Shelters Overflow as Recession Continues
posted by: Aimee Gertsch 35 days ago
The stock market may be rallying, and many politicians are claiming that the recession is over. However, with unemployment still rising, people and animals are still being hurt. For the people on "Main Street", and for their pets, the recession is continuing. Sadly, this is causing shelters and rescues to overflow as people can no longer afford to care for thier pets.
Several shelters have lost donations at a time when drop offs are at an all time high. For example, the Humane Society of Elkhart County in Indiana took in 447 stray cats and 197 stray dogs in July and 440 and 145, respectively, in August. What is more sad is how many animals are left in their night drop box, about 20 a day. They are thinking of discontinuing the drop box option because “When they’re locked we’ll find kittens in our Dumpsters or a wild dog running in the parking lot,” Reel said. “We’re trying to address this issue and see if it’s still working.” (source)
Recently the San Francisco SPCA has announced that they will no longer be open on Mondays. They are hoping that reducing the days they are open, as well as other measures, will help make up for the $3.5 million deficit they face. They are one of the oldest animal rescue groups, running for 141 years!
You may also remember that Governer Schwarzeneger also passed a proposal to shorten the days that animals stay in shelters. All of these measures taken to help ease the financial burdens that are facing the shelters.
And with more people facing foreclosures and job losses, many are turning to homeless shelters which do not accept pets. Even those who can find rentals often find that the landlord won't accept pets.
What can you do to help?
Several shelters have lost donations at a time when drop offs are at an all time high. For example, the Humane Society of Elkhart County in Indiana took in 447 stray cats and 197 stray dogs in July and 440 and 145, respectively, in August. What is more sad is how many animals are left in their night drop box, about 20 a day. They are thinking of discontinuing the drop box option because “When they’re locked we’ll find kittens in our Dumpsters or a wild dog running in the parking lot,” Reel said. “We’re trying to address this issue and see if it’s still working.” (source)
Recently the San Francisco SPCA has announced that they will no longer be open on Mondays. They are hoping that reducing the days they are open, as well as other measures, will help make up for the $3.5 million deficit they face. They are one of the oldest animal rescue groups, running for 141 years!
You may also remember that Governer Schwarzeneger also passed a proposal to shorten the days that animals stay in shelters. All of these measures taken to help ease the financial burdens that are facing the shelters.
And with more people facing foreclosures and job losses, many are turning to homeless shelters which do not accept pets. Even those who can find rentals often find that the landlord won't accept pets.
What can you do to help?
- Consider making a donation to your local rescue/shelter if possible.
- If you have the means and ability, adopt a pet (or more than one if you can).
- Do you know someone facing foreclosure? If they have pets could you take those pets in until the family finds housing?
- Be aware of the animals in your neighborhood. Many people are letting animals roam free, or abandoning them in houses.
- Volunteer your time at a local shelter or rescue group. Many shelters have had to layoff staff, they would likely appreciate hands on help.
Read more: shelters, animal welfare, animal rescue, recession, animal neglect
comments
i don't get it people think just because animals are from a shelter they are bad which is the opposite they are just as loving and good as any pet store pet or breeding pet and sometimes they are better because they already have training
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You know why these folks have to really give up their aniamls because it costs so much to keep them up when it comes to their shots and doctors aren't willing to give a little on how much they charge people for just seeing them.
We used to have Cocktiels and to go to the doctor we almost had to take out a loan and that is sad but we never ever thought one time to get rid of them because we decided to get the birds so we had to take care of them as they needed to me to get rid of the animals that you love it would like be taking a part of heart out and stamping in it I just couldn't do it and that is a fact.
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Like so many others, my pets are my family members, and I love them very dearly. They are the last things in the world that I would give up. I would go without many things before giving them up b/c giving them up would kill me! They are my first priority.
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My pets are members of my family. I have been unemployed for over one year. Fortunately, I have gotten extensions on my unemployment, but if worse comes to worse, I will take my pets and live out of my car. I refuse to just let them fend for themselves. The veterinarian that I used for my pets closed their doors because of the economy.
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Until we decide to get the Income Tax rates back to where they were at the end of Reagan's presidency we won't have the funds to help anyone or any thing.
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This is horrible and you're in USA. You have no idea how painful the lives of dogs and cats here. Very poor country up of culture, education and health.
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As a P.S. we have become such a throwaway society that anything becomes disposable including animals. If you are going to have a pet then STEP UP & TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND WELLBEING OF THAT ANIMAL!
To all of you irresponsible, greedy, self centered breeders, puppy mill operators, backyard breeders etc. the entire lot of you should be stuck on some ranch in the middle of nowhere and made to endure the same type of treatment that the animals in your "care" were subjected to and then maybe just maybe there may be fewer puppy mills, cat farms, backyard breeders etc. andto those of you who run dog fighting "events" you had better hope that one day your "money maker" doesn't decide to use you for fighting practice because if that happens then you deserve any & everything that happens!!
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My pets are my children, they will always be first before me. I would rather go without than to see them go without food.
I have been fortunate in that I have been able to keep a roof over our heads and not have to put my kids in a shelter where they most surely would end up dying from loneliness as they have been with me their ebntire lives & would not "understand" I agree with the poster who said to PETA spend some of that money that would go for billboard ads promoting Veganism, think of how many animals lives would/could be changed if you had spent some of those millions on rescues and shelters, these poor animals would be in a much better position and not facing the possibility of being "put down" simply because 1: their owner could no longer afford to carefor them & second: their chances of being re-adopted are way slim due to the current economic climate. We needto find a way to protect these creatures from us as we are not only their only voice but their worst enemy as well(read Michael Vick et al).
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I agree with everyone else here.. there would be no way I would give up my furbabys,,I have two cats and two dogs and did have a German Shepherd Chow Mix till someone ran him over,,and no matter what I have to go without, My Babys will eat!! There is all kinds of help out there to feed people,,so if Im eating,, My babys will eat..they are all I have and without them I would be nothing. and I think right now with the recession going on,, Landlords should be made to drop the NO PETS rule,, that is stupid and discriminating,,cause if we dont have anything at all,, at least we still have our best friends and my Pets are what keeps me going at this horrible time,, They make me laugh and keep my focus off of whats going on in this horrible world right now,, Its not their fault at what Humans are doing,, but they are the ones who always suffer for it..ITs really sad and people need to stop giving up their pets,,I know there are always other options and they need to find it..It truly should be a law against not allowing pets with renters anyways,,but when people are in desperate times,,Good Lord!! Landlords should stop being so selfish and start thinking about someone else other then their own selves..Its hard times right now..As with 9/11,,what happened to careing about other human beings? My pets are what get me through day to day,, I couldnt make it without them here to help me through it..
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I am in the Uk and work in animal re homing, this year we are seeing more than ever, our own rescue is now at saturation with no one wanting to take an animal on. We are currently using our depleting funds to put some needy cats and dogs up in boarding kennels until we can find space for one at a time.
I see the other side of the coin owners who are desperate to keep them but cannot the sadness and depression these face is appalling not all are heartless and just dont want their pet some are just in terrible circumstances. its tragic.
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