Shelter houses pets homeless due to foreclosure

[Robbien]

Source: Eagle-Tribune

. . .

But the cat doesn't have a family anymore. She is one of many animals surrendered - reluctantly - over the past month by people who have lost their homes in the subprime mortgage crisis, said Deborah Vaughn, shelter manager at Salem Animal Rescue League.

"We started really noticing it a month ago," said Vaughn, who estimated 10 cats and two dogs have been surrendered due to foreclosures.

. . .

Ray Denis, the rescue league's director of development, said the staff has seen whole families giving up their pets before they go into homeless shelters due to the mortgage crisis.

"If you don't think that's heartbreaking," he said, leaving the rest unspoken.

As for the gray cat, the volunteers are taking good care of her and monitoring her behavior carefully, Hayes said. No matter the past circumstances, cats always feel a little disoriented when they arrive at a shelter, she said.

A stray may actually be grateful to be out of the cold, but a cat who came from a good home may sit quietly, like the gray cat, she said.

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