As uncertainty about the economy lingers, the pace of pet abandonment is on
the rise. Largely attributable to the collapse of the housing market in 2007,
the effects of which continue to ripple through our economy, nearly every state
has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeless animals. During this
short time frame, tens of thousands of companion animals have been surrendered
to rescue organizations, or worse, simply abandoned, left to fend for
themselves.
You’ve probably read some of the heartrending stories: dogs left behind,
locked in foreclosed homes; a box of kittens dumped in a community park; and
families facing homelessness themselves surrendering to a shelter all of their
pets in a moment of heartbreak. The problem is so severe that some shelters have
exhausted their resources and are forced to refuse new intakes.
As a society of pet lovers, this represents an unprecedented situation in
most of our lifetimes. Now, more than ever, homeless pets need our help.
Many of us want to provide assistance, but don’t know the best way to make a
difference. Fortunately, there are five ways to reach out and make a difference
to pets in need. More...