Credit Crunch Now Hits Our Pets

Animal charities and wothing vets have noticed that the Credit crunch is now taking it’s toll on our fluffy friends.

Animal charities are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of dogs and cats being borught into their shelters, with owners simply unable to afford them. In this time of economic downturn where buisnesses are crumbling all around us, our animal companions seem to be being hit just as hard as us, as owners struggle with their own bills as well as their pets. Paying for hospical care such as animal cardiology is expensive and people just cannot afford it.  Animals are either being dropped off at animal shelters or taken a distance away from the family home and dropped in the middle of no-where, left to fend for themselves.

So what has bought this situation about? We’ve just started a new year, which means some families will have had a new pet this xmas, only for the families employment status changing suddenly, meaning the family pet being the last one in will be the first one out of the door, trying not to give little ‘johnny’ and ’suzy’ too much time to become attached (too late for that). Another reason is people are forced to downgrade to smaller living quarters which have a no pets policy.

Can animal hospitals cope with this sudden influx in vet referrals?

A majority of shelters and animal chairities are only taking in severe emergency cases, as they are close to being full on accomidation for our furry friends. With people being more stingy with their belts charities and shelters in general are recieving less money as ‘charity begins at home’.

Though on the upside for our furry pals, January saw some charities reporting that January saw a rise in the number of people ADOPTING from animal shelters, but most shelters are still seeing more animals coming in then going out to a loving home.