Family pets fall victim to subprime crisis

[Marthe48]

Source: CHICAGO (AFP)

"Shelters across the country have seen sharp upticks in the number of people giving up their pets in recent months because they have been forced out of their homes.
And -- more tragically -- neighbors, police and foreclosure agents are finding increasing numbers of pets left to fend for themselves in abandoned homes.
The Humane Society recently instigated a public-awareness campaign to offer tips on finding animal-friendly rental housing and remind people that pets are much better off in a shelter.
While moving has always been one of the top reasons why people give up their pets to shelters, Sparks said more people started mentioning foreclosures a few months ago."





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080125/lf_afp/uspropertyfinanceanimals

---

More victims--will it ever stop? How many people are just a paycheck away from losing all they hold dear?

[regnaD kciN]

1. "...pets are much better off in a shelter..."

...at least for the few days they're left alive before they euthanize them. :puke:

[Marthe48]

4. as opposed to abandonment

I know that euthanasia is painful, but slow starvation is worse--the article was a gruesome read, for sure.
While I'm at it, let me say that hopefully all of us who have pets will spay and neuter them. There are too many homeless dogs and cats because of overpopulation--let's try to help what we can, and maybe there will be room and resources for those poor pets whose owners lost their homes. God knows, with Bush around, humans nor animals are safe from want and loss.

[MADem]

16. There are no kill shelters in many areas. NT

[Dorian Gray]

30. I would never take my cat to a kill shelter....

Luckily, I know quite a few people who would care for them while I got back no my feet. But, if not, there area plenty of non-kill shelters out there, too.

[auburngrad82]

21. They euthanize surrendered animals immediately at our county shelter

They keep strays for three days.

Either way it's pretty much a death sentence for the animal.

[Warpy]

26. Actually, adoptable cats and dogs are given the best chance

possible. An animal who has been found abandoned in a house without food and water will likely be starving, dehydrated and sick and need to be euthanized.

I've seen the way the local Humane Association works. Lovable, friendly cats and dogs are sometimes given weeks to find homes. Young kittens and pups are fostered out to animal lovers to become old enough to neuter and put out for adoption. Animals who are afraid or hostile have shorter lives.

Unfortunately the world is full of assholes and a lot of those assholes feel entitled to own animals. Those are the ones who will leave their companions to starve to death in a house they've been pushed out of.

[napi21]

2. I hope they lo to rescue groups first if they have to gve up a pet.

I certaily can't uarante all petswill be able to be takenbya rescue group, but HEY don't er put a pet down bese they don't have a home. I'm a volunteer for a Bchon rescue group and I have 5 little fluffes right now. 2 are from the home of an eldey woman who died, 1 i he because she has svere alergies and her oners culn't aford tokep hr and pay the med bills. Idopted becauseshe was 12, blind, and had 3 homes in 3 months, and had addated very well here. I just couldn't tel this darling litle girl she ha to go to yet anoher home to find soene who loved her. The last of the is my baby of 17years who we got a an 8 eek old puppy.

They're l hppy baie and all te rescues I know treatteir fosters as teir own utill theyfind them permanent homes.

[ursi]

3. we ain't seen nothing yet ...

[xchrom]

5. recommend

[customerserviceguy]

6. Would I be considered callous

if I were more concerned about the people being forced out of their homes from the subprime mortgage crisis? I mean, yeah, the pets are victims, but am I a speciesist to think more about my own kind in this situation?

[Marthe48]

7. I'm concerned about the people

they're losing their homes, their possessions--it is way too easy for me to imagine how much the homeowners have already given up or lost by the time they lose their pets. We almost lost our home in the early 70's, because of the economy (oil crisis, double-digit inflation- anyone remember?) You start out giving up little things, hoping it'll help, then bigger things, then missing payments, then, borrowing from friends for an interest payment, only too bad, all your friends are in the same boat. Only its way worse now, because the house payments and costs are so high, I don't see how anyone can keep up. Yeah, I think about the families a lot--then I let myself cry over the animals.

[gg55]

8. I cry too. These are some truly desperate times and only gonna get worse methinks. :(

[DBoon]

10. We need a rescue group for PEOPLE

though the pets as innocent bystanders need to be taken care of.

[LeftyMom]

11. It's kinda empathy deficient, IMO.

The people are mostly just going to go back to renting. The pets that wind up in shelters, are for the most part going to die. The pets that wind up abandoned will starve or get lose and face all the horrible risks strays face if they're not rescued, which means that one way or another most will face truly horrible deaths.

[2Design]

31. strays can be adopted by neighbors - a shelter is sure death

so if it was me - I would probably pick abandoning the animal in hopes someone takes them in or hope they will figure out survival - they don't have a chance in the death camps for animals calling it 'putting them to sleep" if it is wrong for Dr. K than why is it ok for shelters to do the same thing

[MADem]

17. Surely you can walk AND chew gum...can't you?

If you think it's an either-or situation, you've got cognitive deficiencies. Make your empathy pie higher...

