Pets increasingly given up during hard times.

[ThatsMyBarack]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/media?id=6056158

I'd gladly take that poor kitty. :cry:

[Grateful for Hope]

1. This is so sad

I am currently unemployed and I worry so much about my two kitties. I have had nightmarish thoughts that I will lose my home, and, then, what would happen to them? I chase the thoughts away with affirmations that I will always be able to provide for them.

Fortunately, I can still provide for them for now.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I heard about this on the radio this AM as well. It is very sad.

People are leaving their houses, and either letting the pets out to roam on their own...or perhaps even worse, leaving them in the house without any food and water.
I can understand being distraught and at the end of your resources, but why abandon the pets....when there are so many places that would take them in...?

[Grateful for Hope]

3. I agree, BL, that people should make sure their pets are ok

I don't see a reason for ever just leaving them. I just worry because I know mine love me, and, it would break my heart to have to put them somewhere without me.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. It is impossible for me to imagine just leaving my furbabies to fend for themselves....

x(

[Grateful for Hope]

6. Absolutely

BTW, have been offered two positions. One of the first things I thought of when I heard the news (late yesterday and today) is that I will be able to continue to provide for my two boys. I am so grateful!

[alstephenson]

5. This just breaks my heart.

To lose your job, your home, and then your best friend. So very sad. I heard that there are groups that offer foster care for pets until their owners get back on their feet or are able to find housing where a pet is accepted. Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.

[demnan]

7. Apartment complexes that don't allow pets

are partially to blame for this. I was lucky when living in apartments to at least find one that took cats, but very few will take dogs. It's understandable in a way, there are dogs who don't adapt well to apartment life and bark at every litte noise, but I hope that some leniency will be provided because people right now need to keep their animals because we all need our best friends during hard times and killing pets whose owners entered into hard luck is just morally wrong.

[meow2u3]

10. I regard this prohibition against pets in apartments as discrimination

against households with pets. There ought to be a law banning this practice.

I can understand limiting the number of pets in an apartment, but banning pets altogether, or allowing them but charging their owners extra rent per month, is unconscionable and should be illegal.

[Lorien]

8. I wish that I could help that poor man out

by bringing his cat food and litter every month so that he could keep him. Maybe rescue groups could organize pet "sponsorship"; if someone brings a pet in because they can no longer afford to feed it, then that person could be matched with someone who is willing to give them pet supples so they can keep it, instead of adopting it out to someone else.

[malta blue]

9. I ran into the rescue people that we adopted our kitty

from in October and the man told me they are seeing A LOT of large animals getting given up. He has rescued three horses in the past month and he just does not have room for more - nor the money to feed them. They have a pony ride business on the side so they are hoping to train the horses for that...

He said there are a disproportionate amount of large dogs at the shelters too.

:cry:

My friend's daughter just bought her a St. Bernard puppy (from a pet store no less) and the first words out of my mouth (I really should be more tactful) were "How can you afford to feed it?" I lend (more like give) her money for gas all the time and buy groceries for her too once in a while when I have a little extra cash....

I don't know what she was thinking, but I can't really say much now can I?