As a consultant I deal with contracts.
Every job requires a detailed contract which is not just for the client’s
protection but equally for my own protection. Contracts outline expectations
for all involved and spell out reasons that a contract may be cancelled and
they also detail the scenario should one of the parties need to exercise legal
rights as agreed upon in in the contract, such as where it will be litigated
and who will be responsible for expenses of winning party.
Remembering my first greyhound adoption contract, I read it not
just on adoption day but referred back to it several times to ensure I was in
compliance with what I signed. I cared deeply for my greyhound Anna Marie and
never wanted to bring harm to her by acting stupidly and violating the contract
I signed and agreed to abide by. It is something that I still do to this day
each time I sign a greyhound adoption contract.
Events and situations of the last year have left me wondering if
we suddenly have a culture of greyhound adopters who think they are entitled to
willfully violate the terms of a contract they signed. Are they merely paying
lip service to rules and guidance set by experienced greyhound adoption groups
to ensure the safety and well-being of the greyhound they place? As the saying
goes, stupid is as stupid does and willfully violating the adoption contract is
not only stupid, it reveals an extreme lack of respect and understanding of the
greyhound they have contractually agreed to be responsible for.
Some may say I’m biased in this view because I was once part of
the Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) family.
No, not bias at all...unless there are those that would feel that
being respectful and grateful to those who do a job that is often times lacking
in respect and gratitude is a bad thing. The nationwide volunteers of GPA not
only do wonderful things for ex-racing greyhounds with no financial
compensation or receiving a salary, they also from time-to-time have to do what
is morally right for the greyhounds they have placed, even if the social media
mavens chastise them.
If you don’t like it when a volunteer has to stand up to ensure
the protection and well-being of an adopted greyhound by enforcing the terms of
a signed contract, perhaps it is time to get off Facebook and get into the
day-to-day adoption trenches so that you can learn that the enforcement of a
signed adoption contract is not an opening to harass adoption volunteers simply
because you and friends think you are above any contract that you sign nor is
it an action that an adoption group takes willy-nilly and without legal
counsel.
