Feb 8, 2008 7:14 pm US/Eastern
Mortgage Crisis Victims Abandoning Their Pets
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The trend of home foreclosures is taking its toll on animals. Once beloved pets to abandoned animals, fleeing owners are leaving behind their four legged friends as victims of the mortgage crisis.
AP
Foreclosure filings totaled more than 2 million in 2007. With those numbers expected to increase in 2008, CBS 2's Consumer Report looks at another casualty of this national housing crisis, the animals left behind.
Charlie is a 16-year-old cat presently up for adoption.
"He came to us with two other housemates because this couple really had a bad time of it, they lost their home," said Lynn Morchel.
They're not alone. Foreclosures are up 50 percent. With the family he grew up with gone, Charlie waits for a new home at a New Jersey rescue shelter.
"Being an older cat, it might be a little harder for him but we still have hope," said Morchel.
Animal advocates say Charlie is just one of thousands of pets recently dropped off, dumped or worse, left behind in empty houses, all across the country.
"When the economy starts to go south, we definitely notice an increase," said Sara Lippinscott of Petfinder.com.
"We're exploding here," said Morchel.
It looks like a store but it's home to abandoned cats. Lynn Morchel, who runs the Westwood shelter and resale shop, "Caring about the Strays," has been so heartbroken over the abandonment, she even took two home.
"The house had no furniture in it and the dog and the cat were left behind," said Morchel.
Sara Lippinscott with Petfinder.com, an online database of animals in need of homes, wants families to know they have options.
"Go to petfinder.com to find a shelter or rescue group."
And most of all, advocates ask that you think through your options.
"If you could just temporarily house your pets somewhere until you get on your feet again instead of just abandoning them out the door where they really don't stand a chance," said Morchel.
This has become such a rampant problem, many real estate agents are inspecting empty housing for abandoned pets.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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