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Housing crisis takes toll on pets

More animals are coming in at area shelters

By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 27, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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When hard times hit home, four-legged family members sometimes end up without one.

The housing crisis has meant more people moving, and that has meant more animals let loose to fend for themselves and more owner-surrendered pets coming in to area animal shelters. At Table Mountain Animal Center in Golden, there have been 509 pets given up so far this year, a 17 percent increase over the same time last year, Executive Director Nick Fisher said.

Not only are owner surrenders up at the Denver Municipal Shelter, but more of the people who bring animals in clearly would rather not, said Doug Kelley, director of Denver Animal Care and Control.

"We have some very upset people," he said. "And when people come in really upset, you know there's more to that situation. They absolutely have no choice."

Loss of housing along with a move to a no-pets rental might be one reason for giving up an animal, and not having the means to care for them might be another, Kelley said.

The situation has become so bad across the nation that the Humane Society of the United States is offering grants beginning in late April to shelters and rescue groups to create or expand programs to help families care for their pets during the current economic crisis.

"No one likes to think of leaving their pet at a shelter, but if you can't take (them) with you, it is by far more humane than leaving them in an apartment or a house alone," said Stephanie Shain, Humane Society director of outreach.

The number of puppies brought to Table Mountain has jumped more than 65 percent; the number of kittens has doubled.

The Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance has seen a 200 percent increase in calls from owners looking for someone to take their cats. The group doesn't take owner-surrendered cats, but it does adopt out the increasing number of tame cats it finds on the streets and around feral colonies, executive director Amy Angelilli said.

Other resources for homeless pets

* The Denver Dumb Friends League maintains a list of pet-friendly hotels and apartments throughout the state. Go to ddfl.org.

Additional Colorado animal rescue agencies:

* Colorado Humane Society coloradohumane.org

* Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance rmaca.org

* Every Creature Counts everycreaturecounts.org

* Maxfund maxfund.org

* Animal Rescue and Adoption Society arascolorado.org

* The Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance holds its Second annual Stray Cat Strut Live & Silent Auction and Dinner on April 12 from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Denver (38th & Quebec). Tickets are $40 if purchased by April 1, $50 thereafter. For more information, go to rmaca.org.

* See animals up for adoption at the Denver Dumb Friends League by clicking on Extras at the top right of the home page.

Comments

  • March 27, 2008

    8:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mytwosense writes:

    Kudos to Rocky Mountain News for covering this story! It gives more exposure to this sad situation, which will likely result in lots of pet-lovers stepping forward to adopt some of these pets.

    I would also like to add something about the greedy apartment complexes who are often responsible for people not being able to take their pets with them from a previously owned home to a rental situation. Not only do they charge exhorbitant pet deposits, per pet, but they also charge additional monthly rent for each pet. The result is a nice little revenue stream for apartment complex owners, because any damages incurred can usually be recouped from just the regular deposit they charge. I am not opposed to an additional pet deposit, but it shouldn't be as high as they charge, and they certainly shouldn't charge a lot of extra rent, to boot.

  • March 27, 2008

    9:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    I own a siberian husky and am handicapped he is my service dog.You would not believe how many peple do not know that a dog can not be kept out of a apartment if it is a service dog.Also my dog who has harmed no one is now on a list and lumped in with the ghetto pit bull attack dogs.My previous dog was a german.He was great dog but some apartments would not allow him in the complexes because they were afraid of the legal implications of having one on the premises.o all you apartment building owners please read the american with disabilty act and understand that without our dogs we can not function in the world.I also am sorry to hear that these poor creatures are losing their families.Also my service dog is a rescue why did I pick him,I didn't he met a family friend of mine who thought we would click.We did and he is my little buddy we go everywhere and he lets me know if people are close to me and I can function in society.He was left to starve to death next to the freeway.He still likes people after all that.He is more compassionate to me then most people and he gives me a sense of freedom from the fear of being deaf.See what a rescue can do for you,also I know times are hard please help these dogs even just a dollar can mean feeiding a dog for one day.So please hlp out a rescue group today,even I am on diability give 5 dollars a week.Why because no og deserves to be hungry or homeless or should die on the streets unloved or unwanted.Sign me lucky for having my dog.