Mackenzie Owens/Reporting II’s blog

Mackenzie Owens

Rep and Writ II Final

12/4/2008

Abandoned Homes – Abandoned Pets

With the country’s economic situation at the worst it’s been in decades and home foreclosures up in record numbers, the animals and pets of Chicago are also feeling the pinch. These victims are voiceless and are the latest to be affected in this national emergency. The nation’s economic and mortgage crisis are now in full swing and more and more family pets are slipping through the cracks.

Unfortunately, pet abandonment is becoming increasingly popular as homeowners are forced to leave their home and pets behind when the property becomes no longer affordable. Many people view themselves as victims of circumstances that are out of their control; they are angry or depressed. Many have lost their jobs. In these types of situations, people may not think through their actions. They may naively rationalize their behavior in the hopes that a city official or the bank will rescue the pet. 

Ami Moore, of Chicago Dog Training says, “Most people will kind of think, ‘well, the sheriff’s gonna be coming by in 10 days, I’ll leave the dog here and the sheriff will take care of it.’”

Despite months of warning, many desperate homeowners stall for time hoping to put off an eviction. The problem is then exacerbated because most people struggling with foreclosures are moving in with relatives or returning to rental housing – with both situations it can be difficult or impossible to bring pets along.

“When you’re desperate, you do desperate things,” says Moore. “They rented the house, they made the payments to the landlord and now they have to move in ten days and they can’t find an apartment that will take dogs…so what do you do?”

Many people are finding themselves in this position, as the foreclosure rate in Chicago for the month of October jumped up 19% from September. That’s 1,981 foreclosures compared to just 1,661 the month prior according to the Illinois Foreclosure Listing Service. The problem has become so widespread that in July of this year, on its national website, the Human Society specifically urged home owners faced with foreclosure to take their pets to a shelter.

This spike in pet abandonment comes at a time when less people are adopting. Elliot Serinno, Community Outreach Director at Chicago’s Anti-Cruelty Society says that the total adoptions for the fiscal year of 2008 are at “5,476 and that’s in comparison to our last fiscal year which was 5,859” – not a dramatic, but noticeable drop.

Home sales are at their lowest in decades and it is these homeowners who are most likely to be looking for pets. The shelters in Chicago are trying to keep up but with people cutting costs and pinching pennies any way they can, donations are down as well.

           Susan Bernstein, a volunteer at the ACS has seen first hand the over-crowding at the shelter. She says, “We’re fighting for space down here. Our animals are ready to go for adoption but there’s just no room. A lot of people are giving up their pets and not keeping them. That’s why our population is so high.” 

Charles Craft, director of Program Services at Chicago’s Animal Control notes that in addition to pets being found in foreclosed homes, many animals are found on the street, in the suburbs or up north.

“They’ll go up to the Illinois Wisconsin border to the forest preserve and just let the dog go and go on without them,” says Craft. Although this may seem cruel, Craft also mentions that this is most likely due to “fear of euphanization;” people don’t want to take a chance of having their pets killed at the shelter.

Whether or not pets are abandoned in homes or nature, it only adds to the problem of over-crowding in shelters and neither is beneficial, healthy or safe for these beloved animals. Pet abandonment such as this, is illegal in most states; however, these laws are not strictly enforced.

The Anti-Cruelty Society, the Animal Welfare League and Animal Control, Chicago’s three open-admission shelters, make up for about 96% of the animal intake in Chicago. Other private shelters, such as the Lakeshore Animal Shelter and PAWS, have the luxury of selecting which pets they can accommodate. Although they too have seen an increase in interest of dropping pets off.

Elizabeth Curran, president of the Lakeshore Animal Shelter says, “We are a no kill shelter and we have always, for the past 43 years, taken in pets from foreclosure, illness of owners, etc. but recently there has definitely been more foreclosure pets than ever before.”

As foreclosures are gaining with no end in sight, the city of Chicago along with national efforts has begun creating organizations especially aimed at these foreclosure pets. At foreclosurecats.org, portraits of rescued foreclosure cats are being auctioned off on eBay, with proceeds going towards their veterinary bills and expenses. Nopawsleftbehind.org has specific news geared towards foreclosure pets from the national Humane Society. These links give advice to homeowners, lenders and shelters about what to do and how to handle this national crisis.

What can you do to help? If you suspect a pet may be in danger of a foreclosed home you may:

·        If you’re aware that a home in your neighborhood is being foreclosed on, ask the owner if he/she has made plans for their pet.

·        Suggest where to take pets if they are unaware of their options.

·        Leave animal rescue brochures with the owner.

·        After the owners are gone, check the house and yard.

If you find your own home in foreclosure and have pets, you may:

·        Call your local Humane Society

·        Drop your pet off at an open-admission shelter – there will be no questions asked.

·        Attempt to leave your pet with a familiar friend or family member.

·        Don’t abandon the pet(s) in the house or outside!

SOURCE LIST

1.      Susan Bernstein, volunteer at Anti-Cruelty Society, 312-451-1696, spoke with in person on 11/20/2008.

2.      Charles Craft, Director of Program Services Animal Control, charles.craft@cityofchicago.org, spoke with via e-mail on 11/21/2008.

3.      Elizabeth Curran, President of Lake Shore Animal Shelter, elizabet@lakeshoreanimalshelter.org, 847-858-3990, spoke with via e-mail on 11/17/2008.

4.      Ami Moore, Chicago Dog Trainer, 847-284-7760, spoke with via telephone on 11/22/2008

5.      Elliot Serinno, Anti-Cruelty Society Community Outreach Director, 312-644-6997, spoke with via telephone on 11/20/2008.

Jason Heidemann, 35

editor, Time Out Chicago

773.319.6532

interviewed 11/4/08

Monica Betancourt, 24

graduate student

773. 727.3033

interviewed 11/4/08

Portia Hall,24

personal assistant

415.816.4810

interviewed 11/4/08

Humeira Jordan

house-wife

630.935.5425

interviewed 11/4/08

Ed Hall

retiree

773.744.9327

interviewed 11/4/08

SOURCE LIST

1. Elliot Serrino, Anti-Cruelty Society community Outreach director, 312-644-6977, spoke with via telephone on 11/20/2008.

2. Susan Bernstein, volunteer at Anti-Cruelty Society, 312-451-1696, spoke with in person on 11/20/2008.

3. Ami Moore, Chicago Dog Trainer (Dog do Right), 847-284-7760, spoke with via telephone on 11/22/2008.

This is a blog for my Reporting & Writing II course I am taking at Columbia College. Here I will post my best work. Enjoy...