Watch Out for Pets Abandoned in Foreclosed Homes
Here’s a reminder to us all to check homes around us that have been foreclosed on, especially if you have seen pets there before the families left. I have blogged about this before but it bears repeating as foreclosures hit every part of the US.
Thanks to Lynn K. for barking in this article from KPHO.com.
Foreclosure Victims Abandoning Pets
Delinquent Homeowners Ditching DogsNovember 29, 2007
PHOENIX — Real estate agents around the Valley said they’re walking into foreclosed homes and finding abandoned pets.
One agent found a pooch named Sophie and another dog dicthed by their last owner.“They were left in a back yard that was all dirt,” said Carrie Singer, a Phoenix-area real estate agent. “They were drinking water out of a paint bucket.”
The animals were discovered a few days ago at a foreclosed Phoenix home.
“That’s happening more often than I’d like to think,” Singer said.
Foreclosure fever is bringing out the worst in irresponsible animal owners who move without plans for their pets, Singer said.
A mortgage research company recently said the Phoenix-Mesa metro region has the 15th highest rate of foreclosure activity among the nation’s largest 100 metropolitan areas.
A study by RealtyTrac said during the three months ended September 30th, there were 18,328 total foreclosure filings in the Phoenix-Mesa areas.
Since most foreclosures take months, pet owners should have ample time to find a new place that takes animals, or at least take them to the Arizona Humane Society, agents said.
“I think sometimes people may be thinking they can pull themselves back out of it so they kind of wait until the last minute,” Singer said. “Then when it doesn’t end up happening, they kind of just leave.”
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
It really feels hurt when we get to listen to such things about our pets. They just can’t speak out and tell everyone and more over so loyal to their family they live with and inturn behaving in such a manner would really hurt.
I wonder if they even thought for a second that if they were dogs or pet themselves, and abandoned in the same way…would it change their minds about leaving those poor souls? all living beings deserve to be treated well… but it isn’t it strange that we humans are these animals’ best care givers as and their greatest abusers?
I’m sorry, if you love animals, you don’t do this. These ppl don’t deserve to own animals. It might be difficult to take them to a shelter, but how hideous to leave them to starve. Losers; no excuse!
Sad, sad story– I had not thought about that aspect of the housing crisis but will now be more aware so maybe I can help if someone is desperate!!
If a home is foreclosed upon in your neighborhood, please take action. Go stand near the home and call out repeatedly for the pet; it may bark or meow or come to the window. Listen and watch for signs of life. Do this several days in a row because some traumatized pets may be frightened, too frightened to respond at first. You may save a life!
Though I feel outraged at the number of pets being abandoned, I am more outraged at the number of people stating that “people weren’t responsible enough when they bought their homes, so we don’t expect them to be responsible when it comes to their pets or foreclosure.” My family almost lost our home this year after both my husband and I were layed off. Ten years ago when we bought our home we were two young middle class newleyweds with great jobs, we never could’ve imagined that ten years later our children would be on food stamps and our home taken away, as a direct result of downsizing. My husband and I have had our pets for 13 years, and they are as important to us as our 2 boys, but we never could have predicted that this was what would become of our future. I am adament that people who can’t afford their pets take the responsibility of finding their pets a suitable living arrangement, not abandonement. I am very upset however, by those who say that just because someone can’t afford to pay their mortgage doesn’t love their pets. At this point in time, in this country, many of us are doing all we can to just feed our children, and put a roof over their heads.