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| - I had an incredibly uncomfortable experience at the Parma Animal Shelter.
I was searching for a cat to adopt for my home, and had been visiting a few animal shelters in the Cleveland area to find the right one. One evening I decided to head over to Parma to see what was available. I walked in and was greeted by no one. I took it upon myself to find the cat room, only to be coldly told by a random woman that I must sign in.
I was then escorted to a DIRTY cat room, where I was greeted by cats playing, and MANY volunteers in a small space. There must have been at least 10 volunteers, all just playing with cats. I tried to go from cage to cage, but had to LITERALLY step over volunteers in the aisles. As I tried to meet each cat, a volunteer would ask me questions and continue to pester me. I am all for small talk and getting information, but I felt extremely overwhelmed and WATCHED. Each time I picked up a cat or went to a different cage, another volunteer came to talk to me.
I finally had one woman who was extremely condescending to me, as I told her that it would be my first cat I've had in a few years. She immediately went into lecture mode, and it was the last straw. I left in the middle of this chaos, and never intend to go back.
I was able to go to the Cleveland APL a few days later, and found a beautiful cat that I love. MUCH cleaner, friendlier, and comfortable space!!
Again, a truly uncomfortable and overwhelming experience at this Animal Shelter. TOO MANY volunteers, and not enough space.
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