Difficult Economic Times Affecting Pets

No doubt, these are difficult economic times. Perhaps some of the most challenging financial times since the Great Depression. Unemployment, higher prices, the cost of fuel: just a few of the factors that challenge us humans and our pet families nationwide on a daily basis.

While I'd rather not think about it, we need to recognize as foreclosures have increased, many animals lose their families as their owners lose their homes. As people in financial crisis find themselves moving to places where they cannot have pets, or they simply cannot afford to keep their pets, shelters across the nation are seeing an increase in the number of pets abandoned or relinquished.

As a result of this tragic crisis, HSUS and many other rescue groups are attempting to address these issues to help pet owners keep their pets. While it is devastating to lose your home, we do not want you to lose a beloved family member too.

So if you are a pet owner in financial trouble, we urge you to check with local shelters or rescue groups for information about temporary assistance (for example: some shelters and food banks can provide pet food for a short term, temporary foster care, and possibly lower-cost vet care in some situations.)

Additionally, the HSUS has a broad range of information on its website, including how to market yourself to a rental property manager if you're a pet owner, how to save money on pet care, and links to pet-friendly apartments. Go to hsus.org and type "foreclosure pets" into the search function for additional information. Please remember it is illegal and cruel to simply abandon a pet. If you cannot take care of them, at least bring them to your local shelter.

For the rest of us, what can we do?
Canine Element calls upon you to consider helping in any way possible. We've listed a few ways below and we also ask that you contact us with the ways you are making a difference! We would love to hear from you and your community.

Please make charitable contributions to your local shelters. If you cannot contribute financially, how about volunteering some time? Most shelters and rescue groups need volunteers for a variety of tasks.

Approach your local food bank and help them set up the "Pet Soup" program (see our post dated Tuesday - Oct. 14, 2008 and visit their site at http://tinyurl.com/4d8ngl)

Consider being a Foster Parent for a pet.

Approach your places of worship and ask that a pet fund be included for families in need.

Donate food, bedding, toys etc. to your local shelters.

If you are a landlord, please allow people to have pets. Work with your tenants so they can pay a pet deposit over time.

If your looking to adopt a pet, please adopt from your local shelter or rescue group.

If you are a pet owner, please spay and neuter your pet.

We wish all of you the best as we navigate through these troubling times.

71 Days to Christmas - Shopping Tips for Dogs & Dog Lovers

Perhaps your shopping for the Dog and Dog Lover that has just about everything one can imagine. Every gift you can think of is already tucked away in their closet, stuck on their book shelf or buried in the toy chest. So this year, instead of handing over another gift you know they don't need, how about making a charitable donation in their name or their beloved dog's name? As we posted earlier, the South Carolina HSPCA has set up a food bank for pets. If your in their vicinity, they need pet food but you can always make a monetary donation too. In addition to the HSPCA, shelters all across our country need help. As people lose their homes and face financial crisis, they are abandoning their pets at an alarming rate. For those of us who believe a pet adoption is for life, it is especially tragic to see the rise of animals left to fend for themselves or dropped off at a shelter.
So consider a charitable donation to your local shelter and rescue group. Your Dog Lover will be honored!
This idea gets a 4 Paw Salute from our 4 leggeds at Canine Element:)) WOOF!

Pet Soup - HSPCA launches Food Bank for Pets

No doubt these are troubling financial times for many Americans. Between Wall Street woes and job cuts, many families are having difficulty even putting food on their tables. Unfortunately, these difficult times are filtering down to our 4 legged friends as well. Many people are abandoning their pets and animal shelter intakes are reaching their maximum capacity across the country.
In order to address this problem in South Carolina, the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals teamed up with the Harvest Hope Food Bank to initiate a food bank for pets - called Pet Soup! As a result of this new program, clients seeking services and resources from Harvest Hope can also pick up food for their pets. We think this is a wonderful idea but they need our help! If you can donate pet food, either dry or canned or perhaps make a donation, we know they will put it to good use. To read more about the program and find out where to deliver your donation, see their site: http://tinyurl.com/4d8ngl
We hope to see more programs such as this initiated in every state.