So today I got a call from a friend who needed a hand picking up some puppies that had been abandoned, and transporting them from the vet they were at to a foster home. Several agonizing hours later…
Turns out the vet lied. Not only were they not puppies, but they were middle-aged and in bad shape. The foster couldn’t take two adult, sick dogs, and my friend had to make the horrible call to take them to a shelter, where they will surely be put down.

Why do people do this? Why would you waste someone’s time, and break their heart just so you can wash your hands of the decision? The vet certainly knew they weren’t puppies, and knew they were sick. They could have been euthanized there peacefully instead of being carted all about town while people desperately tried to find someone who would take a pair of sick dogs instead of the healthy puppies that had a waiting home.

Also disturbing, the vet had a blinking sign in the lobby that ran a series of messages, one being to encourage people to declaw their cats.

I guess that answers my question about what sort of person lies to a rescue group, but all in all this was a really heartbreaking day.