Pet Owners Feeling Economic Pinch - abandoned and surrendered pets has grown significantly

[The Straight Story]

Pet Owners Feeling Economic Pinch

LANCASTER, Ohio — More people are handing over their pets as they face tougher economic circumstances, a humane society official told 10TV News on Thursday.

According to Bill Huffman of the Fairfield-Area Humane Society, a number of abandoned and surrendered pets has grown significantly as people struggle with rising gas prices, foreclosures and rising food costs, 10TV's Andy Hirsch reported.

"We really feel sorry for the people that are in that kind of situation," Huffman said. "Certainly nobody likes to lose their pets."

Last weekend, Huffman said three dachshunds were dropped off at the Fairfield-Area Humane Society, along with note that said the owner could no longer care for them because they lost their home.

"We've had people come in here and cry their hearts out," Huffman said. "They'll sit out here with the animal for an hour and tell the animal how sorry they are that they can't keep them anymore. It's heartbreaking."

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/05/22/pet_owners.html?sid=102

[kid a]

1. I took my pooch to the vet last week and had a long discussion

with our vet.

He has seen a substantial decrease in appointments and visits for general care, shots and dental cleaning.

His business is slower now than it ever has been in 25 years and he is digging into savings some months to pay employees and rent.

[kestrel91316]

4. My business is as slow as it was when I started up SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO.

Cats really get short shrift when times are tough.

And the worst part is how, when they do come in, they are MUCH sicker and I have a lot harder time getting them well as a result. And it costs the client way more than if they'd come earlier.

Dear pet owners: Now is the time to buy pet health insurance if you love your babies.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pet+insurance

[proud patriot]

10. similar situation with our dent removal business

that dropped off so much the we now have started a
second business landscaping ,plus my husband delivers
papers in the middle of the night and I work for the
School district . Even with all those jobs I think we
would be homeless were it not for a very supportive family .

[MadHound]

13. I think that it is irresponsible of you to push pet health insurance

Haven't we learned anything from human health insurance? You add private insurance to the mix of health, whether it be human or animal, the price of that health care field will go up dramatically, all out of proportion to inflation or other such metrics. This has been going on in the regular health care world for fifty years, as a responsible pet owner of nine animals, I really don't want to see runaway inflation for animal health, all because of the interference of insurance companies.

[kestrel91316]

20. Oh, go suck an egg. I have refrained from "pushing" pet health

insurance for DECADES. Finally, now, when it's getting completely impossible for people to afford the most basic health care for their pets because their disposable income has vanished, I make a simple suggestion that could allow people to AFFORD basic care if a pet gets unavoidably sick or injured and you have the gall to attack me for it????

You are a sick person. Truly. Shame on you.

Obviously I'm just a paid corporate shill. :sarcasm: If you don't like what I have to say, put me on ignore and you'll never have to see another word from me.

[EFerrari]

24. I can no longer affort insurance for me, let alone for these guys.

Thank God all but one of them are young and that I can feed them healthy food. If they were all seniors, we'd be in big, big trouble.

[RockaFowler]

2. This is heartbreaking

We have 3 kids (dogs) and we have just cut back on items. I now cook all the food for them to eat - we save a ton of money that way.

[Trillo]

3. Please explain.

How can you get dog food ingredients cheaper than buying manufactured dog food? Details please!

[kestrel91316]

5. Probably cheaper than CANNNED food.

But unless they are under 15 lb or have some medical issue that requires canned, all they need is kibble. Dogs under 15 lb can't cram enough kibble into their stomachs to meet their needs.

[JanMichael]

23. Our 13 pound terrier eats dry Hund n Flocken

which the vet likes. The doc said she needs 3/4 of a cup of day, and we feed her breakfast, lunch and dinner (1/3 cup at each meal), plus occasional green beans, cottage cheese, and yogurt (sparingly--not even as treats--like a tablespoon of yogurt a week)--

[kestrel91316]

32. Guess it's more calorically dense. That 15 lb rule WAS

from vet school in 1982, lol. (I only do cats the past 17 years so new dog stuff passes me by...)

[JanMichael]

33. I wish you were in this area; our Stinky (cat) needs a checkup

--we would love to have a good "Cat only" vet.

She is old, and fat---sleeps alot and purrs all the time, until she sees the vet when she decides all Dr.'s should die by her personal claw. It's embarrassing.

[kestrel91316]

35. I get a few of those kind..........makes me glad I have a sturdy gas box

to put them in and box them down so I can get my hands on them, lol.

[LynneSin]

6. I'll tell you this much - I'm rethinking their cat food

I use to give them Royal Canin dry food and Purina Pro-Plan for their wet food treats. But it's just getting so tough here that I know they also like Purina Naturals Dry food (at $10 less for the same amount of food) and Friskies wet food.

They seem to eat whatever I give them and I noticed that Evita will eat more of the dry food from Purina.

If they aren't upset then I'll make the switch. It'll save me about $20-30 a month on cat food.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. I have switched to Friskies wet, finding flavors that my finicky ones love and it has saved

me a lot of money. I also discovered that the A&P has their own version of a Purina Dry and its almost half the price. It looks like, smells like and it probably is Purina's.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. That's a shame.

I noticed there have been far more garage sales than usual this spring. I wonder if it's because people are desperate to make ends meet, and not just because they want to get rid of their old stuff.

