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Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective
by Gregory M. Simpson
Relinquish, surrender, abandon, give up, dump, are all verbs used by shelter workers to describe how animals come to them. Circumstances can be dramatic, such as the kittens found floating down the Connecticut River in a garbage bag. More common is the cat left in a box at the shelter door or the dog tied to the fence.
Staff can be understanding if the pet owner’s move was to the military, a nursing home, or the final move - to a cemetery. However, reasons such as having a baby or moving to a new apartment have always been anathema to shelter workers’ ears. True animal lovers do not give up one member of their family for a newer one or a different place to live. As a chat room participant wrote, "Why should pets be given the death sentence, they did not do anything but trust their humans to give them a life commitment....I am a single mom that had four kids and a dog. I got insulted, fought with, and looked until I found one that would take both. I have been there and done that. Please exert yourselves and look harder for a new residence." That is good advice and most animal shelters can help by providing a list of the community’s pet-friendly housing.
In today’s economy, there are at least two more reasons for animals becoming homeless. Some people can no longer afford the costs of animal care because they have lost their jobs or worse yet, their place to live because of eviction or foreclosure. In some cases, animals are abandoned in empty houses and backyards, or set free to roam, all of which can be a death sentence due to starvation, predation, car accident, or other danger. Connecticut House Bill 5807, "An Act Concerning Abandoned Animals", was proposed this session to allow animal control officers notice of eviction proceedings in order to head off animals left in empty residences. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has also set up a Foreclosure Pets Grant Fund (secure.hsus.org/01/foreclosure_fund).
Those who need to relocate should contact relatives, friends, and neighbors who may be willing to take their pet temporarily. These same individuals may know others who could provide new, permanent homes, if necessary. When moving in with friends or relatives, one can negotiate expectations, such as restricting the animal to certain areas of the house. To help a friend, neighbor, or relative, one can alternatively try a generous donation to a no-kill shelter to secure a place for a pet that could find a good home if just given a chance. Specific breed rescue groups, found on the internet, may take an animal, as well.
Sometimes just the cost of food becomes prohibitive. Feeding Pets of the Homeless (www.petsofhomeless.org) is a nonprofit organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in U.S. and Canadian communities. Members collect pet food and deliver it to food banks and soup kitchens that agree to distribute the food to the homeless and impoverished. Another organization, Yoshi’s Club, Inc. of Avon, CT (www.yoshisclub.com), has as its mission to provide food and financial aid for pets in need. In addition to community pet food pantries, local animal shelters may have excess food for those who have fallen on hard times.
Caring for an animal is more than just food costs. Veterinary hospitals report that even in good economic times, an expensive illness can lead to relinquishment or even euthanasia. Those short on funds should comparison shop for routine veterinary care. Large pet store chains offer low-cost vaccination clinics. A vet may discuss ways to perhaps use less expensive drugs or spread out payments on an installment plan. Care Credit and Wells Fargo Health Advantage cards offer low or no interest plans and extended payment plans. These credit cards connect to participating animal hospitals (www.carecredit.com/vetmed and http://financial.wellsfargo.com/retailservices/wfha_veterinarians.html). Using one of the almost 3,000 American Animal Hospital Association accredited clinics may qualify clients for up to a $500 annual grant to pay for a specific procedure.
Keep your eyes and years open for abandoned animals. If you know the animal, you may want to temporarily take the animal and try to re-home him yourself. If not, contact the local animal control officer for dogs or a local animal shelter for cats.
Companion animals are members of the family and should be treated accordingly. Safe homes need to be found for them. Animals are not disposable commodities.
For the animals,
Gregory M. Simpson
Gregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.
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