When financial times become hard due to overall economic changes, during an unexpected job loss, or an unfortunate emergency, some pet owners face unenviable choices.
Forced to choose between the need to care for their children or care for their companion animals, they make an emotionally-wrought decision.
Here are some examples of some financial shifts that contribute to this reason for pet surrender.
- Job loss, retirement, owner income reduction.
- Unexpected human costs: accidents, medical bills, home foreclosure, other unforeseen tragedies.
- A new baby or expanding family.
- Veterinary care costs more than the owners anticipated (especially as a dog or cat ages).
How Do Pet Owners Deal With This Financial Crisis?
Some pet owners facing a dire financial hardship will re-home their pets or ask for the financial assistance or support of family members or friends. They do the best they can to muddle through the situation.
On the other hand, others will load their pet into the car, drive to the country, remove their collar and release them. This leaves the pets endangered by predators, car collisions, or starvation. The “lucky” pets in this situation end up picked up by Bertie Animal Control and the local shelter where they receive care. The volunteers try their best to find them a new home. Dogs there may be euthanized due to space constraints.
Finally, other pet owners take their pets to the shelter and drop them off instead of “dumping” them in the country. They know this could be a death sentence in a kill shelter, but they hope and pray for the best outcome.
In one recent extreme case of animal cruelty in Bertie County, a woman allegedly starved a young dog to death. Animal rescue workers also found several other dogs on her property, reportedly in inhumane conditions.
How Companion Animals Advocates of Bertie Plans to Help Provide Aid to These Pet Owners
Financial crises are sometimes short-lived.
A local volunteer recently shared a story of a woman who had a car accident with a deductible payment of $500. She needed the money to get the repairs and to keep her job. However, that unexpected $500 meant she could not pay her rent and buy food for both her children and her giant dog. She called a local rescue group and explained her concern, arranging to give up her dog.
When she arrived to drop off her pet, she received a great surprise. A rescue volunteer had taken money out of her own pocket (not the organization’s), driven to a local grocery store, and purchased the necessary pet supplies to get through a few weeks. This act of compassion allowed this young mom to keep her dog fed while recovering financially.
This kindness inspired CAABertie to start a Pet Pantry project. Our generous supporters will help us build pantries and stock dog and cat food, treats, and litter to help Bertie County residents get through those times when they just don’t have the money to get through until payday. We will provide that financial cushion that might save a life.