Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky
Phillip Castillo climbs over a fence to the house next door to feed and care for three dogs left to fend for themselves when their owners abandoned their home in Adams County.
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The brown-and-black Pekingese reared up on its two small hind legs as a human visitor peeked into the yard from the other side of a tall wooden fence.
The dog, along with a fellow Pekingese and a tan Chihuahua, yelped with excitement at seeing a human being.
The three dogs were left behind after their owners abandoned the north Denver house where the dogs live, according to Kay Alber, who lives in the neighborhood.
"The dogs would have died if we had not watered and fed them," Alber said.
It's a scenario being played out in various forms around the Denver area and the United States.
The housing crisis gripping the nation has forced homeowners to abandon their foreclosed homes and, in some cases, their pets.
"It's nationwide," said Nancy Peterson, issues specialist for the Humane Society of the United States.
Her group recently created a grant program for animal shelters and rescue groups to help keep families and pets together during foreclosures and financial squeezes.
Grants range from $500 to $2,000 per organization.
In the Denver area, some animal shelter operators report an increase in owner-surrendered pets coming into their facilities.
"We have a horrible problem with cats being abandoned," said Shari Shiffer-Krieger, executive director of the Cat Care Society in Lakewood.
She said the shelter ordinarily gets about 1,000 calls a month. "We're double," said Shiffer-Krieger. "We've had several cats that were brought in that we found abandoned in the home."
Scott Rupp, assistant director of Maxfund in Denver, said the shelter also has seen an increase in real estate-related surrenders - particularly after people left their home and moved into an apartment.
"Not many apartments take animals. Or they don't take the breed or the size," he said.
And while not all Denver-area shelters are reporting an increase in abandoned animals because of the housing situation, shelter operators agreed it's not easy to know why a pet owner may be giving up an animal.
"We will ask, 'Why?' " said Rupp. "But a lot of people are ashamed to say they've lost a house."
The Humane Society's Peterson offered advice for people being forced from their homes and mulling whether to give up their pets: "Please, please do not abandon them in a home or do not put them on the street and hope someone will adopt them," she said. "Contact your local animal shelter."
fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467
Resources for homeless pets
The 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
Comments
Posted by Gene on May 9, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story tugs at the heartstrings of normal people. But, I really question if it is representative of a "national crisis." One story feeds off another story that feeds off another agenda. But, poor little doggie.
Posted by happymike44 on May 9, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can tell you after katrina thousands of dogs were humanely euthanized to save them from the pain.Then thousands more were euthanised because they could not find the owners.If you have not seen the pictures some pets refused to leave their deceased owners side leading them to death by starvation.Also they did not mention the pets who were put outside after landlords got approval to clean up vacant properties.Many pets who had survived the flooding were just put on the street.To never be reunited with their owners. So if you can afford to help find a rescue group and even if it is a few dollars it can feed a dog or cat for a few days.I know times are hard but these are creatures who have no control over their future.I have a service dog who is a rescue,he is the sweetest creature on the planet.So now I give a little every chance I can.Give love Get love help if you can the groups are greatful for whatever you can give.Thank You
Posted by FloydHill on May 9, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad that the scumbag pet owners who leave their pets behind aren't prosecuted.
Too bad we can't lock 'em up and make 'em suffer.
Posted by rmnreader on May 9, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I volunteer at Maxfund it is unbelievable to me how many dogs we get lately from people who have lost a home the especially heartbreaking ones for me are the ones that are old & have lived in a home their whole lives the are just dumped. It makes me wonder if these people are even looking for housing that will allow pets - I was actually surprised when I move to Denver and realized how many places allowed dogs. People need to realize that having a pet is a huge commitment - if they can't handle that commitment they don't deserve to have the unconditional love an animal provides.
We are a no kill shelter so we get a lot of abused, sick and even feral dogs that people have just dropped off on the street to fend for themselves or die.
I agree that we should at least be able to prosecute these people who just leave the animal behind to die.
Also please please DONATE to your local shelter - spring cleaning things such as old blankets, bedspreads, or hand me downs from your animals that you want to get rid of help a lot. Also we are always needing things like bleach & papertowels to clean the kennels.
Posted by mytwosense on May 9, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the most memorable images (for me) from Katrina, was a young woman walking down the highway, pushing a shopping cart buggy with her two dogs riding in it. As sad as the situation was, it was actually a heartwarming picture in a sense. Come hell or, literally, high water, she was taking her pets with her wherever she ended up!
Posted by Ashley on May 9, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's always the helpless ones, children and animals, who suffer the most when the world lurches for adults. These poor critters. Bless you rmnreader, and all other volunteers, for all the work you do.
Posted by Unicorn on May 9, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It took me 6 months to find an apartment because I had a 17 year old cat at the time. I would not give him up because he had been with me since he was a day old. Mischief has since passed on at the ripe old age of 22 and I now have Mischief Jr. I would never, ever leave a pet behind for any reason. Please donate or volunteer if you can. There are so many people out there who truly think pets are disposable and will give them up at the drop of a hat.
Posted by mytwosense on May 9, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unicorn, just as an FYI, I've found that it's much better for pet-owners to rent from private owners rather than the big apartment complexes. The owners will still charge a deposit, but they're fairly reasonable, and they don't usually assess additional pet rent per month.
You did the right thing by your loyal companion, by the way.
Posted by TheDenverB on May 9, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is a sad deal, and i have seen it first hand.
people, if you can't care for your pets then get them to someone who can. don't just leave them to die.
Posted by rmnreader on May 9, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mytwosense has made a great point - it is easier to find a pet friendly place through private owners plus they are usually more willing to work with you - they may not allow pets but if you have rental references you can provide them for your pet it helps - if they want a deposit for the pet they will usually allow a payment plan to make the deposit over the first few months.
Thanks to Unicorn for not giving up!
Thanks Ashley.
Posted by happymike44 on May 9, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The thing that really gets me worked up is the losers.Thee boneheads get a puppy for christmas and then by easter the poor dog is at the pound.They will repeat this cycle over and over every year.The shelters should keep a list of repeat offenders and turn them over to animal control.So they can attempt to bar these idiots from pet ownership.My service dog was a poor sweet guy dumped at a freeway off ramp.He sat there waiting for a month for them to come back for him.When he was found by his foster mommy he weighed 40 pounds. He is to me the most valuable thing in my life.Why for all that was done to him he still likes people me I don't thinkI could have been that forgiving of anybody.So please donate to a rescue group today because they do a great job.The work they do is out of love for the animals and their safety.So I donate to the group who rescuedmy boy from death.I also have found people just a little bit testy about renting to me from the big apartment complexes.They tell me no dogs or I am sorry your dog is not on our list of acceptable tenants.What they do not understand is a service dog is not someone you can keep out of a apartment.Because as a disabled person it is the law you can not deny me my service dog no matter what your rules it is the law.Plus a litte word to all the landlords out there if I would not allow my dog to destroy my yard.Why do you think I would allow him to destroy your yard.Plus also when I walk him I carry bags with me.Unlike some of the lazy regular folks who poop in my yard and then I clean up after a dog who is not my own.So be careful who you tell no dogs to because it is a violation of th a.d.a. law to discriminate against me and my dog.So people remember they can regulate the type of dog you have in a apartment.But most landlords do not unless it is the truly scary dogs like the pitts.By the way the pitts are not bad dogs they just have bad owners.But I will never own one for a pet or service scare the poop out of me.Just give me a german sheperd or a siberian husky.Those boys know how to wow a crowd.
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