”.

The staff person, with the Asian couple, asked me to wait while she showed the dogs for adoption.

Another staff person said to me, “since you’re interested in cats also, I can’t take you—instead of just standing here—and bring you to her when she’s done with the other couple?” I agreed and we looked at the cats.

Afterwards, she brought me to the dog person to hand-off as I was next.

Only to have a DIFFERENT staff audibly and loudly say to the dog person, “they (another white couple) were first!”—as though I was trying to cut in front of the line.

I shot back and said “no they aren’t ‘first’” and that same staff person insisted, “they were next”.

I looked to the dog person, who told me I was after the Asian couple, and she gaslit me by saying, “I don’t know who’s next.”

So I had to explain how I had been looked over not once but twice and while I was waiting my turn, was shown the cats.

Needless to say, that will be last time I frequent that shelter and make sure other POCs know they are not welcomed.

11+ years ago, I only fostered because of a conversation Margaret Kinsella, Foster Care Manager engaged with me. She saw me, more importantly, actively listened. I was not ready to adopt, I had buried “Prince” our cat.

I felt I could offer something and I fostered two or three couples of kittens until they were adopted.

The last set of foster’s had not been adopted after several adoption days, I approached Margaret about transporting the kittens each week.

As I raved to her about how great the pair was, she observed, “sounds like you’ve really bounded with them?” To which she was right of course, And she let me know that as a foster I could “adopt”.

Margaret’s suggestion provided me the happiest 11+ years with Kalypso, my adopted cat.

My first question, after being looked over the first time, “does Margaret still work here?” Their answer was disheartening and also reflected in their current bias mistreatment.

I, unfortunately, will be seeking another shelter to support that is “no-kill”, inclusive and actively listens to EVERYONE willing to adopt regardless of race.

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