People aren’t the only ones affected by the economy lately; their pets also have to cope with changes, which could be less expensive food, less frequent veterinarian visits, or a new home at a local shelter. Rising gas and food prices are leading to less money available for what some see as luxuries, and housing foreclosures are leaving some pets on the street.
Some shelters have started to offer free pet food to those families in need to help avoid them having to give their pets up for adoption. Traditional food pantries have also seen a rise in the amount of requests for pet food. Shelters and rescue organizations across the country are reporting dramatic increases in the number of animals given to them, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
We can help by donating to or promoting organizations like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and HSUS. PETCO Foundation, a charity run by PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc., has established a fund called “We Are Family Too” that aims to help local programs that address the difficulty of properly keeping a pet in these difficult times. They’ll grant up to $5000 to shelters in need and offer food bank programs, product donations, veterinarian, spay, and neuter services, and housing counselor resources.
We can also help by adopting from a local shelter if in the market for a new pet. If a friend is considering giving up their pet, consider letting it stay with you for a while until they’re in a better position to take care of their pet. If you’re having trouble and need to move from a house into an apartment, for example, you might be able to convince a potential new landlord to loosen his or policy on having a pet by providing information such as it’s health records and an obedience class diploma and assuring that you will always have the pet on a leash while outside or will at least be supervising.
Please research associated costs with adopting a pet from any source to be fair to your new animal and yourself. Account for immunizations, spaying/neutering, food, supplies, grooming, fencing, medication, veterinary care, and occasional boarding in addition to any upfront costs.
Michael Lehmann
Director of Animal Welfare
BecuzWEcan
