We have fallen on hard times in this country. The price of gas and food is soaring, jobs are crashing, and homes are being lost. But, one of the saddest things happening as a result of a nationwide collapse of the economy is the fact that families are being torn apart. And the most innocent victims of all are the family pets who get left behind when the door closes for the last time on a foreclosed family home.
Shocking stories have been coming to light of real estate agents finding abandoned pets that were once members of a loving family, left behind when the family closes the door behind them and walks away from a home they can no longer afford. Hungry, cold, and scared these animals cower in fear as they are approached. Starvation and loneliness are their only companions as a once-loving family leaves them for dead and runs off to assist to their own selfish needs.
True, foreclosure on a home is a sad thing to happen. But, I can find no sympathy for anyone whose heart is so selfish that they could even consider leaving their pets to die an uncertain and cruel death as they scramble to meet their own animal needs. Pets are PART of our family. Once we accept responsibility for the CARE of a pet, it means FULL RESPONSIBILITY to find them a home, a shelter, a foster home in case of an emergency where they can be cared for in a humane and trustworthy manner while we are unable to care for them. Just as we cannot morally, ethically, or legally leave our CHILDREN behind to starve in such a situation, we cannot morally, ethically, or legally leave our PETS behind. And anyone who could even consider doing such a heinous act really DESERVES the hardships they face. And, I have NO apologies for that statement!
In the case of foreclosure, there is often enough time to contact family and friends, enemies and co-workers, neighbors, social communities, animal shelters, animal activist groups, or sanctuaries, or even veterinarians, many of whom would be willing to help or might know someone who WOULD be willing to help by adopting, or fostering, a family pet facing such circumstances. For God's sake, even if you end up living in a car - if YOU are living in a car, and your kids are living in a car, the pet can live in the car, too. That's the family UNIT. Mom, dad, kids, and fids make up the FAMILY UNIT. Hard times come and go. And, the family unit needs to face those hard times together. If the family unit must split apart for survival, that's ok. They are still a unit. And EACH MEMBER'S proper care should be accounted for - AND THAT INCLUDES THE PETS!
Living beyond our means has become an epidemic in this society. We are fast learning that it is doing NONE OF US any good. We have stretched our dollars to buy homes we can't afford, goodies we don't really need, and now we are hurting for the gluttony of it all. We are ALL learning our lesson about greed in this country, and even our pets are learning the hard facts. Perhaps now that we are learning that money we don't have can't buy everything, we will face our future more prudently. But, while we are struggling to get our feet planted once again firmly on the ground, MAKE PROVISIONS AND PLANS IMMEDIATELY for ALL family members IN CASE you must split up for ANY REASON - whether because of foreclosure, job loss, or unexpected illness -- until the road comes back together again and you are a family unit, once more! LOVE your family ENOUGH to find someone to CARE for them, even when YOU can't!
