[Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

[Christine A. Olivares]

Hello Lucy. My husband and I are both visually impaired, he is totally blind and I have some vision, and we both have a cat. It is very easy to own a cat, and we can always tell when he tries to get out, though he doesn't that often. It is very very easy to clean the litter box because you can just get the clubbable litter, that you can feel. I think your shelter is discriminating because you are blind, which the ADA does not allow! I would get them involved, and asked to talk to the manager of the shelter because you don't want that To be euthanized! Everything will go according to plan. Please keep us updated!

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 11, 2014, at 12:07 PM, Lucy Sirianni via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
>     I'm Lucy, a doctoral student and graduate student instructor in the English department at the University of California, Berkeley, and a new member of this list.  I wanted to reach out to this group to ask for suggestions regarding a situation I'm currently attempting to resolve.  Over the weekend, I contacted a local animal shelter who had indicated a need for foster homes for its animals, thinking this would be something I'd enjoy doing and knowing I met all of the specified qualifications.  The staff member I talked to initially expressed a lot of interest and immediately matched me with a cat who seemed like a great fit with me and who was going to be euthanized in a matter of days if no one stepped forward to take her (unlikely, I was told, since she's on the older side).  I was eager to meet this cat and seriously consider taking her into my home, but when I happened to mention to the staff member in charge that I am blind, she became concerned and is now uncertain of my ability to care for the cat.  Her main concern is that I may not be able to keep the cat from leaving my house, despite the fact that I have explained to her in detail the measures I would take to ensure the cat's safety and assured her that I have countless blind friends who routinely and successfully care for animals.  I've told her that I would plan to have a bell on the cat's collar so I'd consistently know where she was, as well as my name and contact information so that she could be returned if she were ever to get lost; I've also suggested that, before leaving my home, I simply place the cat in a comfortable area from which she wouldn't have access to the entrance to my apartment.  This is all in addition to pointing out the rather obvious fact that vision can't in fact keep a cat indoors and that sighted pet owners have to deal with similar worries.  I would welcome hearing from blind cat owners who may be able to suggest other techniques or allow me to mention their situations in further conversations with the people in charge at the shelter.  I'd hate to see this cat end up dying because of ignorance surrounding blindness.
> 
> Thanks, everyone, and I very much look forward to being a part of this group!
> 
> Lucy
> 
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