Foreclosure Crisis Affects Pets Too

lauriewrites — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:18:26 -0500

Photographers like the Washington Post's Carol Guzy documented the toll that natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina take on animals as well as people. But even when the rising waters are financial metaphors for the real thing, the sense of desperation and the need to flee can seem equally great.

BlogHer Contributing Editor Maria Niles posted Overcoming Bag Lady Fears During a Recession last week, sparked by a report on CNN of a woman living in her car - with her dogs - following a layoff and loss of her home. The mortgage crisis and accompanying spike in foreclosures has terrible ramifications for families across the country, many of them with pets in tow. So what happens when a forced relocation means a life change for everyone? Sometimes, for pets, it isn't pretty.

Envirolink linked to "Pets feeling families’ economic pinch" by Evie Blad, that originally ran in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Animal control officers in several Northwest Arkansas cities are reporting an increase in the intake of well-trained, purebred dogs as cash-strapped homeowners slash items from their household budgets.

“It’s not behavioral stuff. It’s because they can’t afford to keep them,” said Rhonda Di-Basilio, director of the Rogers Animal Shelter.

And there’s anecdotal evidence of owners of foreclosed homes leaving their pets behind.

Last year, the Rogers shelter teamed with animal control officers to remove two animals from abandoned homes. In the first four months of 2008, they’ve seized five dogs left behind in uninhabited homes.

Rogers code enforcement officer Rick Riedesel discovered the body of a golden retriever last week when he was called to inspect the overgrown yard of a foreclosed home at 11 th and Oak streets. After scratching at the door of a locked room, the animal died of starvation, Riedesel said.

Officers later found a full bag of dog food in another room, DiBasilio said.

“I think a lot of people think if they leave the dog, someone will pick it up and feed it,” she said. “If you lock a dog up in a house and you don’t come back, to me it’s just neglect and abuse.” Animal control officers typically find out about neglected animals from concerned neighbors. The shelter works with the city attorney’s office to seize the animals and cite owners with misdemeanor offenses under the state’s animal cruelty statute.

Springdale’s animal shelter has seen an increase in expensive pure-bred dogs that were purchased as puppies for hundreds of dollars, said Sam Goade, Springdale’s director of public works.

Owners surrender the animals because they can’t afford to maintain them or they are moving to an apartment where animals aren’t allowed.

Donna Miles, director of the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, said the downturn in the economy is evident in the center’s kennels.

Fifty-seven animals were taken in by the shelter in April, an increase of 17 compared with a year ago.

Elaine Vigneault at Read My Mind listed 4 Ways to Help Foreclosure Pets.

Rena Murray at PawPersuasion says there are way better alternatives to foreclosures.

The Real Estate Bloggers call them by the newly coined term "Foreclosure dogs", surely accompanied by foreclosure cats, birds, hamsters and any other pet who costs money to care for and needs space to live in. (And that's all of them.)

Liz at lizardmarsh, with the tagline "rescuers are needed to protect" gives notice of two rescue dogs available in Stockton, Calif.

"Stockton CA: Foreclosure capital of America. 2 sweet orphan dogs. Pls RESCUE THEM ASAP"

Rescue Dog Central says "Abandoning animals following foreclosure , without finding them an alternative place to go, is nothing more than inexcusable animal cruelty."

Joey and Maggie at the Long and Short Of It All For Dachshund Lovers introduce CC, a lucky foreclosure Dachshund who was adopted by a Realtor who found her abandoned in a home.

Carol Vinzant at Wallet Pop says "Pets are victimized by foreclosure, too.

Animal welfare groups around the world have been noticing a new victim to the housing downturn and foreclosure crisis: pets. The lucky ones with responsible owners are turned in to local shelters. The most unfortunate dogs and cats are left imprisoned in locked homes with no food or water. They face a slow, tortuous death by starvation or dehydration.

The Human Society of the United States started noticing the problem in January. The same problem has turned up in England, the Daily Mail reports. A lack of money or landlord permission have both long been among the top reasons pets are turned into shelters.

Julia Szabo at Nose to the Ground wrote about the toll that foreclosure animals are taking on rescue and shelter workers.

"Animal shelter staff and volunteers who witness owners' agony at leaving their animal friends at the shelter are prone to vicarious traumatization (VT)," explains Dr. Laurie Nadel, author and FetchDog authority. "Many employees and volunteers will have nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and other symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder simply because they see, hear, and feel the emotional shocks that owners and pets are experiencing."

For anyone suffering what she describes, Dr. Nadel has this advice: "Animal shelter management can seek critical incident stress management briefings for staff and volunteers through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, which has a list of trained volunteers who can help staff members process their own emotions so they are less likely to develop PTSD or compassion fatigue symptoms later on."

For pet owners facing impossible choices, Dr. Nadel reminds, "It may be harder to take care of your pet during tough times, but it's important to think past the immediate crisis. How will you feel about giving up your pet a few years from now? Chances are, you will wish you had done everything possible to keep her with you. The emotional price of sacrificing an animal companion during a period of financial stress is likely to haunt you later on. Instead of giving in to panic, visualize yourself growing closer to your pet during the crisis; make a list of the top 10 positive things you will get by keeping him or her."

The Humane Society has these tips for people facing foreclosure when finding new housing for themselves and their pets, as part of their Pets For Life program.

With a foreclosure crisis sweeping the nation, The Humane Society of the United States is disturbed by reports that some residents forced out of their homes are simply leaving their pets behind. The HSUS urges all pet owners faced with foreclosure to take their pets with them when they relocate.

"Abandoning pets, for any reason, is not only irresponsible – it is illegal," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals at The HSUS. "Pet owners may feel financially unable to care for their pets or are overwhelmed by a sudden move, but there are many alternatives to leaving pets behind. For those in need of help, we offer tips on easing the financial burden of pet ownership and finding pet-friendly housing."

Abandoned pets face a grim future. Many pets trapped inside abandoned homes aren't found until they're on the brink of starvation. Those lucky enough to reach a shelter have about a 50 percent chance of being adopted.

They also offer a list of tips on Renting With Pets.

The Foreclosure Cat Project based in Cincinnnati raises funds and tries to place 60 cats rescued from the foreclosed home of a single man. The accompanying art project included a local exhibit and Ebay sale of feline-inspired art to help with fundraising efforts.

Even if I can't imagine leaving my pet under any circumstances (which I can't) I've also never been in the precarious circumstance of losing my home or without the physical security of a roof over my head, so I can't imagine what happens to people or to their decision-making processes when they are. As many of the tip lists here indicate, realistic planning and action is essential to make sure that pets are protected when life throws curveballs. No matter what goes down with money and shelter, they don't deserve to suffer, and even if their ultimate survival in a shelter can't be guaranteed, with a few helpful links or phone calls it's not that hard to try and carve out a best-case scenario.

Laurie White writes at LaurieWrites

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Foreclosure Crisis Affects Pets Too