San Antonio Pets Alive review: Mistreatment and refusal of security deposit

I communicated with San Antonio Pets Alive's team on 12/11/2022 displaying interest in Marty. It was communicated that once he receives his vaccinations and surgery he would be able to come home with me, as he was living with his previous foster parents. I completed all paperwork and paid all fees quickly, but then I found out on 12/21/2022 he wouldn't be able to come home until another 2 weeks because he got sick and his neuter surgery would not take place until the first week of January. I contacted the SAPA team to explain how I wanted to take him home sooner because my fiance and I were off of work for 2 weeks for Christmas. It was then explained that I would be able to bring him home, but I would be responsible for his next vaccinations and surgery. Marty was dropped off to me on 12/22/2022 by his old foster parents. The date for surgery was not communicated until I received an e-mail from the SAPA team stating his surgery was scheduled for 01/06/2023. This appointment date was scheduled by his foster parents and not me, and it just so happened I was out of town on that day to take my engagement pictures. I ended up rescheduling, but the dates that were given were a little difficult to hard to fit into my schedule, because there weren't that many dates they provided me with, and they also did not communicate during the rescheduling process about making sure the surgery is scheduled before his 30-day mark. I was scheduled for 01/20/2023. Which is 2 days before his 30-day period.

I received an e-mail from the SAPA team before Marty's appointment, but nowhere in that e-mail does it state that I could have an alternate person drop off and pick up Marty from his surgery, and I would lose my $200 deposit if I passed the 30-day mark.

I ended up sending an e-mail to the SAPA team on 01/19/2023 at around 11PM, informing them I tested positive for Covid, and that I wouldn't be able to drop him off.

On the day of Marty's surgery, I received an e-mail from the SAPA team at 7:38 AM (20 minutes before Marty's surgery), stating that there were no other dates in January available and he would need to be scheduled in February.

Nowhere in that e-mail did it state that he could be dropped off by an alternate person or that his 30-day mark was in 2 days. Or else I would've figured something out as soon as possible and made sure he went to his appointment. I would have had over 20 minutes to get him there.

I then received a VERY insensitive e-mail at around 10:30 AM stating that Marty's 30-day mark will pass in 2 days and I would not receive my deposit back. I was blamed in the e-mail for missing two appointments, which I did not miss 2 appointments. I only missed one, and that was on 1/20/2023. They attempted to blame me for missing the first when I did not schedule that appointment date and it was rescheduled for the 20th.

I felt very attacked by that e-mail, and I was already feeling very sick. So this made matters worse.

I attempted to find a solution so I could get my deposit back, so I found a vet in San Antonio that would do Marty's surgery on 01/25/2023. I didn't know if I would get my deposit back if I took this route, so I e-mail the SAPA team once more at 11:00 AM on 01/20/2023 asking if this was possible. I communicated that I needed to know as soon as possible, so I could schedule the appointment and not lose this date.

In my previous communications with the SAPA team, they always tend to e-mail back fairly quickly. However, I never received a response until today 01/22/2023 at 3:30 PM. I attempted to contact the vet and ask if the spot was still available and they said it was taken.

I feel that this action was done purposely, so I would not receive the security deposit.

I'm very upset with how they do business, especially with first-time foster-to-adopt parents.

As a person with a disability, (as communicated to the SAPA team). It is fairly difficult to understand e-mails when they are typed as long stories and at times I tend to miss out on details. Which is a symptom of my disability.

This makes me believe SAPA is not understanding towards their foster-to-adopt parents, and disabilities do not matter. It's one thing to be caring towards animals and make sure their needs are met, but it is also one thing to make sure first-time foster-to-adopt parents receive adequate information and aren't blamed for other individuals' actions.