Pet Foreclosure Problems on the Rise

July 15th, 2008

As the financial crisis worsens the victims are saddled with another woe – on top of giving up the houses that have been their homes they now have to give up their pets. Pet foreclosure problems are on the rise. Evicted from houses the hapless foreclosure victims now move into smaller accommodations, most probably rented, where pets are not welcome.

Many go to the shelters with their pets hoping others will adopt them. Many just leave behind the animals in the backyard or in roadside dumps. These animals are now being termed ‘foreclosure pets’. Their numbers have sharply increased across the Valley. Arizona Humane Society reports to having received 1,000 calls related to abandonment of pets during the first half of this year. It is about double the number of the previous year during this time.

Similar reports have come in from other shelters in the Valley. Aprille Hollis of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control said that heartbroken pet owners are frequently calling. They hardly have any choice when it comes to choosing between feeding the family and the animal.

In Phoenix city foreclosures spiked to 3,402 in May, marking 14% increase over April this year according to data collected by Information Market. Correspondingly animal shelters are seeing an increase in demand according to information given by the Humane Society of USA. It has no link with Arizona Humane Society. The problem has become more acute with the cocktail of woes – foreclosures and general economic melt down. Some states like Arizona, California together with Florida are flooded with foreclosed houses and consequently with abandoned pets. In their turn the shelters are struggling to keep up with costs for feeding and giving medical treatment to the animals. The County Animal Control is worried about the increase in the number of stray dogs and cats.

With donations and adoption rates dwindling the Humane Society of the United States has created a special fund especially for the animal shelters. The grants stretch from $500 to $2,000. The shelters are already choking. Now they are bracing up for more calls as the litter months stretch from May to July. This means the demand will either double or even triple for the caring of puppies and kittens in comparison to the other months of the year.