WIBTA If I refused to pay a cat rescue for fixing my foster cats?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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Rescuing stray kittens in Arizona’s scorching heat sounds like a heartwarming win—until a surprise bill turns it sour. That’s the pickle one Reddit user, a young mom fresh into homeownership, faced after saving two tiny felines. She posted for help, unable to cover spay/neuter costs, and a rescue worker stepped in—only to slap her with a $120 invoice after the fact, no heads-up given. Now, she’s torn between gratitude and feeling scammed.

This isn’t just about a few bucks—it’s a tangle of good intentions, unclear deals, and the murky world of rescue work. The user’s instinct to push back on the charge has her wondering if she’s in the wrong or just caught in a bait-and-switch. Is she dodging a fair debt, or was this “help” more trap than kindness? Let’s pounce into this furry fiasco and sort it out.

‘WIBTA If I refused to pay a cat rescue for fixing my foster cats?’

Personally, I felt I was scammed by a rescue. Which is a statement I never thought I’d make, because usually I regard a rescue as a very honorable and respectable organization that only intends on helping. However, I ran into a particularly unfriendly rescue helper who responded to a post I had made requesting help with two kittens I had rescued from outside. (In AZ, where temps get up to about 120 degrees).

I had mentioned in the posts that I am a young mom who just bought my house and cannot afford to spay/neuter them and if there’s anybody out there who could help me help them, to please reach out. She contacted me, asked me to explain why I felt that I needed the help,

and then proceeded to ask me to bring the kittens for the procedure. I thanked her profusely, and she never mentioned once requiring that I pay her back. She also blew up my phone the day of the procedure telling me I must call her back NOW or else she will not see the kittens, even though I had sent her a text message the night before letting her know that I would be there.

Anyways, now that the kittens have found a new home she sent me an invoice saying that I owe her $120 for the spay/neuter. She charged me more for the male kitten than the quote I got at a local clinic, and I would have definitely declined her offer for “help” had I known she would charge me and at this price. So, WIBTA for ignoring her texts or reaching out to tell her I didn’t agree to pay her back at this price?

Saving strays is tough enough without surprise costs clawing at your wallet. The Reddit user thought she’d found a lifeline when a rescue worker offered to fix her foster kittens, especially after she’d been upfront about her tight budget. But that $120 invoice, sprung post-procedure with no prior word, flipped her relief to betrayal. The worker’s pushy texts and higher-than-quoted fee only deepen the sting of what feels like a bait-and-switch.

This mess scratches at a bigger issue: transparency in animal rescue. A 2022 report from the Humane Society noted that 70% of small rescues rely on donations, but miscommunication about costs can erode trust ( humanesociety.org). The user’s post begging for free help set a clear expectation—one the worker ignored by staying mum on fees. Charging more than local clinics adds salt to the wound.

Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, an advocate for ethical pet care, stresses, “Clarity upfront builds trust; hidden costs break it” (drkarenbecker.com). Becker’s take nails the user’s plight—offering “help” without mentioning payment, especially to someone pleading poverty, borders on unethical. The worker’s failure to disclose terms before surgery, not the user’s shock, is the real misstep here.

The user could contact the rescue’s leadership to clarify policies—maybe the worker went rogue. Donating any adoption fees she got, as planned, shows goodwill without caving to pressure. For now, politely stating she assumed the service was free, as no cost was mentioned, keeps her in the clear. Rescues thrive on trust, not sneaky bills.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit’s crowd leapt into this kitten caper like cats chasing a laser pointer, dishing out cheers and hisses with equal zeal. Imagine a cozy cat café, folks swapping takes—most purring for the user’s stand, some scratching at the rescue’s nerve. Here’s the raw scoop from the comments, laced with spice and a whisker of wit:

hpfan1516 − I had mentioned in the posts that I am a young mom who just bought my house and cannot afford to spay/neuter them. if there’s anybody out there who could help me help them, to please reach out.. She... responded to your posts, right?. To the posts where you explicitly said you couldn't afford to spay/neuter them?

She contacted me, asked me to explain why I felt that I needed the help, and then proceeded to ask me to bring the kittens for the procedure. I feel like there is a string of logic here.

Person reaches out and has OP bring kitties in for procedure.

