KESQ: Housing Foreclosures Sending More Pets to the Pound
Filed under: Pets 911 - January 31, 2008
By Rodney Wardle
Increasing home foreclosures have animal shelters around the country worried.
The Human Society released a statement this week warning of abandoned animals in foreclosed homes.
Shelters around the valley understand losing a home to foreclosure can be a stressful time, but they’re still disappointed that more pet owners are choosing to let their pets loose, or worse, abandon them inside the homes when they’re forced to move.
Hundreds of pets are dropped off at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.
With all these pets, it’s tough for them to tell just which animals come from foreclosed homes.
“If someone says ‘I’m moving,’ we’re not going to say ‘well, why aren’t you taking your dog with you?,’” says John Welsh, an employee from the Riverside County Animal Shelter.
Shelters around the valley are seeing an increase in abandoned animals although the numbers are still vague on how many of these pets are from foreclosed homes.
But it’s the types of animals that might surprise you. Not dogs, but horses and cats are being left behind.
Experts say there’s a number of reasons animals are abandoned in foreclosed homes. The owners might be moving to a place that doesn’t allow pets, the animals are too old, or the owners just don’t have enough money.
The Humane Society has some tips to reduce the cost of pet care: don’t buy expensive toys, keep pets inside or on a leash, use pet health insurance and keep good medical records.
They say to treat your pet like you would a family member when you’re moving out to a pet-free apartment.
This problem isn’t just in the valley.
Animal shelters in big cities are reporting a rise in foreclosed animals.
The overstocked shelters are working closer with agencies to use their free space.
But with limited room already, shelters say the rise in pets couldn’t come at a worse time.
“I don’t think it’s going to get better as people’s living situation gets worse,” says Marla Tauscher, Volunteer for Pet Oasis.
For more information about what you can do with your pets, logon to www.pets911.com.