Call it trickle down economics – the nation’s economic woes have trickled down to impact family members with fur or feathers. In some places, there’s a real crisis.

            It all began with the home foreclosure wave. Suddenly needing to move and economically strapped, families began to seek out shelters who may take their animals. In some cases, they move out but abandon pets to leave them home alone. This phenomenon now occurs so frequently in neighborhoods where foreclosures are common that some real estate agents actually carry cat and dog food, preparing to potentially be greeted by hungry or even starving pets.

            The problem is accelerating. In Chicago home foreclosures aren’t as alarming an issue as in other cities, yet there’s been an alarming wave of people giving up their pets at the city pound, and worse just letting them out the door to fend for themselves.

            The problem is urban and it’s rural too, where Christine Robinson, president of the Board of Directors of Presque Isle, ME Aroostook Humane Society and owner of Center Hill Rescue says it’s easy to let the pets out into the woods.

            The explanation in Chicago and in rural Maine seems to be the same: It’s the economy, stupid. 

            Robinson says even a ten dollar fee to give up a pet to her rescue is too much money for some, so they sneak in to drop off their pet(s) after hours under the cover of darkness. In Chicago, people report the economy and unemployment as the most prominent reasons for giving up their pets. 

            In San Jose, cats are being dumped in parks in increasing numbers. In Miami, animal control says they’re strapped to the max.  It’s the opposite of being a horse thief and an all new problem: In Texas and California, horses are mysteriously appearing in barns. People sneak their horses overnight to into a barn because they can no longer afford to keep their animal. Sometimes they simply let the horses go, but sadly starvation is likely.

            Michael Mountain, president of Best Friends Animal Society – an animal welfare organization based in Kanab, UT – says that pets are overwhelmingly considered by most pet owners as members of the family. But then the human/animal bond only goes so far.      ‘Hopefully, people aren’t giving up their children or putting grandma out on the street, but when times are tough – pets are, in truth, expendable.”

            Mountain says Best Friends conducted a survey of shelters in 1992, and determined that 15 million pets were euthanized nationwide that year. The good news is that due to spay/neuter, breed rescue and the no kill movement that number is now down to five million annually. “I’m seriously concerned we’re now moving in the other direction again,” Mountain says.

             Hopefully, people will take a breath and think their choices through. For starters consider the impact on your children.  For example, Mountain says, when there’s a job layoff, “Kids are already scared – they know mom and or dad are no longer working, or they have to move to a small apartment, and understand something is wrong. Now, their best friend is given away, and experts tell me they actually do think, ‘Am I the next to go?”

            “Pets also offer stability and unconditional love for children, and also, the adults,” adds Jim Borgelt, president of the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance and president of the Board of Directors at Lakeshore Animal Shelter in Chicago. “Maybe there’s a benefit of keeping a pet that off-sets the cost – if people can possibly afford it.”

            There’s no way around it, there is cost associated with having a pet. Food is a fixed expense, but generic food can lower that cost. A few communities even boast pet food pantries. Veterinary care isn’t free, still paying over time and with minimal interest is a real possibility according to Dr. Sheldon Rubin, a private practitioner in Chicago. “Veterinarians are amazingly understanding, particularly when it’s a long-term client who experiences a hardship.” For clients with acceptable credit, many clinics offer a service called Care Credit, which allows people to pay their bills over time (with interest, of course). There are even instance of clinics who have reported hiring clients part time in exchange for services rendered.

            Many community shelters offer low cost veterinary care and low cost vaccines to those who qualify. Pet stores promotions periodically also offer low cost vaccines.  Increasingly spay/neuter is offer offered at a low cost, or even no cost, not having to feed or raise puppies or kittens saves money.

            Dr. Kimberly May, assistant director of professional and public affairs at the American Veterinary Medical Association in Schaumburg, IL says, “Life circumstances are forcing people to make decisions they never thought they’d have to make. The best outcome for your pet and also for your family is to really think about a friend, relative or neighbor who can temporary take over care until you get back on your feet.”

            She continues, “As for dogs – some may be friendly, some may not be – causing a potential problem if they’re roaming outside on their own. Your coddled family pet isn’t a wolf or a tiger and it’s not going to do well at all living outdoors. One reason people may let their pets go is because they don’t want them to be euthanized by animal control. The truth is that they’ll be picked up as strays if you just let them out, if they survive long enough. And they’ll likely be less adoptable than if you had just delivered the pet to a shelter yourself.”

            Borgelt says people tend to contact shelters the very day they expect to relinquish their pet(s). “That’s just not very realistic,” he says. “If you give many shelters a weeks notice or more, we may be able to help – even if we can’t take the pet ourselves.” Resources include pure bred rescue, if your pet happens to be a pedigreed dog or cat; and there are various equine rescue group. Also, many shelters have a roster of volunteer foster homes.

            One problem is that in so many shelters – there’s simply no available space, and at many facilities potential euthanasia is a reality. So, with limited choices, few places to turn – people are desperate. “And overall, they want to do what’s best for their pets,” says May. So, they leave just let their animals go, or literally leave the cat in a box at the door of an animal shelter or a veterinary clinic. “Veterinarians aren’t animal shelters and generally don’t have resources to accept animals,” May says.

            Animal hoarders often masquerade as a legitimate shelter, and they’re often quite convincing. Perhaps this desperation to place animals explains why even animal hoarders are possibly busier than ever, and have increasingly been in the news. Experts agree that giving pets to these facilities is typically a fate worse than death.

            Mountain implores, “Please don’t rely on institutions (shelters). It’s not in your pet’s best interest and as this problem continues to intensify the reality is that fewer (shelters) will have any space. Shelters can’t be dumping grounds for unwanted animals more than they already are.”

            Then where do people turn? “There’s no magical instant answer,” Mountain says. Best Friends does offer guidance and resources to individuals who are convinced they need to relinquish their pet(s). There’s even have a template on their website for a ‘seeking a good home’ fliers which can be placed around the neighborhood. Email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call 435-644-2001.