PET section on forum - what do people think?

[TarahC]

Hi, I volunteer for the RSPCA and admin are not happy abot us posting once a week with the various cats and kittens we have available. I was wondering about coming to a compromise and seeing if there was support for a Pets section on the forum, underneath General ED issues and Offered etc. This would be for lost and found cats (as who would look in the wanted section, which is where they're being placed?!), vet recommendations, dog walkers/cat sitters, and animal charities like us etc etc.

Please let me know if you would support this idea so that we can continue to post our animals. This forum has helped us rehomed triple the number of cats than we normally do and we really don't want to lose it, especially as the RSPCA has had double the amount of animals this year due to the recession.

Thank you in advance!

[panda boy]

Good idea.

I support the idea and your good work...

[aligs]

Think that's an excellent idea, good thinking! I'm always interested in reading about all the pets available and support your good cause.

[TarahC]

Great, thank you everyone.

[reetpetite]

I totally support your idea.Nor is everyone a Family person or have children but there is a said section !.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I think your post got moved because it's about the forum and not ED gossip - so it's now in the "About this Forum" section

Chalk me up as a cat person tho...

[Administrator]

Unfortunately we get messages sent to Forum HQ where people think we work on the forum 24 hours a day and should deal with them straight away, unfortunately we do not and we do like to take lunch.

Also my original message simply said "Sorry but we am going to have to ask you to stop posting about cats looking for home every week on the forum. As a non-East Dulwich charity we have to draw the line, you can post once a month or so..." has been made into a bit of a public issue by TarahC.

I have already replied to you about the pets section and the other issues raised so could I ask that you please let it lie.

[macroban]

Bellpepper's way of managing a single running thread works well.

[mockney piers]

Or perhaps sponsor the forum and tus have a permanent presence detailing the need for new ho es with all the relevant contact details. Everyones a winner.

[Keef]

A petting section sounds great.

[annaj]

I'm definitely a cat person with two cats from Battersea, but I don't think Admin is being unreasonable, Tarah.

I have noticed the frequency of your posts and the wanted/offered section does sometime fill up with multiple different posts about rescue cats pushing everything else down the page, which doesn't seem fair. Macroban's suggestion that you have one thread and update it regularly with details of cats for rehoming seems like a workable compromise.

This forum is run really well by Admin and the team who are all people with jobs and lives who fit running the forum into their spare time, for free, so we can all benefit. Seems a bit harsh to give them a hard time for not resonding quickly enough and not providing your specific passion with its own section, don't you think?

[annaj]

Keef - no heavy petting and no running around the forum. Behave yourself!

[Huguenot]

No bombing or swimming in the diving area either.

I'm a cat person, but would have thought one thread that you update is quite sufficient. If you'd done this in the first place you'd probably have been well below the radar.

Please don't think there's anything lesser about the section you're in. Like you pointed out, you rehoused triple the number of animals by doing that.

You don't want to turn yourself into a Foxtons and lose customers because of over-aggressive marketing!

[chicknic]

I think a pet section could work really well, there do seem to lots of lost animals, plus animals that need rehoming, pet sitters, dog walkers etc. RSPCA isn't a Dulwich charity, but does operate in East Dulwich so I'm ok with the posts.

Also, I really appreciate the work the admins do, the forum is a great resource - thanks!

[TarahC]

I apologise if I've offended anyone. It was just that in the past I have had no response from admin when I've replied to them, so did assume there would be no response this time. I had been asked to just post once a week, which I happily did so was upset that that then changed as well, especially if no-one had complained. The recession has hit really hard so there are double the amount of animals in this year. Everyone had been really supportive on here so I was upset that it seemed to come just from one person. I apologise if that isn't the case and I really didn't mean any harm.

A Pets section, along with the family and property section, would be really useful and would keep everyone happy. We would then put one post up and update this one post instead, meaning that it doesn't block anything else or get in the way. This is where lost and found cats/dogs could go as well, keeping it clean and tidy. I am solely a volunteer, doing this in my lunchtimes and evenings and weekends, and cannot afford to advertise on their behalf, nor would they ever pass that unfortunately. As we have rehomed the majority of our cats to East Dulwich residents lately I would hate to lose that resource and am so grateful to everyone who has helped and supported us locally.

I hope that, as Admin has already said, that a pets section will be considered the next time an update is made and of course understand that Admin, as volunteers just like me, work hard and do a good job.

[Ladymuck]

Anybody who works as a volunteer in something they are passionate about (provided it's legal etc.!) would get my support. Therefore, you have my vote too TarahC.

Also, I LOVE looking at all those pussy fotos...

[sophiesofa]

I think people do look in the wanted section and the single thread suggestion is a good idea.

How about a compromise: change the name of 'wanted - free classifieds' to 'wanted and pets' then it's clear that the pets go in there without creating a whole new section?

[piglet]

I agree that advertising cats for adoption on this site is a very good idea but also agree that TaraC posts every few minutes and this is over the top. She is also representing the RSPCA and I shall make them away of what is happening here. The last thing the RSPCA will want is a volunteer bringing the Society into disrepute on a public forum.

[TarahC]

Piglet, the person who is in charge of the volunteers is Iris and she is on 0208 670 4992. Please give her a call if you feel my actions have been offensive and I'm sure she will be happy to speak to you as feedback is of course very important. I apologised via email to Admin as well.

ADDED:

And thank you to those above for your support and suggestions.

[sophiesofa]

Hmmn piglet I think that might be a slight over reaction but you might be joking - i can't tell? TarahC has found lots of homes for the cats (as a volunteer) and has apolagised to admin. I don't even like animals (sorry everyone and I don't hate them, just don't like them) but I understand that they deserve a roof over their heads.

[chicknic]

I don't think the RSPCA has been brought into disrepute at all - that is quite a strong comment. I agree with sophiesofa that Tarah has found homes for lots of cats and therfore is an asset to the charity. I work in the non-profit sector and volunteers are integral. Her passion for the cause is clear, and whilst others may not agree with how she has articulated herself recently, previous posts show that she is well meaning and committed.

[david_carnell]

I think we have enough sections already after the last round of changes, and yet another one dedicated to pets is both unnecessary and unsightly.

You are not an ED based charity and by rights shouldn't be posting on here at all. I think the leeway you have already been given by Admin is more than sufficient.

[Siduhe]

You are not an ED based charity and by rights shouldn't be posting on here at all.

Unless I've misunderstood, the homeless cats are being cared for in ED and surrounds - both in foster homes and at vets and RSPCA clinic in West Norwood. By this kind of logic, the only place national charities like the RSPCA should post for rehoming is in West Sussex.

I don't think a separate Pet section is necessary, and I think the idea of a single thread updated (perhaps on a weekly only basis) is a good one - but I'm all for people who want to give up time and effort in making the world a slightly better place (whether that's blood drives, pet rehoming or sponsorship for marathons) being given some leeway to do it. What Admin said originally sounds like a sensible compromise.

However, I don't understand the suggestion that what Tarah's doing is somehow bringing her, the charity she volunteers for and/or the forum into "disrepute".

[HAL9000]

Ladymuck Wrote:

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> Also, I LOVE looking at all those pussy fotos...

Are you trying to set up BBW for another ban or what?

[Ladymuck]

piglet Wrote:

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> I agree that advertising cats for adoption on this

> site is a very good idea but also agree that TaraC

> posts every few minutes and this is over the top.

> She is also representing the RSPCA and I shall

> make them away of what is happening here. The last

> thing the RSPCA will want is a volunteer bringing

> the Society into disrepute on a public forum.

Piglet! That's a little mean-spirited isn't it?::o