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.

5 Paws: Steve McGarva of www.islanddog.org

Something inevitably touches my heart very deeply when I watch The Ellen Show. Yes, you immediately think The Ellen Show = Funny, but she has a way of giving us all more. I hate to say it but John McCain put it well today while on her show. He said, we want to be entertained and we want to be informed. And Ellen does both. Well said John McCain!!!

Anyhow, Ellen had read about Steve McGarva in People magazine and had him on the show. Steve, an artist, went with his wife to live in Puerto Rico. While going to surf one day he found a beach used by the locals to drop off unwanted dogs. The pictures of the dogs he found were more than overwhelming. Over the last year the McGarva's have used their own money to feed, pay for medical care, take care of and seek homes for the dogs he found. They have set up an organization, www.islanddog.org, and are working with other organizations on the island to help rescue unwanted dogs on the island.

Obviously, this is a huge job and they need help. You can visit their web site, www.islanddog.org to learn more. I also found these links with more information www.change.org/nonprofits/view/141015, and www.projo.com/pets/content/lb-puerto_dogs_05-18-08_GMA4UE3_v33.19266ce.html.

Event: Bridgewater, NJ: Pet adoption day May 10, 2008

BRIDGEWATER -- Rawhide Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue organization, will hold an adoption day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at PetSmart at Bridgewater Promenade Mall (across from Commerce Bank Ball Park). A table with items for sale to benefit the rescue will be located near the entrance of PetSmart. Learn more...

Also check out Rawhide Rescue's site at http://members.petfinder.com/~NJ235/

5 Paws: Rescue Ink (as seen on The Ellen Show!)

Today, I was catching up on my Tivoed Ellen shows. I had the opportunity to learn about Rescue Ink. What an amazing group of guys and what an amazing group. If you haven't heard about them yet, they are a group of guys who are concerned about the problem of animal abuse.

They have several great programs as well as a rescue hotline:

• Companion Outreach Services
• The Feral Cat Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) Program
• The School Visitation Initiative
• The Animal Housing Workshop
• Rescue Ink Animal Advocates
• The Pit Bull Awareness Program
  

Kuddos to Rescue Ink!!!