A pair of black cats sits in a cage at Pets Lifeline, surrendered by an owner who could no longer afford to care for them. The cats purr loudly, rubbing their whiskers against the bars and stretching their paws out through the slots in a desperate reach for the human contact they obviously miss.
The tough economic times are hitting even the most vulnerable: pets. From longtime house cats to purebred pooches, Pets Lifeline has seen a sharp increase in the number of animals given up by their family. "Our numbers are way up," said Desiree Stinson, executive director at the shelter. "We've had a lot of strays or dogs just left at our gate."
Stinson said the shelter has taken a multitude of phone calls from distressed pet owners seeking refuge for the cats or dogs they don't have the money to care for. "It's been heart wrenching," Stinson said. Pets Lifeline's mission is to only take in stray and abandoned animals, and thus people cannot surrender their pets at the shelter. However, it appears that once people realize they can't give up their animals, they simply leave the pet outside the shelter after hours, forcing Pets Lifeline to take responsibility for it.
Because of their costly price tag, purebred dogs rarely end up as strays or in shelters.
In recent weeks, Pets Lifeline has taken in two Tibetan terriers, a miniature pinscher, a rottweiler and half a dozen Chihuahuas, lending credence to the idea that many of these animals were abandoned by a family. "These are nice dogs that you wouldn't just see on the street, which makes it suspect. They look like they were dumped," Stinson said.
Luckily, purebred dogs tend to get a home as soon as they are put up for adoption, meaning the shelter has had a lot of turnover in recent months. However, cats are coming in more frequently and are harder to place. The shelter is currently caring for more than 130 cats and kittens, both at the shelter and in foster homes. "Our cat numbers are off the charts," Stinson said. "They're much harder to place."
The shelter was particularly overrun with black cats and kittens, causing Stinson to declare this November as Black Beauty Month. All black and tuxedo (black and white) cats are being offered at the discounted adoption fee of $25, which includes all shots and vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, a follow-up appointment with a vet and a collar and carrier.
Pets Lifeline is not the only shelter seeing the impact of a bad economy on pets. Shelters across the country are running out of room as more and more pet owners are forfeiting their animals.
"When the money runs out, the animals go first. They're the first to get cut," Stinson said.
The common reasons people are giving up their pets vary, but all boil down to finances. Some have lost their house to foreclosure and moved into rental units that do not allow pets. Some retirees living on a fixed income can simply no longer afford the basic necessities for an animal as inflation has sent the price of all food, including pet food, soaring. "Not to mention animals who are in need of medical care that people can't afford," Stinson added.
The staff and volunteers at Pets Lifeline can do little more than provide these animals with care and affection while searching for a loving home.
The increased number of animals has put strain on the shelter's resources, and Pets Lifeline is currently seeking monetary donations as well as donations of goods, specifically canned cat food.
Donations can be dropped off at Pets Lifeline at 19686 Eighth St. E. The shelter is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To see a sampling of the animals available for adoption, visit www.petslifeline.org.
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