Dogs Abandoned in the Foreclosure Fallout

Foreclosure Dogs are becoming big news.  Man’s best friend is quickly becoming an expendable commodity to some as people are losing their homes to the credit crunch.  Regardless of what the circumstances were for the foreclosure, it’s not the pet’s fault, and now many of them are finding themselves facing euthanization.

The Washington Post recently ran an associated press article about the growing number of cats and dogs abandoned because of foreclosures.

The house was ravaged _ its floors ripped, walls busted and lights smashed by owners who trashed their home before a bank foreclosed on it. Hidden in the wreckage was an abandoned member of the family: a starving pit bull.

The dog found by workers was too far gone to save _ another example of how pets are becoming the newest victims of the nation’s mortgage crisis as homeowners leave animals behind when they can no longer afford their property.

The rash of discarded pets is gut wrenching.  I can’t imagine how their owners must feel surrendering their beloved pets to the shelter, but to simply abandon a dog or cat completely, cut them loose and let them run as strays, is simply disgusting.
Even shelters are overwhelmed at this point.  Shelters across the country are reporting a huge increase in surrendered pets, and for many of these former pets the odds of getting adopted before they’re put down is 50/50 or less.

I can’t imagine the loss and devastation I would feel if I had to give up my dogs, knowing that there’s a good chance they would end up being euthanized.  If anyone is considering getting a dog or cat, please, help ease the burden of shelters by adopting a stray or surrendered dog rather than purchasing a puppy from a breeder.  You’re making the difference between life and death for these dogs and cats!

Link to Washington Post Article

Link to USA Today Article