The innocent victim of the mortgage crisis is the animal left behind. Realtors and home inspectors across the country report that animals are abandoned in homes, garages, and yards in record numbers. Many are found too late. Shelters are overflowing.

An acquaintance recently mentioned to me about her experience with neighbors moving from their home in Florida to another state. She was on friendly terms with the family and knew about their household of animals. She asked them what they were going to do with all the animals, and learned that they intended to turn most out into the wild. She was appalled knowing the indoor domesticated cat would likely be unable to survive for long when turned outside. The story has a happy ending as she volunteered to take the cat along with an exotic bird and a turtle.

As concerned human beings, what can we do for the foreclosure animal victims? My recommendations include:

1. Be mindful of abandoned homes
2. Report to authorities if you think animals may have been left behind
3. Care and feed for animals left in your neighboring yard until authorities arrive
4. Watch out for homeless animals that wander onto your property
5. If you know someone is moving, inquire about their pets
6. If you discover the family is moving where pets are not allowed, offer to care for the pet
7. Volunteer to help at overflowing local shelters
8. Volunteer to be a foster family for a foreclosure animal victim
9. Volunteer to adopt a foreclosure animal victim
10. Talk to your government officials about ways this tragic trend can be reversed

Can you think of other ways to help? Is this a problem in your local community?

Happy Purrs!