Most people have heard the story about how the Animal Shelter messed up and failed to give Kitty Pants back to its real owner. Instead, they adopted the cat out to someone else who now refuses to return the animal.
Everyone in town has been trying to get Kitty Pants back, but with no success. No doubt that poor Bob Kramer has spent more time on this one problem than anything else within the last year– he probably misses the days when dealing with the cable company was his biggest headache.
Here’s our take on the situation. Unless people have seen otherwise, we don’t think Kitty Pants is within 500 miles of Burbank. What happens in this business is that animal brokers prowl through local shelters picking off the most desirable merchandise. Just like eBay vultures have contacts at every thrift store in the state to get the choicest goods, the same is true of dog and cat shelters.
When a prime specimen like Kitty Pants comes in, quick phones calls are made to these special friends and cohorts. The goodies are whisked off before anyone knows they’re around.
Every thrift store denizen can tell you horror stories of secret pay-offs and favoritism. The really good stuff never gets on the sales floor. It’s no different with animal shelters, too, and animal brokering is a much sleazier business than old furniture and clothes.
Kitty Pants was always worth big bucks. The new owners knew it before they even made the deal. That’s why they’re holding out– it ain’t about family sentiment. And we’ll believe it when we see it if that cat is anywhere near.
So, the city is going to have to buy out people in order to get this all over with– and then use the PD to investigate their own Shelter employees for underhandedness. This public spectacle was no unfortunate “oversight.”
No doubt, lawsuits are going to fly. But since Burbank likes to play hardball and will never, ever settle right away, expect more tax dollars to cover for these shelter employees.
Have there been any disciplinary acts levied upon them as yet? Why not?
Burbank, California 