in the news

Economy takes a toll on family pets, too

Thursday, Janaury 1, 2009

The Times

Current economic conditions are affecting not only people but their pets too, according to local animal shelters.

Humane societies and shelters want to be the safety net and shelter in the storm, but they are also facing financial issues as well, said Hope Brustein, executive director of Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village in Russell.

“I know there are hard times at some of the smaller shelters, and nationally some are closing,” Ms. Brustein said.

They are also seeing an increase in animals being left behind when people lose jobs or houses due to foreclosure. 

Those involved in animal rescue work said 2009 is a big unknown and they are bracing for a difficult year.  Their mission is about saving lives and they said they will continue to pursue that goal.

Chester resident Jean Antonacci is active in animal rescue.  She said there are shelters in other counties that are closing their doors.  When people have financial problems, she said, “Animal donations are often the first to go.”

The economy is so poor now and people are making though decisions on where they will put their money, she said.  It puts pressure on the animal shelters, Mrs. Antonacci said.  “All charities are hurting.

“People are leaving the animals in foreclosed houses,” Mrs. Antonacci said.  Some people abandon them when they have to leave their homes or they don’t have the money to support them, she said.

And there are not enough adopters for all the animals being left at shelters, she said.  “So, where do those animals go?” she asked.

And people do no understand how much it costs to operate the shelters, she said.

Doreen Lazarus, of Chester, volunteers for Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary in the township.  She said the shelter personnel felt the effects of home foreclosures months ago as cats began being dropped off.

In one case, a family was 20 years into paying for a 20-year-mortgage and had to give up the house.  They had six cats and could not take them to the relatives where they were living.  Happy Tails took them in, and only two have been adopted, Mrs. Lazarus said.   

Happy Tails is sheltering about 100 cats.  “We have had to board some cats because there is no room at the sanctuary, and it is costing us,” she said.

Happy Tails has sent out an appeal letter, she said.  Costs for the shelter include not only food and medications, but utilities and heat.  “The cats go through 100 pounds of food in a day and 80 pounds of litter,” Mrs. Lazarus said.

Ms. Brustein, of Rescue Village, said the humane society is seeing an increase in animals as the result of people undergoing foreclosures or losing their homes.

“Martini, the pony, was left behind because the owners moved away,” she said.  It was a situation related to the economy, she said.

“We are counseling people to have contingency plans for their pets in such cases,” Ms. Brustein said.

If they know they are going to be laid off, they might ask friends, family members or co-workers now to take care of their pets, Mrs. Brustein said.  They could call the animal shelters and ask to be placed on a waiting list.

“We advise people that if all else fails, contact us,” she said.  “Don’t abandon animals or leave them outside.  They can’t take care of themselves. 

“It’s heart-wrenching for people,” she said.  “It’s giving up a member of the family.”  She expects to see more of the situations, even in Geauga County, she said.

As for donations to the shelter, people are still giving, and willing to make the sacrifice because they are compassionate about animals, Ms. Brustein said.

“We have to be more active than ever in our fund raising,” she said.  And the humane society has diversified its investments over time, “so we’re safe so far.  Rescue Village is going to weather this storm.”

Bainbridge resident Sharon Harvey is executive director of the Cleveland Animal Protective League in Cuyahoga County.

Animals in the news

Friday, November 22, 2008

Cleveland.com

The Ohio Pet Fund, PetFix and the Geauga Humane Society partnered to neuter dogs and cats belonging to Amish families around Middlefield. "It's always been one of our goals to work with the Amish community and bring humane education to them. The trip from Middlefield to Rescue Village is too long for horse and buggy," shelter manager Sarah Westman said. Amish owners of about 20 dogs and cats began lining up at 7:45 a.m. Nov. 15 in the parking lot at Tractor Supply. By 4 p.m., all pets and families were reunited.

Chagrin urged to allow pit bulls, put teeth into dog ordinances

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Solon Herald Sun

By Amanda E. Garrett agarrett@sunnews.com CHAGRIN FALLS – Animal rights advocates urged Village Council not to ban pit bulls – saying owners, not dogs, should be punished for bad behavior.

Animal lovers and concerned residents packed a safety committee meeting on Monday to discuss the potential ban, which was proposed by a group of Church Street residents May 12.

Safety committee members heard from residents advocating a ban May 12, so they scheduled Monday's meeting to hear from those opposing the ban.

Animal rights supporters said the belief that all pit bulls are vicious is a myth. Shana Klein, of Canine Advocates of Ohio, said she runs a rescue program for abandoned pit bulls and she has never been threatened.

"Many of these dogs have been abandoned and abused, and I have never once been bitten," she said.

Klein and others, including the executive directors of the Geauga Humane Society and the Cleveland Animal Protective League said that similar legislation has not worked in other communities.

"Breed specific legislation doesn't work," said Hope Brustein, executive director of the Geauga Humane Society. "It doesn't achieve what it sets out to achieve and it certainly doesn't improve public safety."

Brustein urged council to instead pass legislation that would make dog owners accountable for the actions of their animals. Council should toughen existing animal ordinances and enforce laws already on the books, Brustein said.

Some of the changes proposed were:
Enhanced enforcement of dog license laws.
Enhanced enforcement of leash laws and loose dog laws, with adequate penalties to ensure that the laws are taken seriously. Dangerous dog laws should focus on individual dogs instead of specific breeds. The laws should mandate muzzling, confinement, training and – in extreme cases – euthanasia for problem dogs. The laws should hold owners financially accountable for their problem dogs.

Church Street resident John Mitchell said May 12 that he and his neighbors became concerned after two pit bulls moved into their neighborhood and threatened Mitchell's two young children.