BY PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat
September 30, 2008 12:17 am
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Hard economic times lead families to trim expenses. And when they do, local animal shelters feel the pinch.
Humane societies in Somerset and Cambria counties say the tanking economy has saddled them with more animals as families no longer can afford to care for pets.
“If people can’t afford to pay for groceries they can’t afford to give,” said D Black, executive director of the Humane Society of Cambria County.
“With the economy going down, the first kinds of things to go are expenses involving animals,” she said. “We need supplies more than we ever did.”
“People have brought us their animal, crying that they cannot afford to care for the dog any longer,” said Sally Urban, president of the Humane Society of Somerset County.
“The economy is a factor,” she said. “We have too many animals for the amount of space at the shelter.”
To help the animal shelters struggling with finances, Humane Society of the United States is stepping in.
The nation’s largest animal protection organization in July started a “Pet Foreclosure Fund.”
The fund offers grants from $500 to $2,000 to shelters caring for animals left behind in foreclosed homes.
Abandoned pets are a problem nationwide as families struggle to keep their homes, said Nancy Peterson, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based organization.
“In the 11 years that I’ve been here, I would say this is the worst,” she said.
Local animal shelters are being hit especially hard.
Each autumn, the Somerset Humane Society sees an increase in pets as kids go back to school and parents no longer want to care for the animals.
But Urban and others say this year is especially tough.
“People dump their animals, or they’re brought to us in horrendous condition,” Urban said. “We had one dog throwing up mud and stones because that’s what it was probably eating.”
It’s not just dogs, but cats, too.
Each month from July to August, Cambria County Humane Society has taken in more than 100 kittens and 70-90 adult cats, Black said.
The shelter only can house about 125 animals and finds itself with cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, she said.
“It people can’t keep their homes, they move into a rental situation and have to surrender their pets,” Black said. “It puts a great burden on the shelter.”
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