As people are being forced to vacate their homes due to foreclosure, pets are being left behind.
By Faith Salsburg, Best Friends Network VolunteerAmericans are loosing their homes to mortgage foreclosures in record numbers.
Every day we hear another heartbreaking story of a person forced out of their home and into a homeless shelter or the family car. Though foreclosure is a legal process that takes some time, people often wait to the very end for some unforeseen miracle. Unfortunately, miracles rarely happen and misplaced home owners are very angry.
Recently, there have been many reports of families trashing the home they are about to lose. They remove built-ins, steal appliances, or just create a huge mess. This is a horrible trend, but another unforeseen consequence of this mortgage mess is the abandoned animals. Real-estate agents conducting a walk-through of a now “empty” home are finding cats and dogs just left behind. These animals are often left with little or no food or water to survive or perish any way they can. Some more considerate owners turn over a beloved pet to an animal shelter. Shelters are reporting huge overcrowding, poor re-homing options, and increased euthanasia of abandoned pets. Meanwhile, families are forced to move to shelters or rentals that have a stringent “no pet policy”. Animal adoption is down because people can’t even rescue themselves. They can’t afford rising pet food costs or veterinary care.
The situation has become so desperate that some animal and homeless shelters have started an emergency foreclosure fund to address immediate family needs. Also, pre-planning is heartily encouraged. Arrange for your dog to be temporarily re-homed with a friend or relative. Pre-arrange a temporary shelter stay for your pets so at least they will have a warm place to sleep and fresh food and water. This is by no means a solution, but it’s far more humane to provide for a family member than to leave an animal alone to suffer and die.
What you can do:If you are facing a foreclosure, the HSUS is offering grants and assistance to shelters and rescue groups in order to help people keep their pets. Read all about it
here.If you have room, and can open your home to another animal, consider becoming a foster home for a pet in need.
Donate to your local shelter to help provide funds and resources for these animals.
Article posted by Brandi Bennett, Best Friends Network StaffPhoto by Georgia Butterfield, Best Friends Network Volunteer