Animals in Crisis

ANIMALS IN CRISIS The current economy is hitting the nation’s pets and shelters with a vengeance.

During an economic crisis some of society’s most vulnerable citizens — the animals — are deeply affected. As loving pet owners struggle to make ends meet, many find themselves unable to afford basic veterinary care or pet food and are forced to make the difficult decision to surrender their animals to a shelter. Recent statistics show that shelters all over the United States are experiencing overcrowding.

Even more disturbing is the uptick in animals being abandoned by desperate owners. Recently, the HSTB Rescue Team was called to a grizzly scene where dozens of guinea pigs had been dumped behind a Walmart. Many of them, huddled together, died from exposure and starvation. It was a horrific scene that left our seasoned team shaken. While we don’t know the details of what happened, it is clear that someone had gotten in over their head with pets and was unable to care for them. Unfortunately, they made the inhumane and illegal decision to abandon these domesticated creatures to fend for themselves in the wild. We understand the immense pressure of these troubling times, but this kind of action is never acceptable or excusable.

Luckily, 14 of the guinea pigs survived and were treated at the shelter for dehydration, starvation and parasites, but were otherwise healthy enough to be adopted. We are thrilled to report that all 14 have recovered and been adopted

into loving homes. An investigation into the abandonment is ongoing through Hillsborough County Animal Control.

Additional examples of the economy’s devastating effects on pets and how the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is helping, can be found on pages 8 – 11.

IF YOU NEED HELP CARING FOR YOUR PET

Visit HumaneSocietyTampa.org or scan the flowcode on page 13 for information about:

PET ASSISTANCE

Affordable Veterinary Care Free Pet Food and Supplies

Photos clockwise from left opposite: 14 guinea pigs were rescued; images from the grizzly scene; HSTB Community Outreach Coordinator Liz Colley (left) and a Hillsborough County Animal Control Officer rescue the living pigs.

PET REHOMING

Resources if you can’t keep your pet