Oct 14, 2009 7:03 pm US/Eastern
Group Helps Pet Owners Struggling With Bills
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It's estimated up to a million cats and dogs are at risk of becoming homeless. The ASPCA said it's due to the struggling economy. A local non-profit group that's been helping pet owners and caretakers is now struggling too.
Meet Froggie, a 13-year-old pit bull who's lucky to be alive. He was just adopted by Stacy Phillips and her husband in June.
"People say he's lucky, but we're the lucky ones. We get to share a home with him," Phillips said.
Froggie's fate didn't look promising earlier this year. Barbara Ross had been fostering the arthritic dog after his original owner died from diabetes. Ross said balancing her budget with the bad economy was rough.
"There were vet bills, and walking the dog, I was never home so I had to hire a dog walker seven days a week," she said. "It's very rewarding but it's very hard on the pocket."
So in stepped Betsy Goldman and her new group, Friends of Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization that directly pays the pet bills for any animal caretaker who can't make ends meet.
"Someone's fallen on hard economic times, which so many people have now and they can't afford dog food. And maybe if we just pay for their dog food for six months they can hold on to their dog," Goldman said.
Foster mom Phyllis Taiano was almost forced to euthanize Rosey, a severely emaciated dog who desperately needed surgery after being abused in a dog fighting ring. Friends of Animal Rescue picked up the medical bill.
Rosey bounced back and was adopted by this loving couple. "I was so happy. I knew it was a life. And she really means a lot," said Taiano.
In their short time in existence, Friends of Animal Rescue has saved about 50 dogs from being euthanized. But they can't do the work alone. They need the public's help.
"We need money and we promise you that when we get the money we're going to spend it in the best way possible to save lives," said Goldman.
While Froggie and Rosey have found happy homes, there are a lot more animals like Gracie and Nero who still need a family to call their own.
Click here for information on how to adopt Gracie.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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