The current economic crisis, growth in unemployment, and significant rise in foreclosures are ravaging the finances of homeowners everywhere. But people aren’t the only ones who are suffering through this hardship and finding themselves without a home… pets are fast becoming victims of foreclosure as well. There is a rise of pets being abandoned in foreclosed homes and left to starve or dropped off at animal shelters because their owners can no longer afford to keep them. And the numbers are staggering.
There is a growing concern about the fate of these animals. They arrive at shelters by the thousands each month, their owners surrendering them with a vague story of moving and give no specific details. But some shelters have a minimal numbers of pets they will except; hence, the reason why people opt to leave them behind in vacated yards, garages, or empty homes. Either way, their time is limited. Shelters typically hold an animal for a short period of time in hopes that someone will claim them before they are euthanized. The ones left behind usually aren’t found for days or weeks at a time, and when they are found, they’re usually dying of starvation or they’re already dead.
If you plan to get a pet this holiday season, contact your local animal shelters to find a pet that you can provide a loving home to, but understand that pets are expensive and you should plan in advance for them in case your finances take a nosedive.
