Is your debt killing your pet?
Pet owners are giving up their family pets at an alarming rate.
This is just another example of how our downward spiraling economy is affecting the U.S. household. A home is more than just a mother and a father and 1.2 children, but also includes the family pet.
Humane Societies are seeing this on a consistant basis, individuals coming in, forced to make a decision that they think is isn’t in their control. Quite often they feel the weight and anxiety of credit card debt looming over their heads. This is an ill-fated side-effect of our present times.
Examples of households making the choice of dealing with their debt, or taking care of a cherished member of the family have been popping up all over our country. From pet owners turning in their pets in order to pay for medical bills, to households euthanizing their dogs and cats so they can afford to dig out of debt and try not to drown in the debt. The economic demise is making it increasingly difficult for some people to justify putting down as much as a thousand dollars yearly or more on the medical care and food for their dogs.
The population increase at animal shelters around America shows how the fragile economy is also dwindling the pool of possible adopters.
The back lash has been population explosion of shelters causing a faster rate of euthanization, and numerious shelters turning away households looking to leave behind dogs and cats. Of the estimated 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats sent to animal shelters every year, over half are put down what is left is found new homes.
Having no choice but to abandon a pet can cause deep emotional scars on a family, especially the children who don’t understand economic pain. We cannot expect them to appreciate the testing decision their parents have to make, surrendering their cat to ensure after they pay their bills and credit card payments they can be fed and clothed.
The only other option for many people other than leaving their family pet is to dig themselves out of debt. Debt settlement companies can help families lower their monthly house hold expenses eliminating their need to make the problematical decision to allow their pet to be put to sleep. The more people understand that there are options; the less stress will be put on the local shelters trying to deal with this issue on a daily basis.
Another option is to find a person or family member able to temporarily adopt your family pet. This would allow you to be at ease knowing they are well taken care of and loved. This would allow you to take time and create a debt reduction plan putting them in a position to once again make their pet a part of the household again.