Should you have clarified? Well, maybe, but now you know. Maybe you can keep the posts up and make a go-fund-me if you don't want to fight with the people? But seriously, logic is not on the other party's side here. NTA. But I just don't know the best way out of the situation. I'm so sorry. My family was scammed by a vet recently so this made me mad to read on your behalf

arcticfox_12 − What is the rescue she works for? I would call the rescue directly. They might not even know she asked you for money. She could be scamming you or she might not be. Either way I would reach out to the rescue directly and talk to someone there. You wanted to donate the rehoming fee you charged anyways. So this is a good way to make sure the money goes straight to the rescue itself.

IcePrincess_Not_Sk8r − Info: Did the rescue spay the kitties and return them to you, and YOU rehomed them, or did you sign them over to the rescue, and they fixed them, and they were rehomed through the rescue?

kris3343 − NTA You would not be the a**hole. What most people are missing is you didn't go out & get these cats on purpose. You took in 2 strays, to help them & not to get yourself some pets. You were clear that you couldn't afford to fix them and needed help. At no point did she tell you there would be a cost to you.

Then, instead of burdening the rescue with their further care, you were proactive about finding them homes. You were an unofficial foster home. You did exactly what rescues say they want, stepping up to the plate to help animals in need. I would absolutely say you aren't responsible for the costs. It would be nice if you could donate whatever you received from the new owners but that's it.

gingrbreadandrevenge − This is all very unusual, and Idk that we have the full story. I'm a veterinarian, and I've donated a lot of spays/ neuters in my area. The one thing I don't understand is why there was no paperwork. I've always had the owner, rescue, or foster sign a standard anesthesia release form and a form that shows the fees if there are any add- ons like vaccines.

Even though they are also done at a low cost, it still should be documented and agreed upon before the service is performed. The whole thing is just odd. I'm not sure why the rescue didn't discuss this with you beforehand, but it is also a little weird that you handed these kittens over to a random rescue person without getting more details.

Was she with a legitimate rescue? If so, can you not contact that rescue's board members to find out what their policies are on this type of thing.? If this was a local shelter or veterinarian, they definitely should have had you sign some sort of paperwork.

I-hear-the-coast − NTA. You asked in the post for a rescue to do it for free. Her agreeing to get it done and not mentioning payment means she was agreeing to your request. You stated your terms, she agreed, and now she is claiming new terms. By not stating new terms originally, the obvious conclusion would be that she agreed to yours.

Also, I will say that the people arguing nothing is free and of course you have to pay deal with other rescues than the ones with which I am familiar. My friend rescues and fosters cats and even once fostered a cat because the owner could not afford its medical care. The owner was not told “you can only surrender if you also pay for the medical care”. Some rescues do do things for “free” (aka through donations).

CanIStopAdultingNow − NTA. I've fostered cats for years. If the rescue expected you to pay, that should have happened before you took them. And you should have paid at the time of spay/neuter. Sending you a bill after the kittens were adopted sounds like a scam.

But also, there was no contract so she can't tell you after you accepted services that you owe her money. Some rescues do offer low-cost or free spay/neuter . They do it by getting grants, posting fundraisers on social media, and similar things. Many people will give to a 501c3 charity faster than they will give to an individual because they feel like the funds will be used appropriately.

I'm wondering if this woman is either double dipping by demanding money from you and also fundraising or if she's doing this as some kind of scam. I understand you accepted an adoption fee. I also understand that the expenses of raising kittens is not cheap. They're little but they eat a lot. I guarantee that your expenses exceeded the small adoption fee you charged. But if you choose to donate it, maybe donate it to a different charity.

Jor_damn − NTA. I don’t think it is unreasonable to think that a rescue operates like a specialized shelter, and they therefore have the resources and funding to do their job. Additionally, the context under which the rescue reached out implied they were not looking for payment.

becka-uk − Sounds like you didn't keep the kittens? And she adopted them out to someone else? In this case, I would've expected that this would've been included in the adoption fee.. If I read it wrong and you kept them, you should be contributing.

Working-Ad-5092 − If she didn't make it clear that there would be a charge then you don't owe them anything unless you choose to pay

Redditors dubbed the user a hero for strays, though a few meowed that rescues aren’t always free lunch. These quips swing from fierce support to sly digs, proving this tale’s got claws.

This Reddit yarn spins a tricky tale of kindness caught in a cost trap. The user’s refusal to pay isn’t about stiffing a rescue—it’s about holding firm when “help” feels like a hustle. Maybe the worker meant well, or maybe she saw a chance to cash in. Either way, it’s a nudge to double-check deals, even with do-gooders. Ever been blindsided by a “free” favor? Drop your thoughts below—what’s your take on this catty conundrum?

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