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Woody Allen once said, “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” Sadly, it’s those financial reasons that sometimes cause people to give up one of their family members -- their pets.
The rising costs of food, fuel, and foreclosures has many pet owners struggling to provide for their pets. If you don't think pet owners are feeling the financial crunch, consider this: the SPCA of Monterey County in Monterey, California, has served 170 pet owners in need since opening its pet food bank in June, indicating a real need for this kind of program.
"We were seeing more people this year surrendering their pets because they couldn't afford to keep them," says Beth Brookhouser, director of community relations for the SPCA of Monterey County. "By providing pet food for a month or so, we can help keep pets with their families."
This year, animal shelters also have seen an increase in the number of abandoned pets left behind in foreclosed homes, says the Humane Society of the United States. People looking for new housing certainly don’t have the money for pet deposits, and when shelters can’t take these pets in, people often abandon them in higher numbers.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation this week that would allow bank employees -- the ones usually discovering the abandoned pets in foreclosed homes -- to take the pets and turn them over to local shelters.
Of course, abandoning pets for any reason is irresponsible and illegal. But I do understand the pressue people feel to relinquish their pets when facing a financial crisis. If you’ve suddenly lost your job, your home, and can’t feed your family, where can you turn to feed your pet?
Thankfully, pet food banks, like the one operated by the SPCA of Monterey County are starting to develop as a viable resource for people going through tough times. The Houston Food Bank recently received $9,000 in pet food donations to distribute to people in need. And, an Atlanta woman, facing hard times herself, established a pet food bank to help others feed--and keep--their pets. She's my hero.
Another option that some shelters are exploring are increased foster care services. The Arizona Animal Welfare League is seeking foster families to enable them to take in more affected pets. I'd like to see a program set up like the one we had at the Humane Society in San Antonio after Hurricane Katrina: evacuees were offered 30 to 60 days foster care services for their pets - just long enough for them to find housing and begin the process of rebuilding their lives again.
If you need help, call your local animal shelter or local food bank to find out if they offer a pet food program. If you can help, make pet food donations to the agency providing this service, start a pet food bank program of your own, or offer to be a foster family for a local shelter -- or a friend in need.
If we believe the mantra that "pets are part of the family," then we need to develop social services to help prevent future homeless pets.
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