by Linda Spradlin

Created on: February 08, 2009

With the recession in full swing, how will this affect pet shelters?

According to the ASPCA,which is the world's largest pet rescue organization in the United States, there is tremedous concern with our current economic situation because if things continue the way their going now they will be hit with an onslaught of animals over the next year or so. And the problem is two fold.

Approximately 5 million pets end up in shelters each year across the U.S. With the economic downturn, considering that 63% of homes have at least one pet, and one in every 171 homes are in immenent danger of being foreclosed, that could mean as many as one million additional animals being abandoned in shelters or on the streets in the next year.

Part two of this issue is that when the economy goes south, so do donations to the shelters. With animal surrender's up, and donations down, it would seem a disasterious outcome for the animals is eminent.

To assist with the trouble, shelters are begging for your assistance. If you can donate cash to help cover pet food, medical treatment, and preventative care, you will be performing a much needed service to the community. Though cash may not be readily available to you, give some thought to fund raiser's you can organize and donate the proceeds.

Maybe cleaning out your closets, garage, or attic and making more space inside your home, can result in a yard sale where you can donate half or all the proceeds to the local shelter. Invite your neighbors ro particpate in the yard sale to raise funds for the shelters. It's a win-win, you can make room in your home for another pet, and you can raise money for the shelter's to help the ones you can't bring home!

If you simply cannot find the money to give, there are many other ways to help. Sort through your linen closet and attic storage. Create a pile of items you aren't using to donate, like blankets, sweat shirts, stuffed animals, toy balls, hot water bottles for infants, newspapers, or your own old pet supplies you put away just in case you brought home another pet. Carry the extra findings to the local shelter to be used for the care and comfort of the animals.

Never allow your pet to breed. Doing so, you are directly contributing to the overpopulation problem. Even if you find homes for the animals in your litter, you are taking homes away from animals already here and in need.

Never purchase a puppy or kitten from a pet shop. By making that purchase, you are creating demand. With demand, the breeding continues. When you purchase a puppy or kitten, keep in mind that it may have come from a puppy mill, or commercial kennel and they are one in the same, are usually unhealthy and most have behavior problems. They are taken from their mothers too soon, and they aren't properly socialized.By purchasing a puppy mill puppy, you are directly contributing to the horrors of this disgraceful industry. Additionally, for every purchased animal, another animal dies in a shelter.

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