May 2, 2008 8:00 am US/Eastern
Economic Woes Affecting Furry Friends
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
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The Pennsylvania SPCA started the Good Home Guarantee Program back in January where people in foreclosure can drop off their animals.
CBS
With the U.S.
economy taking a nose dive, people are not the only ones suffering. Many families
cannot afford to keep their pets and it is putting a serious strain on animal
shelters.
The Pennsylvania SPCA has seen an increase of owners leaving their pets because
they are unable to afford caring for their furry friends any longer.
"If they don't have money to pay for where they live, they won't have
money to pay for their pets or anything else," PSPCA Lisa Rogers said.
In April, 65 animals were found dead inside of a Barnegat Township,
N.J. home after it went into foreclosure. Inside the home, officials said there
was no food, water, heat or electricity and many of the animals had been locked
in their cages.
The Pennsylvania SPCA started the Good Home Guarantee Program in January
in order to give animals a place to stay when their owners go into foreclosure.
The typical fee of $25-50 to drop off pets is waived and the agency promises to
find a new home for the owner's pet.
"The story that happened in New
Jersey, we don't ever want to see that. People need
to know they can bring them here," PSPCA Lisa Rogers said.
So far this year, 78 animals have been dropped off at one shelter due to
foreclosures.
"They just said, 'We can not keep him anymore unfortunately' and when they
give up a lovely dog like this you know there is something more serious going
on," said Lisa Rodgers with the PSPCA. "Things are getting bad and
let's hope that we will turn the corner soon so that people will live better
lives and their pets can live better lives too." PSPCA Lisa Rogers said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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