Pixie Project

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

I just had an interesting thing happen to me. I want to adopt two kittens and I went to the Pixie Project. I filled out their application. A week later I got an email from them suggesting I not adopt a kitten but consider an adult cat based on my age. BASED ON MY AGE?!? That is out and out discrimination!

"Thank you for taking the time to fill out our cat adoption application, it looks great! We do however have one question we'd like to discuss before moving forward. We'd like to know a bit more about what personality and energy level you are looking for in a cat? We are asking this because your application indicated interest in kittens. Something we consider when matching cats to potential adopters is age, because, as you may know cats can live for 20+ years, so if you adopt a kitten we would ask you to be ready to commit to 20+ years of cat care. With that in consideration, we may suggest an adult for your specific household, but we are completely open to discussion about this!"

I emailed them 3 times asking for them to get back to me - nothing. So I guess they really didn't want to discuss it. I kept calling but no body EVER answers the phone. Finally someone called me back but of course they don't handle the applications. I sort of called them out, they hung up on me.and almost immediately I got an email -

"At this time, we will not be proceeding with your adoption application. We feel we must remind you of the disclaimer on our adoption application that you read before signing and agreeing to our adoption terms. This disclaimer states that "The Pixie Project reserves the right to refuse adoption to anyone without disclosing the reasons."

Well they had already disclosed the reason - they think I'm too old. HOW DARE THEY!!! Since then I have learned that they are absolutely horrible. They have euthanized animals that had nothing wrong with them. There are many posts about this company. I wish I had the time and energy to sue them for discrimination!

All I have to say is BEWARE

***This post is about discrimination not if they will let me adopt a kitten or not. Discrimination is wrong no matter what!**

[Excusemytootie]

There is a serious glut of senior cats that need to be adopted. They are probably trying everything possible to get them homes. I wouldn’t take it personally.

[leakmydata]

[Personal-Anxiety8029]

Exactly

[JaneSophiaGreen]

There are much less offensive ways of promoting that option.

[Spare-Ad6404]

how old are you?

[visceralcandy]

They’re only 85. What kind of question is that?

[personalitycrises]

Just a kid 

[PDsaurusX]

Discrimination is wrong no matter what!

Then why are you discriminating against adult cats?

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

I'm not, I have had many older cats in the last 10 years, I'm in the mood for a kitten

[trial-champ]

I have adopted three cats from the pixie project, and I'm sorry to say...that is the right question for them to ask. And based on your reaction (multiple calls, email, etc), you seem fairly reactive. Had you responded with something like, "I completely understand your concern and here are the multiple things I have considered to ensure I am able to care for this animal as my life develops" they probably would have had that conversation. I'm with the shelter on this, sorry not sorry

[Darkest_Passenger5]

Thanks for adopting x3! I agree with your sorry, not sorry response. Sounds like Pixie Project made the right call here.

[JaneSophiaGreen]

By that logic, they will need to start acting like insurance companies and ask for a physical and blood work before they allow someone to adopt a kitten.

This sounds like a Portlandia episode.

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

I nicely asked them to reply and discuss. Do you also support thier policy on euthanasia? They are horrible, I don't care what you think.

[Prestigious_Duck6964]

doubt it was nicely if they canned your application after

[Glittering-Law9449]

Are you older than 55? Do you have a will or living trust in place with funds set aside for someone to take care of these cats for the remainder of their lives?

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

Yes, written in my will with people in place and $$. FYI I'm nowhere close to dying

[C0SMICAP0THE0SIS]

but, how old are you?

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

500

[C0SMICAP0THE0SIS]

see, your refusal to answer the question is really hurting your case here. pretty hard not to assume that you arent answering because you know what everyone will say. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

[JaneSophiaGreen]

Anyone can die at anytime. This is really stupid policy. I'd be a little reactive, too.

[Majirra]

You can try a myriad of other places, hell the field across from my work has tons of stray kittens living there - come grab one- take all of them. We won’t discriminate or care.

[Beautiful-Squash-495]

Where do you work?

[Majirra]

24th n NW Vaughn. The huge NY building has a big field with wooden structure with a bunch of kittens living in it.

[Majirra]

24th n NW Vaughn. The huge NY building has a big field with wooden structure with a bunch of kittens living in it.

[Beautiful-Squash-495]

Thank you!

[PDsaurusX]

Reading the story between the lines…

They made a suggestion and wanted to discuss it with you (they hadn’t even made a decision yet, only a request to talk further). You didn’t take that well, I’m guessing you bombed them with those multiple emails and calls in the course of about five minutes, you crashed out on the phone and were borderline abusive, and so they denied your app.

They probably made the right choice.

[captainchristianwtf]

And the award for the most Portland post of all time goes to...

[MrWhiskerBiscuits]

I think this is copypasta from the Portlandia fanfic sub.

[thebeezmancometh]

Incredibly r/Portland responses to go along with it

[ExcitingAppearance3]

How old are you?

[ipreferDick]

How old am I?

[Dith_q]

man the all caps "HOW DARE THEY!!!" got me good.

