Abandoning Pets: A Form of Violence

A major side effect of America’s economic downturn is that when people don’t have money, they cannot afford to feed their animals, much less themselves. This seems to leave them no recourse but to drop said pets at a local rescue shelter or worst still just to abandon them, often times to die of dehydration and starvation, in the very houses they just foreclosed on. This presents a challenge to the shelters because they now have to feed and care for these frightened animals on budgets that were not meant to handle the overwhelming numbers of healthy, tame, house-trained pets. How it is oftentimes handled, regrettably, is with a quiet death by euthanasia.

My brother has a good friend who lives on a small patch of land in rural Missouri. Not much happens out there except when he comes upon a dog whose owner has driven his pet out into the countryside and left it along the side of the road to find its way. One time there was a beautiful Rottwieler chained to a fence, no doubt so it wouldn’t run after the car accelerating away from him. It wasn’t until after I adopted Seamus and Maya, my two rescue dogs, that I learned their previous owners, a young couple with two small children, filed bankruptcy, lost their home and had to move to a no-pets-allowed apartment.

What does it say about our culture that we can abandon household pets with such disregard and inconsideration? Oops, did I mean animals, or how we treat each other? If we can so easily abandon our spouse, children, friends and family, then it stands to reason the human species has lost a bit too much compassionate DNA. Why are there no financial subsidies for the abandoned animals and children of this country rather than the fat cats on Wall Street? And why are we not, as a country, joining together to see that those who cannot fend for themselves are taken care of, like any healthy society should?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Past Member .

6:57AM PDT on May 24, 2011

Shelters exist for the purpose of taking in animals whose owners are no longer able to care for them. Taking a pet to a shelter is not the same thing as leaving a pet in an empty house, and should not be regarded the same.

And ending the life of a healthy, friendly, house-trained pet in a "shelter" is not "euthanasia." It's KILLING, plain, simple, and indefensible--especially in people passing judgment on the owner who took the pet to the "shelter."

send a green star

Berny P.

7:54AM PDT on May 23, 2011

Animal cruelty in All forms should be punishable by the fullest extent of the law!

That includes juvenile age children as well.

Animal cruelty in All forms should be punishable by the fullest extent of the law!

THAT INCLUDES JUVENILE AGE CHILDREN AS WELL!!

Masha S.

3:47AM PDT on May 22, 2011

how sad, I would hope you could find a friend to take your pet, at least you know they will be taken care of

Camilla V.

11:49PM PDT on May 21, 2011

only sick evil person abandonen their animals, there are no exuses for such behavior

Luisa A.

9:21PM PDT on May 20, 2011

great article! I personally could never, ever abandon my dogs. They go were i go, even if its under a bridge but never left behind. I just could not live with the thought that I gave up on them.But for people that do have to find them somewere else to go, dont take them to a shelter, there chance of getting adopted or or getting out alive is slim.For sure Dont abandon them, instead look for a good home or a rescue that can help. Always tell people treat other humans and animals the same way you would like to be treated if you were them! with love,kidness and respect!!!!

Chris L.

4:07PM PDT on Aug 12, 2010

I have a friend who has acquired more than one animal dumped on her property. Even when they are dumped it costs money to take them to animal rescue.

I am incredibly grateful to the people who surrendered our Sheltie to the Sheltie rescue. He is the most amazing dog and we have had him for seven years. Some people consider it unforgivable to surrender a pet, but this couple could not handle the responsibility of the puppy and surrendered him not to an overcrowded shelter, but to a rescue where he was matched by owners who had to jump through hoops to prove we could provide for him.

I do wish there were charities in our area to help families who lose their homes to pay the cost of properly surrendering their pets to groups that can provide homes. It is not ever OK to leave a pet on the side of the road, but as I have been researching a second adoption, the release rates in this area are high and due to the volume they are not giving much in the way of relief for those who are facing foreclosure and cannot find a home for the animal.

Our contract requires us to go back to our rescue should we find ourselves in an emergency situation. That at least leaves me with peace that he has a back up plan when I have run out of any options.

Gysele v.

3:13PM PDT on Jun 14, 2010

ty for this article

Tanyaisa P.

1:15PM PDT on Jun 5, 2010

unforgivable

M I K.

12:41PM PDT on Jun 4, 2010

so sad.....Don't shop....adopt!