Adoption Process - Make FIV and FELV tests required prior to adoption for Cats

A year and a half ago, we adopted two kittens from Long Beach Humane Society in Long Island, NY; we named them Monticore and Socks. Sadly, Monticore died two days ago, despite our best efforts to save him, due to Feline Leukemia related complications. He was only one year and 5 months old. His brother Socks not only has FELV (Feline Leukemia), but also has a grade III heart murmur (worst is grade IV), and although he is currently relatively healthy, his long term prognosis is very bleak.

Long Beach Humane Society knew or should have known of these dangerous diseases that these kittens had. What the shelter did by letting them be adopted, without telling us of their conditions, is highly immoral and reprehensible. A simple blood tests and a physical exam would have detected Leukemia and the heart murmur. Once we learned of their condition, we have done everything possible to try to prolong their life, such as providing a stress free environment and keeping them away from anything that might exacerbate their condition.

Every doctor (and we have been to a lot of vets) has shaken their heads in disbelief when learning that we adopted these poor kitties from a shelter that never bothered running any tests on them. Our pets, our babies who should have lived for years, have had to spend a lot of time in hospitals, being poked around with needles or getting medications.

We the undersigned would like to request that shelters make the tests for FIV (Feline AIDS), FELV (Feline Leukemia) and a physical exam, part of their standard operating procedure, prior to adoption. Letting pets be adopted out without testing for these diseases, not only puts all your other pets life in danger (Leukemia is highly contagious among cats), but also sets up the adoptee for expensive medical bills and heartbreak. There is a simple test for FELV that would have detected this in both Monticore and Socks, and a physical exam would have shown that Socks had a major heart murmur. These tests should be required prior to every adoption for cats.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and also for your support.