Monday, April 21, 2008
Foreclosure: Poor Pets
"Jane Stonehill remembers the car pulling up to Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild's office a few months ago. It was full. Clothing and furniture. A mother and children. A gray and white Old English sheepdog.
They had lost their home and were heading out of town -- without their dog.
"They just had to walk away from it," said Stonehill, director of the rescue organization. "It's very sad."
The past six months, Stonehill and operators of other animal shelters and rescue groups in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have reported more dogs and cats being dropped off or abandoned at homes. One shelter had a 15 percent increase in its population. A rescue group has started a waiting list. The main culprit: the worsening economy and increasing foreclosure rates."
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3 comments:
This terrible situation breaks one's heart. Unfortunately, there are 2 ways of thinking. If a family loses their home due to unforeseen health costs or tragedies that is one thing. Understandable. If a family loses their home because they bought a house out of their league (cost-wise) and went for an ARM loan, not reading fine print, buying over their head, that is another story. One should not live beyond their means. Now because of human mistakes, the pets suffer and many lose their lives on this earth because they are given away. Shelters are overfilled. We must all read the fine print, scale down, and never ever count on overtime money & live off that. We must never take anything for granted. My heart goes out to all the animals, and if I could, I would take them all. I will do my best to donate where possible to help God's little creatures. In the meantime, I will pray that humans begin to realize the value of a dollar & not spend it foolishly. Live simply, love greatly and leave the mansions to to those who can afford them.
This is such a sad situation facing many pet owners. Rental homes/apartments are not accommodative to pets. I dont know what the answer is... The economy is so unstable and people are forced to face horrible choices. I see it getting ALOT worse before it gets better!
Thank you all for commenting. I, too, fear it will get worse. Landlords don't want to rent to people with pets and gas and food prices are soaring. Before long, people may be forced to take a look at dog food prices and the expense of a vet. I'm afraid budgeting will have a seriously detrimental effect.
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