I've been a dog owner most of my life and my pets have been a huge part of my life and a great source of enjoyment. Now that none of my companions are still around I thought I might take a break from the difficulties in owning an animal. Contrary to what I thought when I was nine, you're right Mom, pets are a big responsibility. I think many pet owners in America didn't really know what they were getting themselves into before taking their first pet into their home. Just watch the Dog Whisperer and you'll see what I'm talking about. So many people aren't willing to commit to other people but don't think about the consequences when committing to a pet for what could be fifteen or even twenty years. Statistics show that 39% of all american households own at least one dog and 33% own a cat or two. Of course there are probably a few fish and guinea pigs in there but I'm guessing that the majority of pets are cats and dogs. During the housing crash we've been dealing with for a while now many people have lost their homes and have been forced to move into rental properties. Since few rentals in Huntington Beach allow pets, and even fewer allow dogs where does that leave man's best friend? With an estimated 2 million plus homes to be foreclosed upon before we start to see an end to the housing crunch, where are all these pets going to go? A new non-profit, called No Paws Left Behind gives us some answers.
"No Paws Left Behind, Inc. is a focus driven not for profit organization, designed to bring awareness to all communities the silent victims of foreclosure who have no voice or rights to implement change."
In many cases, when homes in Huntington Beach are foreclosed and the Lenders find a pet still living on the property they are forced to call local animal control which takes the animals to the nearest shelter where it's
possible that they'll be adopted but more likely that they'll be put down. That's only in the best case scenario where the animal hasn't been left without food and water for an extended period of time. Now I'm no animal rights activist but this seems like a problem that we ought to address. There are a lot of things No Paws Left Behind suggests and here are a few of my own:
#1 Always take your pets with you until you find someplace to stay permanently. Be honest in your dealings with potential landlords but just because someone says they don't want pets at their place doesn't mean you couldn't make a plea
#2 Find a family member or friend who's willing to house your animal for a little while. Make sure to think of all the people you know who already own pets since they're more likely to understand your situation.
#3 Contact local shelters and Vetrenarians to see if something could be worked out for temporary lodging. Some shelters will allow you to leave your pet for 60 days before they put it up for adoption rather than have to bring it in as a stray.
#4 Do not adopt a pet in the first place if you're not sure what your housing situation is going to look like. So many people who have unstable housing situations don't think about what might happen if they have to move.
So in the famous words of Bob Barker, "Remember to spay and neuter your pets." To which I would add, "And make sure they have a place to live!"
Here are some more resources from the American Humane Society:
Dixon Team OC
Sell your home or see Huntington Beach Homes for Sale at
Comments(3)