Bad economy weighs on pets too

Financial problems and foreclosures have seen more animals left behind or abandoned By Jerry Goldberg MILFORD — More stray animals are being found on Pike’s roads than in past years and the owners are not calling to find out if the Pike County Humane Society has them. “Owners used to call to see if we picked up their pet wandering the streets, but that doesn’t happen much anymore,” said Pike County Humane Society Executive Director Barry Heim. He went on to say, “The high cost of pet food and veterinary bills are forcing people to do things they didn’t do when the times were better.” With hard times for everyone, they are getting animals from people who have lost their homes through foreclosure and are leaving their pets behind. The Humane Society gets called by the Sheriff and neighbors of the people who have had to leave their homes and are not able to take their pets with them. In the past two and a half months they have been getting an excessive amount of abandoned pets from foreclosures in the Pocono Woodlands. “We try to find those who have abandoned their pets and prosecute them but most have left no forwarding address. The fact they lost their home is hard enough to handle and so their pets just fall by the wayside,” reported Heim. If they get to the shelter, pets have a chance. “Even during these hard economic times we are holding our own,” said Heim. State Representative John Siptroth has obtained a $20,000 grant for building 16 new kennels and updating the heating system. State Representative Mike Pfeifer won a grant of $5,000 to install new outside chain link fencing in the kennel areas. Both Siptroth and Pfeifer say they will come up with an additional $5,000 in 2009. “Between the two of them we’ll have gotten $35,000 which means so much to us. We can’t thank them enough for their help,” stated Heim. Pet adoptions are a big part of the income the Humane Society anticipates. Heim visits other animal shelters and picks up dogs and cats he thinks he can get adopted out quickly. He looks for popular breeds and dogs with good dispositions. “When I started here 12 years ago our adoption rate was 72 percent and now we are nearing 90 percent,” reported Heim. The Humane Society has placed over 500 pets this year. For more about the humane society visit the PCHS Web site at www.pikecountyhumanesociety.petfinder.com, or call 570-296-7654.