Have you ever thought about how the Recession in America is having an impact on things other than your job and personal finances? I guess I never really thought too much about it – until this past weekend. While my family was out running some errands, we stopped into the local pet store to pick up some fish food. We have fish (as our family pets) as my oldest son is allergic to cats and dogs. Anyways, the local Humane Society was setup at the store with several cats and dogs available for adoption. Whenever we visit the pet store, we let our two boys check out the pets up for adoption. They both love cats and dogs but can’t have one because of our oldest son’s allergies. While we were there, I started talking with one of the volunteers from the Humane Society. Our conversation led to discussions about the Recession in America and how they [Humane Society] have seen a sharp increase in pets being brought in and abandoned.
The nice gentlemen from the Humane Society told me that there were two main reasons for the recent surge in pets being dropped off because of the recession in America -
- Foreclosure – Many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. As a result, these people (most of whom have pets) are forced to live with other family or move into apartments. Unfortunately when these moves occur, people are forced to leave their pets behind. Whether it be apartment complexes not allowing cats and dogs, or just not enough room in a house for a pet when people move in with family and loved ones – the pets are being left behind.
- Job Loss – The other related reason for the increase in abandoned pets is from people losing their jobs or being forced to cut back on monthly expenses. The recession in America is forcing people to cut monthly expenses and non-essential spending. Unfortunately, pet expenses fall into this category for some people as a way to survive in this harsh economic climate.
Our experience over the weekend was a very sobering one. If my son was not allergic to cats and dogs, we probably would have come home with 3 cats and a dog. The gentlemen that I spoke with from the Humane Society said that they are seeing all different kinds of breeds of these animals. He mentioned that there are pure bred dogs worth several hundreds of dollars even coming in, as families can no longer provide for them. These abandoned pets are a harsh reminder of the impacts the recession in America is having on us all.
I felt sad that we couldn’t take a cat or dog home with us. Then I started thinking about different things we could do. My wife and I decided that we could at least give a small donation to the Humane Society to help support them financially in these harsh economic times. Another thought I had was to start looking for great bargains on pet food and supplies. My wife and I love to use coupons to reduce our monthly costs. I actually can’t remember the last time we paid for tooth paste, deodorant, and mouthwash – from using coupons. Maybe it is possible to do the same thing for pet supplies and food? I am not sure – but I will looking into coupons to see if we can purchase these items at a steep discount. We could then donate these items to local animal shelters and the Humane Society.
Finally, we can also show our support for these organizations by telling our friends, family, and neighbors about this situation. I know times are very tough right now. Donating money is really not something people are able to do fit into their budget these days. However, any little bit of money or donation can help. I typically try and take a neutral approach to most things financial, but this is something I feel is very important and needs to be shared with my readers.
What types of impacts have you seen from the recession in America?
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It’s easy to forget that it’s not just people affected by the recession!
If you’re considering making a donation to your local animal shelter, you may want to consider giving supplies instead of (or in addition to) money. Most shelters have a great need for the standard things like food and pet supplies, but also things like blankets, towels, office supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. Every little bit helps!
MoneyGrubbingLawyer’s last blog post..Somali Pirates to Buy Citibank
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An excellent article.
After giving it some thought, I’ll bet there are other things pertaining to the recession that dogs and cats are affected as well by…
-I’ll bet fewer dogs/cats are being “fixed” due to the costs associated with it.
-Deferred visits to the Vet when needed also comes to mind.
-Delayed or less usage of needed meds or flea/tick treatments.
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Ooohhh… this article comes at a hard time. I was recently tempted by a getting a dog myself. I am trying to hold firm until I can get more of my life in order, but you just added another check to the “Pro” side of the list, since naturally, I would want a shelter or rescue dog.
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Sadly pets are often dumped when times get tough. I have 3 purebred boston terriers, two came from local shelters. One was given up for financial reasons, though it was clear he wasn’t an important part of their family to begin with. I’m working on a list of ways to save on pet expenses to help people out, with 3 my costs are through the roof! Fortunately I can afford it. Definitely see what supplies your shelter needs too, some things are inexpensive yet desperately needed. Ours begs for leftover newspaper used to line the cages, paper towels, old towels and that sort of thing, stuff you have around the house. We keep our old papers for them now instead of putting them in the recycling.
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@MoneyGrubbingLawyer – Thanks for the ideas on giving supplies over money to animal shelters and the Humane Society. My wife and I plan to start donating supplies that we can get at discounted prices.
@Rich – Puppy Names – Great thoughts on other things impacted pets from the economy. I have heard about people prolonging surgeries and doctor’s visits to save money. I never thought about pets.
@Dawn – If we could get a dog/cat, we would go to a shelter instead of purchasing one. It is hard to see all those animals locked up. Good luck on your decision.
@Miss M – I never knew they needed leftover newspaper. That is a great tip and something that typically does in our recycling.
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