[Scout]

22. yes, a callous asshole in my opinion. n/t

[slackmaster]

23. No more callous than someone who says it's the peoples' fault for buying houses they can't afford

:shrug:

[alittlelark]

9. I'm fostering one of them.

Abyone who reads this should consider fostering/ adopting one.


The spring puppy/kitten season may be really ugly this year.

[flordehinojos]

12. even down to the pets ... but not whitehouse barney. no. not him.

how very very sad.

[Anywho6]

13. I read about this last week...

My partner and I checked out the wish lists on the Friends of Sacramento City Shelter Animals and Yolo County SPCA Web sites. We purchased some kongs, food bowls, collars and leashes from Omaha Vaccine. Those items arrived yesterday and my partner went to Big Lots today and bought a bunch of towels. We will go buy some peanut butter (to go in the kongs!) and some dog and cat treats tomorrow. We still need to gather any old towels and bedding we have (both are used for bedding and warmth and they go through a lot because they're being washed constantly). Tomorrow, we're loading the Tahoe up and delivering the items to the shelters.

Our adopted Golden has cancer and we're not able to take any fosters in right now and this was the next best way for us to help with the immediate need at the shelters in our area.

If anyone is interested in helping, most shelters have Web sites and contact information and can provide details on which items are most in need.

[kimmylavin]

14. We've got a sick cat.

A very expensive sick cat.
My husband and I talked about it today.
And what we decided was that we'd do anything for that little guy.

We may be one month away from losing our house, but there will be no abandonment for us... I can't imagine how awful things must get to do something like that.

[tuckessee]

25. Best of luck to you & your kitty.

You all must have hearts of gold.

[BearSquirrel2]

27. Re-examine your priorities ...

I think you need to re-examine your priorities. Extraordinary care for sick pets is a luxury. Regardless of how much money you spend at the vet the pet WILL eventually die, likely sooner than later.

Sounds like you need money to keep your persons and perhaps some artifacts from your home safe.

I know it's hard to let go. I have a beloved pet and it would be hard for me to make such a decision. However, you have to ask yourself whether buying 6-12 months for a sick pet in pain is really doing them any big favor. You'll ultimately be back where you started, just poorer for the experience.

[kimmylavin]

28. My priorities are fine, thanks.

When I took this pet in, I accepted responsibility for his life.
That responsibility is not something I think of as a "luxury", to be tossed aside when things get tough.

[Kool Kitty]

32. Your priorities ARE fine.

And bless you. All the best to you and your cat.

[astonamous]

15. We've seen the increase in pets being left in homes after

the family has moved out or been kicked out. Just in the past 2 weeks we have helped out with 10 dogs. We have found new homes for 4 of them.

www.pryorsplanet.com

[Zorra]

18. Makes ya wonder what that was in that taco that tasted so

weird.

[bahrbearian]

19. I capture Feral Cats and Kitten

I then get them nutereder spayed I release the Adults but the kitten I tame down enough to take to pets stores who a very Happy to sell them, but I know people who by from pet stores are not always the best home for them. But when I go to the animal shelter, they have like 100 cats and kittens waiting , they give them a week before they go to the back room. I sometimes fell that since the Kittens I give to the pets stores are not fixed I may just be adding to the problem. On the bright side the shelters have 1/2 the number of dogs then 10-20 year ago. Sadly 80% are pit bulls

[Doctor_J]

20. I remember this same sort of message after Katrina

Bushenomics has turned the entire country into a disaster area.

[slackmaster]

24. Situation is a little different for Katrina evacuees

They had very little warning and in many cases no way to evacuate pets.

Foreclosees have weeks or months of warning. The problem they face with pets is that a lot of rentals don't allow them.

And a few of them just might be a little irresponsible. Just maybe.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. 3 months ago, a beautiful black cat was crying on my doorstep at 5AM. Except for ticks

he appeared well cared for. He had been altered and he was exceptionally friendly. I put signs up, ran an ad and contacted local animal control agencies (my town and surrounding towns)and shelters. No one claimed him. My guess is that someone had to move and couldn't take him with them. I find that thought heartbreaking.

Jack is now part of our family and we all love him.

[allalone]

33. it is very depressing

I've been looking for a small dog since my cat passed away (apt restrictions on size and weight)
and I have been shocked by the number of discarded chihuahuas. Have they gone out of fashion?
when Paris and Brittany had them, they were all the rage. now they are in shelters and rescue
orgs. Brittany now has a yorkie. will that be the new victim of fashion?

The lame stories about why they have to dump the dogs and cats are disgusting. A lot of them
betray the animals by claiming they found it as a stray. Some people just stink!

[allalone]

34. rather live in my car w/my critter than dump it.