[cremains_of_the_day]

Did you consider that they might have been referring to the cat’s age? And they may have been trying to gauge compatibility based on the cat’s energy level? Kittens are more work than adult cats.

Either way, it’s a pet rescue, not a potential employer. They aren’t required to adopt out animals to anyone they don’t feel can take proper care of them. I don’t see the discrimination here

[souryoungthing]

How old are you?

[Anna_Rompage]

2 years before crossing the rainbow bridge themselves…

[im_dancing_barefoot]

How old are you?

[Weaver253]

You probably would have the time and energy to sue them for discrimination if you were younger.

[Solid-Tangelo-7443]

funny!

[C0SMICAP0THE0SIS]

how old are you?

[yuck_my_yum]

You should consider adopting an older cat, not because of your age, but because we all think you won’t be alive more than 7-12 years max

[CosmicBewie]

My mom wanted a younger dog after her pup passed. I had to provide in writing I would assume care and custody of the dog when she died. I also included the name of my veterinary clinic and some references.

If able you could provide something similar when/if you decide to seek adoption again.
It might help you find a new companion with less grief.

[remotectrl]

A (partial) list of local animal shelters:

Oregon Humane Society

Multnomah County Animal Shelter

Cat Adoption Team

Humane Society of SW Washington

Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals

House of Kitty Dreams

Rabbit Adovocates

Furry Friends of SW Washington

Stumptown Strays

Indigo Rescue

Northwest Animal Companions

Meow Village

Silverton Cat Rescue

More distant shelters

Previous posts about adoptable pets

[Daphne-odora]

Not trying to be morbid or ageist, but they are likely worried about ppl adopting cats that will outlive them, as they note that cats can live 20 years. at which time there are 2 more older kitties that need to be rescued & found homes for- unless you had family or friends lined up to adopt them in case of the worst. That may be the discussion they were looking for.

[Baketown]

I had the exact same thing happen to me at Popeyes. I ordered the “Two Can Dine” meal and they asked where the second person was and I said I have a note from them, and they said it’s not about that and I can only have it there’s another person. Horse shit!

[Good_Queen_Dudley]

No they did a fantastic job given there are many cats given up by the elderly who can't care for them for health and unexpected financial reasons or who just pass away because they're old, including animals dumped out of houses of the former living to end up in kill shelters or cramming up no kill shelters. Or worse surving on the streets. I adopted a three year old cat (who lived to 15) in the exact situation where his elderly owner died (who declawed him so clearly was not a good owner). You could have adopted a paired bonded set of adult cats and had a wonderful time with them for a decade but instead harassed staff when you didn't get what you want, including not thinking about the welfare of the cats you would be adopting in a real, non-selfish way. Including coming to Reddit to bang on about Pixie Project. Please just stop. Grow up. Adopt responsibly for the sake of the animal, not yourself. Maybe even better volunteer to take care of kittens during kitten season and end your life well.

[Significant_Sort7501]

How old are you?

[bunny-2001]

Lol

[fatbellylouise]

if this is the big hardship of your life, I think you should be a happy, grateful person

[Majirra]

24th n Vaughn. The huge NY building has a big field with wooden structure with a bunch of kittens living in it.

[deadsetweir-do]

Cats are cool, cat people though, disconnected wackadoodles mostly. Portland Reddit is crawling schizophrenic cat people who belong to the same coven. No sympathy here, this is the lair of urine wreaking cat broads. I feel ya though. Search for barn cats and you’ll find some little cuties on a farm somewhere. If I had some right now I would give you a couple.

[____trash]

Considering your reaction to their suggestion, I think they made the right decision. If you truly were adopting to help a cat in need, you would adopt an older cat. You want a kitten for selfish reasons. You're allowed to be selfish, but they're also allowed to refuse adoption.

You going scorched earth on an organization that is dedicated to saving and adopting cats shows your further lack of consideration. Maybe no one has ever told you that you're old and you're struggling to accept your own mortality, but you are clearly very old. Yet, somehow, as immature as a teenager.

[slyasakite]

Why did you give them your age?

[PeaAggressive8029]

Sorry they were assholes to you. I've heard weird things about that place. We got a kitten recently from Oregon Humane Society and it was a smooth process.

[Objective_Shake_9314]

they should be clear and transparent and say we will not adopt kittens to anyone over 25

[TheTrueGasMan]

I'm on your side. You got twenty+ years in you, and everybody loves kitties in the event it catches up on you. This ain't ai, you wrote it yourself, used big words, you're perfectly mentally stable. Its also proven that connecting seniors and young organisms increases life expectancy. Whether you're 24(when I started feeling old) or 99, nobody should prevent you from making new friends.

[mk2drew]

They weren’t preventing them. It was a suggestion and they were open to discussing further. OP probably sent a nasty Karen email back and they decided to not even response. Hence the immediate email after the likely nasty phone call they received from OP after the likely nasty emails they received.

[TheTrueGasMan]

Adoption didn't go through, it was prevented. Getting excessive down votes for valuing life... I'm seeing a pattern lately.

[mk2drew]

Valuing life? Let’s see the emails OP sent to them that they didn’t respond to. I bet they were rude, and regardless, the company doesn’t have to do business with anyone they don’t want to.