Pets Paying For Foreclosures

May 25th, 2008 | Tags: Foreclosure Notice

While humans battle out their woes, large numbers of pets are paying for foreclosures. Animal care supervisor of East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys says it is heartbreaking to see a grown man crying openly for having to surrender his beloved pet to a shelter. There always have been instances of circumstances forcing families and individuals to give up their pets but such huge numbers have never been witnessed. It is the economy that is at the root of this mess. The villains are foreclosures.

Signs of foreclosure are keeping pace with the number of abandoned pets. During the first four months of this year there was a 16% increase in drop-off pets in comparison to the numbers of the previous year. It is difficult to co-relate the exact numbers connected with foreclosures because people do not want to admit out of a sense of shame. Usually they skirt the issue by saying that they are moving out or that the landlord is allergic to pets. The number of these dubious excuses has risen by 21%.

Right across the nation in various animal shelters these numbers tell the same tale. The regions that are witnessing greater number of foreclosures are also seeing a spike in the number of abandoned pets. There are many who do not bother to take their pets to a shelter but just leave them to their fate in the abandoned foreclosed houses. Those who cling on to their beloved pets, ignoring the bad financial weather, cannot afford veterinary expenses. Animal care society spokesperson Stephanie Shain refers to the situation as ‘heartbreaking’. More and more families are coming to these animal welfare societies admitting that they cannot afford to feed the animals.

Addressing the pet care problem the Humane Society has set up a special fund that sanctions grants ranging from $500 to $2,000.

The foreclosure crisis is directly responsible for the number of animals being euthanized, according to Humane Society. Los Angeles tops the list. At shelters in Los Angeles the number of abandoned cats increased by 22% through April. Surrender of dogs went up by 13%. The overall spike in the six animal shelters in the city saw a jump of 16%. The increase of euthanized animals went up by 31%. This is the first increase in euthanasia numbers in the last six years, said Ed Boks the general manager of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.