Save Foreclosure Pets

In the current wave of foreclosures a new phrase has entered the lexicon -- foreclosure pets. Foreclosure pets are pets that have been left behind by the homeowners when a home is foreclosed.

In some cases it is clear that foreclosure was only one of a number of serious problems, like the case in Ohio where 50 cats were found in a house after a foreclosure. In other cases, it may be a single pet, left behind perhaps because a family’s new rental unit doesn’t allow pets. Another explanation is that it's all about survival. For thousands of people struggling to find money for food and shelter, pet care is often the last thing they think about. They spiral down financially, and in their personal life, and everything just falls apart for them. They feel like they have nowhere to turn, so they just close the door - leaving their pets - and walk away.

Foreclosure is an emotional and overwhelming experience, and it is not always easy to find a good home for a pet. Abandoning a trusting pet is a phenomenon also has to do with a common misperception about foreclosure. Many people expect that foreclosure will put them out of their homes immediately, but the removal is never instantaneous. Some people leaving pets behind believe that someone will be coming just behind them to take care of things. They could not be more wrong. It can take months to foreclose; even worse, because of excessive inventory of foreclosed properties, lenders are sometimes deciding not to foreclose, or to postpone foreclosure.

Don’t let the truly innocent suffer needlessly. If you are facing foreclosure and cannot care for your pets, or if you know someone has left a pet behind, call your local animal shelter or humane society. There are also rescue organizations of all sorts, including those focused on virtually any type of purebred dog, cat, or horse. A couple of examples: www.emergencyanimalrescue.org rescues domestic and wild animals in crisis situations, and www.bestfriends.org rescues dogs, cats, birds, horses, and rabbits, to name a few. If you can provide a home for a foreclosure pet, there will be stars in your crown in heaven, and a lot of fun right here in the meantime.

Credit: bankruptcylawnetwork.com