Charity drive seeks to help pets in need

Abigail Ramirez | Issue date: 12/9/08 | http://media.www.dailylobo.com/
In light of the economic crisis, many pet owners are giving up their furry friends because they can no longer afford to take care of them.

The number of pets being surrendered has increased by 45 percent compared to last year, said Peggy Wiggle, executive director of Animal Humane Association of New Mexico.

And the association is seeing a decrease in the number of adoptions, Wiggle said.

"Our costs for more animals coming in is up, and our revenue from additional adoptions is down somewhat, so donations right now are really critical, whether it's donations of money or donations of food," Wiggle said.

The UNM Staff Council Work + Life Committee is encouraging the campus community to participate in a charity drive to help ease shelters' struggles to house these homeless pets.

The drive is collecting supplies such as canned food, cat litter and blankets for local shelters through Dec. 16. Donation sites are located throughout campus, including at Johnson Center, the Student Activities Center and Zimmerman Library. Proceeds will go to the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department.

UNM staff member Kathy Meadows said some people are adopting pets from the shelters to help out.

"Have you ever walked down the aisles at the Animal Humane Association or the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department and seen the eyes of all the lonely and frightened animals just begging for someone to take them home? These days, those shelters are overflowing with homeless pets," she said.

Though everyone might not be able to adopt, they can still donate to shelters to ensure homeless animals are fed and well-cared-for, Meadows said.

"How many people have old towels or blankets that they want to get rid of? It's also easy to pick up a box of Milk Bones, a jar of peanut butter or a can or two of pet food while at the grocery store," she said.

Wiggle said some of the proceeds from the drive will be distributed to three programs that help pet owners keep their pets when they can't afford to buy food.

"We are trying to help people with their being able to afford their pets so that owners don't surrender them to the shelter because of costs," she said. "We will make that available to these people who need a little bit of extra help so that they can keep their pets."

Student Michaela Brown said she will donate food to the charity drive because she knows how valuable pets are as friends.

She said she lives alone and that her two cats keep her company.

"I was really nervous about living by myself, and I wanted a pet I could talk to and … it's really nice knowing that they are going to be there waiting for you when you get home and that they are alert to what's going on - if they hear a weird noise and they will go and check it out," she said.

Foster owners, who agree to house pets for the shelter, will also be given the donated food to provide for the pets they take care of, Wiggle said.

Meadows said she heard that some families are facing dire situations that cause them to give up their pets and wanted to learn more about it.

"They … told me stories about going to homes that had been foreclosed and finding abandoned pets in the house or yard, alone and starving," she said. "In addition, people were releasing their animals on the streets to fend for themselves.… Many eventually end up starving or being hit by cars."

To aid pet owners with financial problems, the Animal Humane

Association began watching pets for short periods until the pet owner could find a new home, Wiggle said.

"We have seen almost a 500 percent increase in the number of animals that we are sheltering on a temporary basis while an owner is trying to find new, pet-friendly housing," she said. "For the most part, these are people that really don't have any funds at all. They are putting every penny that they got together toward maybe a deposit on their new apartment."

Wiggle said the shelter has taken in about 60 pets through this program. Five of the pets were not reclaimed, because their owners couldn't find pet-friendly housing.

Meadows said she might adopt an abandoned pet from the shelters but that first she is organizing the charity drive in memory of her two dogs, Gabby and Corky.

"Because of my recent loss, I am putting a great deal of effort into making this donation drive a success in honor of my two beloved and faithful companions, who I sorely miss," she said.