[noonwitch]

8. Look for low-cost vaccinations to be sponsored by your city/township/whatever

I just took my dog to Warren's in April-I got her rabies, parvo and bordatella shots for $24. Combined, not for each.

Then you can go to the vet for the other necessities.

[EFerrari]

26. Good call. And sometimes, the local SPCA has info on low cost everything

in the community at their website. :thumbsup:

[flvegan]

9. My rescue gets at least 3 or 4 calls a day from folks

that need to rehome their pets specifically because of financial problems. Most of the time, they're in tears.

And the e-mails! It's almost like spam. Plus, the To: field of the message will not only include me, but 20 other rescues as well.

I also know that rescues and shelters are hurting financially as well. Any that rely solely on donations are seeing a lot of that dry up. Mine is at an all time low

[Indenturedebtor]

11. I would never give up my dog. EVER

I would sooner cut off my hand.

I don't understand why people are giving up their puppies. All they need is food ffs. And you can buy enough pasta to feed a dog for a year for like 10 bucks... ok so you'll need some veggies too. But come on! Priorities people. Even if I was living in my car, my dog stays. I have a responsibility to him, and as far as he is concerned I'm his dad.

I don't understand this. Pets are family. You don't give up your family when times are tough...

[Missy Vixen]

12. If they have nowhere to live

maybe those surrendering their pets believe they are better off having their feline or canine friends somewhere they're being well cared for.

To think that anyone surrendering a pet doesn't love them "enough" is insane.

Julie

[Indenturedebtor]

14. Most of these pets are going to be euthanized...

To think that they wont be is delusional.

[MadHound]

16. One has to wonder however

Because quite frankly older animals are generally tougher to adopt out and thus they will be euthanized rather than being well cared for, especially if the numbers of animals coming into a shelter is way up. And frankly there are many animals that are euthanized virtually the minute they hit a shelter, not just pit bulls and other so called "vicious" animals, but all of those who are deemed unadaptable for various reasons such as age, health, even how they look.

Turning a pet over to a shelter is probably not going to give them a better live. Sorry, but in my eyes my animal friends are family, and you don't dump family members at shelters.

[EFerrari]

25. I went four cats beyond my two cat limit when I was fostering

because they were too old or too behavioral or too ugly to be adopted. Too old in that context means they were teenagers, not cute kittens and, after getting them healthy and stable, there's no way in hell I'd risk sending them to a shelter.

We make do, just like my family has always done. Lol, two of the kitties are little gargoyles and you couldn't pry them out of this house with a gun and a crow bar. :)

[uppityperson]

15. $10 of past=10 lbs. I don't think my dog would survive long on that much.

What are "food ffs"? Do you seriously believe a dog would survive a yr on 1/4 ounce of pasta a day? Even with veggies?

[Indenturedebtor]

17. Well my dog would

But he's only about 13 lbs. Ok so it might take a little more. But these animals are basically being left to die. They're not being given to a friend. The shelters do everything they can, but most of these animals will be euthanized and you know it.

[uppityperson]

18. One quarter ounce of pasta. Right. And yes, I agree about the shelters, most older ones get euthani

euthanized. I would have to seriously consider which would be better, to let me dog starve, or to have him euthanized. I am glad that I don't have to make that decision and my heart breaks for those who do.

1/4 ounce of pasta is less than a teaspoon. Though once it is cooked it is probably about a tablespoon.

[Indenturedebtor]

19. Well I can get a bag of pasta from Costco for about 7 dollars that lasts

2 people about 2 years. Granted we're not eating pasta every day, but the stuff is so cheap it's almost free.

[uppityperson]

21. Ours quit carrying those big bags, just 1 lb boxes.

I keep filling out those forms asking for them to be stocked again, along with those big portabella mushrooms.

[undeterred]

22. My dog is 15 1/2 and I am unemployed.

I couldn't bear to put him down. His arthritis meds are expensive but I do without my own meds instead of making him live without his. He is healthy but can't have too many years left, so I want his quality of life to be good.

I understand why people have to do this, but its painful to think about.

[bdamomma]

27. oh my, I hate hearing news like this.

it is even affecting our pets.:cry: poor things.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. I think that laws should be passed to make it mandatory for landlords to allow pets.

To counterbalance this, pet owners should hold some kind of insurance or pay for any damages that their pets might cause.

I love animals and it is really upsetting to know that pets are being abandoned at this rate. A little over six months ago, one of the most beautiful cats on this planet came to my door, crying to be let in. After a couple of months of searching, no owner could be found. It breaks my heart when I think about his past and wondering if he was abandoned because his human family couldn't take him with them.

[dysfunctional press]

31. what if the landlord or other tenants have allergies?

:shrug:

requiring landlords to allow pets would never fly.

btw- we used to be landlords, and we allowed pets.

[DainBramaged]

34. I have to find a new home, been nearly impossible to find one allowing pets

and those that do charge excessive additional monthly fees and non-refundable deposits for them.

[madmusic]

30. If my dog is homeless, so am I

And if my dog is hungry, so am I.

If I don't have enough to care for my dog, then I don't have enough to care for me either. 50/50, one for all, all for one.

But a family living in a car may not be able to do that. I'd find a home.