Dogs Being Abandoned As Recession Continues To Bite
posted by: Jerry Stone 349 days ago
It was announced earlier this month that the U.S. is officially in a recession. Um, duh! Anyone living here for the past year could tell you that. Things have kinda sucked.
With the national unemployment rate at about 7 percent--the highest since 1974--we've all felt the economic crunch. In fact, here in California alone it's at a whopping 8.4 percent; the third largest in the country. We've seen everyone from Schwarzenegger to Yahoo order layoffs, and it doesn't seem like it will end anytime soon.But this financial turmoil isn't only affecting the family house, it's also affecting the dog house. Shelters are reporting that pet owners are abandoning their pet dogs at alarming rates.
Therefore kennels are becoming grossly overcrowded. Secondly, these charities rely on donations to sustain their efforts. And with money so tight for everyone, they expect a huge decrease in donations this year.
Another concern for them is Christmas. A lot of the animals given as Christmas gifts just end up in shelters by the new year.
It's been estimated that the life of a pet can cost around $22,000 with food, visits to the veternarian and toys. While not an upfront cost, the added expense is just one more thing to pay for. Of course, this begs the question: Can you really put a price on the quality of life? My cat makes my day.
But households are having to cram into pet-unfriendly apartments, and for them it's a matter of taking care of their families and taking care of their pets. Of course, for many of us our pets are family. As a cat owner, I cannot even imagine having to make that call.
Yet officials are getting calls that pets are being left at foreclosed homes! I must admit, I find this grotesque and absolutely unforgivable. I by no means pretend to understand what it is like to lose your house and to feel those pressures with a spouse and children.
But the fact is, our actions stretch far beyond just affecting us. If mortgage brokers, banks and corporations are allowed to make short term self-serving irresponsible decisions, we all lose. But if we ourselves act in the same manner, what does that make us?
Read more: pets, dogs, animal welfare, mortgage, recession, meltdown, bailout, financial crisis
comments
Dogs are for Life, not on a whim of the moment. When we bring a chid into the world, do we pass it on to someone else, saying "I have not got enough money to pay for this child or this child bores me now, you can have it!!" A dog needs care, we humans domesticated animals, now they are our responsibilty....A dog is for Life
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adopt a pet. SHARE =)
God bless
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I don't think I could abandon any of my animals. They are such a part of my life.
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As for myself Danièlle Smith I have been faced in 1971 in a very sad situation as well My then husband was leaving me for another woman whilst we had been looking after 19 cats and our own dog and moscovy ducks I lived in RSA and had no means when that happened and had no choice but to give my beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback Diane to good friends all the cats had to be rehomed by the Rspca and the ducks went to others I was heart broken I myself did not know where to go I had no family there,But God is so good He made a way where there seemed to be no ways and took care of everything me included I cannot stand cruelty and neglect to any animals whatever the animal or to people as a matter of fact
God bless and keep you all Love you guys
Danièlle Smith
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The truth is most people do not know what they would do in that situation. I have never been homeless but did go through something similar when a house was damaged and I had to live in a 25 foot travel trailer. You can do anything for a short period of time but when it stretches out for months on end, you have five dogs, it is impossible to keep things clean,your clothes are constantly dirty, etc. it is a nightmare. Believe me you can't really comprehend what it is like until you've had to do it. I literally had claustraphobia and trailer is a walk in the park compared to what some people are dealing with. I actually heard of a lady that was a signing agent and when her business dried up over night she had to live out of her car with 2 golden retrievers. I don't think I was right mentally for months after I got out of the situation. Everyone is different and some people just have more tolerance than others. Yes, I hung on to my animals but is it had been living out of a car or on the street I'm ashamed to say I don't think I could have done it. I really feel for these people.
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People are so selfish and arrogant!
Bloody hell.
We needa help this!
Cant believe whats happening
to the world!!
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I don't care if there is a recession, you don't have to abandon your dog or any animals. People can be so selfish. They can take the time to find it a home or take it a shelter or place that will take it! Animals depend on us. It is so sad what people do to them.
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Dog (Pet) is our good companion. They are more faithful & loving then human beings. We yet to learn many more things from animals. They just don’t know to pretend like our fake friends do. We definitely need to spend if we hang out with friend. The same concept here.
I think people out there who are willing to abandon the dogs are simply selfish egoistic people. They have dogs just to show off! NOW THEY JUST CAN’T AFFORD TO SHOW OFF! A real human being will never have the heart to leave their dog that is being with them like a family member. How can a human know the value of a dog (LOVE, EMOTION) when they don’t EVEN have human values. Pathetic materialistic people out there the reason for u to be in this plane & born here is to take care of the animals & plants & nature. So don’t be selfish. As a human we need to protect the animals to evolve. This is a service we are doing for Mother Nature. That is why we are here.
Learn n explore the realistic journey to be born in this plane! Animals & plants have the right to exist just like human. Just because human beings are ignorant & they can’t speak up that doesn’t mean that we can do anything to the nature! We will need to pay back for every act that we have stirred. REMEMBER YOUR DUTY AS A HUMAN BEING! We won’t lose much if you allocate SOME for your dog every day as they don’t need to eat expensive diet. Love is sacrifice! We can cut down on our extravagance,
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I just saw a report on Today this morning about a company that goes in and cleans out foreclosed properties. It is amazing what people left behind...photos, files and other personal items - the stuff we'd put on a "If I had a fire the first thing I'd rescue is..." list, so I guess if they can leave all that, then a pet is just one more THING. I don't understand it...like the author, to imagine life without my four precious cats is unthinkable, but clearly people get desperate. Perhaps we could brainstorm public service ways to help???
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Hi marianne again..that is $8.00 per week I forgot to put that in my last message.
Also what I have just heard which might be of interest is that a Vet came up with the suggestion that if you have to move home to a flat or apartment and they do not want dogs offer them a bond to cover the dog..so that if he digs up the garden or stains the carpet the owner is covered..Also get a reference from your vet stating that your dog is toilet trained, does not bark etc. All the things that might deter a land lord from letting you in with a pet...ho[e that this helps someone.
Marianne
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