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Daphnie, a 1-year-old female, was brought to the SPCA because her owners were evicted. |
BY BILL FREEHLING
Animal shelters across the country and in the Fredericksburg area are reporting a sad fallout of the economic downturn--more pets being brought in and fewer being adopted.
With foreclosure rates going up in the wake of a severe housing slump, some people are having to move out of homes and into places that don't allow pets. Others can't afford to pay for their pets' food and medical care.
"That's a nationwide phenomenon," said Nancy Peterson, issues specialist with The Humane Society of the United States. "When people are having a rough time it can be rough for pets, as well."
The people who run petfinder .com, which lets visitors search almost 300,000 pets to adopt, did a survey on this topic a few months ago. The survey went to Petfinder's nearly 12,000 adoptions groups--including animal rescue organizations and shelters.
About 49 percent of respondents said they'd received pets this year whose owners' homes had been foreclosed, said Petfinder Vice President Kim Saunders. Fifty-seven percent said they're seeing a drop in adoptions this year.
"All of that adds up to our shelters being even more overcrowded than they normally are," Saunders said.
That's the case at the Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA, said executive director Debra Joseph. She estimates that her Fredericksburg facility has received about 25 percent more pets this year, in large part because people can't afford to keep them anymore.
Joseph said the local SPCA, which is for now the area's only no-kill animal shelter, has a waiting list of about 80 dogs that the facility can't currently accommodate. It'll help when the SPCA moves from its 3,000-square-foot home to a 16,000-square-foot space in Spotsylvania County early next year.
Bill Hoyt and his wife, Moira, recently announced plans to start an SPCA in Stafford County on a 10.2-acre property on Andrew Chapel Road that formerly was home to the Brooke Nursing Center. Hoyt cited foreclosure and economic issues when explaining his reasons for forming the shelter.
Animal control officers and humane society workers in King George, Culpeper and Fauquier counties also reported that they've noticed the trend this year of lower adoption rates and more people dropping off pets.
According to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services data, pet adoptions statewide dropped about 5.3 percent between 2006 and 2007. Data are not yet available for 2008.
Of course, the economy isn't the only reason for the trend, and the Fredericksburg region's growing population would naturally lead to busier animal shelters. Stafford County's chief animal control officer Michael Null said military deployments are probably responsible for more pets ending up at his center than is the economy.
Peterson of the U.S. Humane Society also points out that it's hard to identify the exact reasons why pets are dropped off, as owners don't always give the full reason.
In March, the humane society started a grant program to help animal shelters and rescue groups experiencing higher numbers because of the economic downturn. These organizations are eligible for grants between $500 and $2,000.
More information about the grant program, including guidelines, applications and ways to donate, are available at hsus.org. That site also lists tips on what to do if you need to find pet-friendly housing or cut costs. It also offers advice on what to do if you suspect a pet has been left in an abandoned house.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
