ANIMAL PROTECTION - PET ADOPTIONS

To report animal cruelty call your local law enforcement agency

Our country finds itself in an economic slump causing many families to walk away from their homes. Others are cutting back on expenses. In doing so, pets are left behind or dropped off at local shelters.

Animal shelters across the country are in a dilemma. The number of foreclosure pets is increasing while the donations and offers for adoptions are decreasing. Foreclosures are affecting every level of our socio-economic structure. When it is a question of food on the table for the family members being strained, the pets are the ones left out.
(Source: U.S. REO Properties)

Why Foreclosed Home Owners Abandon Pets

• Unemployment. The homeowner was laid-off, fired or quit their job.
• An inability to continue working due to medical conditions.
• Incapacitation. Drug or alcohol addictions.
• Excessive debt and mounting bill obligations.
• Squabbles with co-owner or pending divorce.
• Job transfer to another state

(Source: About.com, Abandoned Foreclosure Pets)

How To Help Save Abandoned Pets

In most states, by law, pets are personal property, which means they have little or no rights. Personal property left behind by home owners are subject to seizure by the lender that has taken the home back in foreclosure, but most REO lenders don't want to take care of pets. Some laws do not allow for forfeiture of personal property until a certain time period has passed, so lenders are prevented from removing the pets, and often discourage others from intervening.

• If you know that a home in your neighborhood is being foreclosed upon, why not ask the occupants if they have made plans for their pets?
• Some home owners might willingly turn over their pets to an animal welfare agency that specializes in rescuing stray and abandoned pets, if they knew where they were located.
• Leave animal rescue literature with the owners; it's better to offend and apologize than to do nothing.
• After the owners have moved, check on the home to see if any pets were left behind or tied up in the back yard.
• Call your local humane society to find out how you can help to rescue abandoned pets.
• Call a local real estate agent and ask the neighborhood specialist to inspect the home for abandoned pets. Most will gladly oblige at no obligation.
• In some states, animal cruelty is against the law. If you suspect animal cruelty, call the police.
• If you find a dehydrated pet, provide a small amount of water under supervision -- some pets can become so thirsty and weak that they can drown in a water bowl -- then call a vet before administering food.

(Source: About.com, Abandoned Foreclosure Pets)

How to report animal cruelty

If you would like to report an act of animal cruelty or neglect, please contact one of the following agencies:

• For an emergency 9-1-1
• Local Law Enforcement Agency
• The Arizona Humane Society - (602) 997-7585
• Maricopa County Animal Care and Control - (602) 506-7387
• The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Animal Crime Unit - (602) 876-1681
• Silent Witness - (480) 948-6377

05.28.08

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