February 18, 2008Comments are closed.shelter procedure
With this months interest rate rise and more predicted for 2008, more and more people are feeling the strain of being overcommitted financially.
Unfortunately when families suffer, so do family pets as was seen in the recent US mortgage crisis which saw pets abandoned by the thousands as people moved to smaller premises or lost their homes entirely.
Cats have been generally hardest hit, with financial constraints seeing items such as desexing and vet care cut from family budgets and leading to increases in the kitten population.
So how can we help pets caught in the same crisis as their owners?
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By providing reach out services and information to people who are facing difficulty (most of whom wouldn’t normally consider surrendering their animals) more pets may be able to stay with their families.
Approach your local paper to run a story on the effects of interest rate rises and advising people of what they should do if facing foreclosure (check with friends, family and neighbors to see if someone can provide temporary foster care for their pet until they get back on their feet, start looking for rental properties early etc). Also advise them of how much advance warning your group requires for intakes so people are reminded to take action early.
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You’ve been contacted by an owner having to sell and move into a town house. They feel that it’s unfair that their two dogs will be downsized to a courtyard and they’ve rung to find out about surrendering… or have they?
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Often people are just trying to make the best decision for their pets and when faced with what seems like an insurmountable bunch of problems all at once, start to doubt that they are in fact the best person to care for their pets. Maybe there is a better home out there?
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While we tend to view relinquishment as a thoughtless expression of a throw away society, one study showed the process begins long before the animal is taken to a shelter, and is anything but thoughtless. Relinquishers interviewed struggled with the decision to give up their pets for a prolonged time. The struggle often manifested as procrastination as attachment issues and negative perceptions of shelters balanced against circumstances threatening the pets standing with the family.
Attempts at solutions were unsuccessful – although it is likely that resources and support that would truly help were either not available, not known by the pet guardian, or considered to beyond the financial means or general capability of the guardian. Â
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Ref: (1998) Surrendering pets to shelters: the relinquishers perspective. Anthrozoos. 11, 41-51Â Â
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Based less on a real want to be rid of their pets and more a feeling that they have no choice, being given tools and advice at this time may help them feel confident that they can in fact keep caring for their pets and their pets won’t suffer.
Put together an easily ’email-able’ package of information you can send to people. Then when people call, you can say “we have a bunch of resources to send to people in exactly your situation – can I have your email address and send them to you?â€
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If the owner has no choice but to move into a place that doesn’t allow pets at all and the timeframe allows, give them resources to help them rehome their pet themselves.
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If possible, also offer advertising on your own website and let them put posters up on your noticeboards.
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Discount desexing has never been more important to your community. Even if your group can’t offer it, speak to local vets about offering a discount voucher to send to people who contact your group. Even 10% can make the different between a cat being desexed and it being just another unaffordable expense.
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With interest rates only expected to rise through this year it’s vital put the word out to those going through difficulties that there are alternatives to simply abandoning pets. By offering resources to the pet owning community, more pets can stay at home and not become the victims when their owners face financial crisis.