Mortage crisis still affecting pets

Back in January, I blogged about an article telling how animals are being given to shelters or abandoned when their owners lose their homes.

It seems like every day I see a couple more articles on the subject.

Here's one from the Greenwich (Conn.) Time.

Pet abandonments are part of a growing trend in California, Ohio and other states hit hard by the subprime mortgage crisis, said Nancy Peterson, an issues specialist for the Humane Society of the United States. The non-profit organization has established a Foreclosure Pets Grant Fund to collect donations and subsidize shelters taking in pets that have been surrendered or abandoned by those losing homes.

"It's a problem I've seen in Boston, Denver, Colorado, Sacramento and other cities," Peterson said.

A Google search for "housing crisis pets" came back with about 276,000 articles.

And it is from the subprime mortgage debacle and fewer rental properties allowing pets.

This is sad on so many levels.

Mortgage crisis affects pets, too

This story from the Chicago Tribune tells how the subprime mortgage debacle has forced some people to give their pet up when their lose their homes.

Sad state of affairs, isn't it?

Worsening times affects pets, too

It seems the economy is continuing to take its toll on Americans. The price of gas at the station near me is at $4.06 a gallon.

The housing foreclosure crisis, which we've talked about before (here and here), is still affecting people who cannot find housing that accommodates their companion animals or, simply, cannot afford to take care of them.

The American Humane Association has some tips for homeowners, mortgage lenders and shelters that may be impacted by the crisis.

They are even offering grants to shelters and animal welfare organizations so the agencies can help care for the animals who are collateral damage in these hard times.

Some of the tips for homeowners include asking family, friends and co-workers to care for your pets while you relocate and surrendering your pets to your local animal shelter.

The association urges people not to just abandon pets or set them free. State criminal animal-cruelty laws may apply, if even you think you've left enough food and water for your pets.

Foreclosure pets on the rise in Arizona

Sister Gannett paper the Arizona Republic has a front page story on how pets are affected by the foreclosure and subprime mortgage crisis.

Reporter Samantha Hauser writes:

Foreclosures in metropolitan Phoenix continued to rise in May, with 3,402 foreclosures filed, up more than 14 percent from April, according to the Information Market.

Shelters across the nation also are seeing an increase, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which has no affiliation with the Arizona Humane Society.

The problem is most acute where foreclosures are common and the general economy is struggling. States such as Arizona, California and Florida are being inundated with foreclosed homes, and subsequently, their animal shelters are being flooded with pets.

I've written about this several times in the past.

There are grants to help shelters that find themselves overwhelmed. But it's really going to take a turnaround in the economy to get things back to normal.

Housing crisis continues to affect pets

There continue to be stories about how the housing market is affecting pets.

Homeowners who lose their houses through foreclosures are abandoning their animals — either taking them to a shelter or, sadly, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Here's an article in the Mercury News about how things are in San Jose, Calif. There's been a 12 percent jump in the number of stray dogs admitted to the San Jose Animal Care Center over the last six months, officials said.

And there are more investigations into animals left in vacant homes.

Here are some blog entries I've done in the past about the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Because of the shaky housing market, the Petco Foundation is starting a new fund to provide short-term funding for animal welfare groups to assist pet owners who have lost their homes or are experiencing temporary financial hurdles.

Called "We Are Family, Too," it funds pet food banks, product donations, referral lists of pet-friendly housing, short-term foster pet care, spay and neuter services and veterinary services.

"Through this fund we are giving voice to the thousands of pets that have lost their families – abandoned or surrendered because their owners lost their home or could no longer afford to feed and take care of them," said Paul Jolly, Petco Foundation vice president and executive director. "Animal welfare groups across the country are working to alleviate this growing crisis, and the Petco Foundation is proud to support their efforts to keep families and pets together."

Mutts on animals in need

The comic strip Mutts, written and drawn by Patrick McDonnell, is breaking my heart this week.

McDonnell is doing a series of shelter stories, so far focusing on pets left behind in foreclosures.

I've been blogging about the mortgage crisis affect on pets for over a year now.

Like I said, it breaks my heart.

How about ...

Time for some fun, right? Especially after the markets, the banks, the mortgage stuff hitting the fan. Not to mention the presidential campaign.

How about cats on treadmills? Click here.

Not enough?

How about a cat battling a printer? Click here. Take that Hewlett-Packard! (Thanks, Kathy, for the tip.)

Still not enough?

Well, move over dramatic chipmunk. How about a dramatic lemur? Click here. (Again, thanks, Kathy, for the tip.)