According to pet rescue organization No Paws Left Behind, statistics show that 63 percent of all American households have pets. As foreclosures have grown in record numbers, “experts agree that anywhere from 2 million to 4 million Americans will lose their homes before the crisis ends. That leaves over a 1.5 million companion animals at risk.” No Paws Left Behind, founded in Houston, Texas, is also focused on changing the laws categorizing pets as personal property.
Silent victims of economic recession
In 2008, Everett Croxson founded Foreclosed Upon Pets, Inc. or FUPI (rhymes with ‘puppy’) in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “Real estate agents or cleaning crews call all the time. Maybe they have found a couple of cats in a closet of a foreclosed home,” he said.
The organization rescues pets that have been abused or abandoned by their owners as a result of economic hardship such as home foreclosure, loss of employment, insufficient income, death or illness. Some Canadians are adopting dogs from Nevada.
This year, Arizona surpassed Nevada as the leader in foreclosure rankings, and the Lost Our Home Pet Foundation in Phoenix, a similar organization also founded in 2008, is dealing with an increased demand for services.
Ask family, friends and co-workers for help
According to the American Humane Society, animal cruelty laws may apply if you abandon your pet – even if you think you’ve provided sufficient food and water or arranged for someone to periodically check on them. Once the financial institution takes possession of the house, pets are removed by the local animal control agency, leaving them at risk of an uncertain future that may include euthanasia.
The AHA offers tips for pet owners facing foreclosure. Since pets most likely will not survive if abandoned in the home or set loose, they suggest asking family, friends and co-workers to care for your pets while you relocate, or asking if your veterinarian can provide low-cost boarding with a payment plan.
If all else fails and you cannot find temporary placement for your pets, visit www.petfinder.com to search for no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations in your area. This will give you peace of mind that your pets will be safe until they are adopted into a new home.
Some shelters may offer temporary pet boarding for a period of time (60 days, for example) at no cost, or at a reduced cost, while you find new housing. If you don’t reclaim your pets within the time period, they may be placed for adoption. Always ask if this is an option.
If you suspect that a home in your neighborhood is facing foreclosure, ask the occupants if they have made plans for their pets. After they’ve moved, you may want to check the home to see if any pets were left behind or tied up in the back yard. If you suspect animal cruelty, call the police, because if you don’t speak up for these silent victims, who will?