Today's paper reports that animal shelters here are continuing to accept pets at a record pace, sometimes resulting in overcrowded facilities and resulting in the shelter not being able to take in additional pets. Who knows what happens to them then?

Throughout the past year our local animal shelters have been reporting a significant increase in the number of pets that are being turned into them. I suspect that it's probably about 50% owners actually being kind enough to take their pets to the animal shelter, and the other 50% being kind strangers who found the pets after owners had dropped them off far from home.

As with natural disasters, pets need our help in this time of real estate crisis. It's not their fault that things went bad for their owners, and they certainly don't deserve to be left in a house for many days without food or water, scratching to get out, tearing up the carpet and drapes, and relieving themselves wherever they can find a clean spot.

I had to reschedule an inspection last January because I arrived and found three small dogs inside the house. It was obvious that they had been there quite some time because they were very thin, starved for food, water, and attention, and I think every square inch of the house had been used to relieve themselves.

The hazardous conditions in the house would not allow me to conduct a three-hour inspection safely. My Clients' Realtor called the bank to inform them of the conditions and we rescheduled for a week later with the bank stating that they would have someone come out and clean the house. I volunteered to take the three dogs to the animal shelter since I have a long history of rescuing pets from floods and hurricanes in Texas, and wildfires out here in San Diego.

Please, Folks, if you know there's a foreclosure happening in your neighborhood and the owners have pets, make a quick stop to see if they need help finding the pets a new home or taking them to the animal shelter. If you know of a property that already is vacant, make a quick stop and look in the window to see if there are any signs of abandoned pets. A little kindness and thoughtfulness can go a long way in helping both people and pets.

Here's a couple of pictures of the abandoned cat that I adopted from the El Cajon animal shelter on September 20, 2007:

Figure 1. Zoey the cool cat, and her mouse.

Figure 2. "Read any good blogs lately?" inquires Zoey. (She likes to sit on anything except the floor.)

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