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Pets being left to feel pinch of credit crunch
SCORES of pet owners
are abandoning their
cats and dogs because
the credit crunch means
they can no longer
afford to care for them.
Animal shelters in the south are
full of unwanted pets with some
centres reporting more than
twice the number of abandoned
pets than this time last year.
Southampton's Second Chance
animal rehoming centre is struggling
to cope after more than 200
cats have been left at the centre in
Mansbridge already this year.
"We have had at least 200
already this year and we would
normally only see around 70,"
said shelter co-ordinator Rose
Milne. As well as abandoning the
household pets due to the credit
crunch, Rose believes people are
actually trying to make money by
breeding cats and dogs and selling
their offspring, before dumping
them at the shelter.
"People can make anything
from £60 to £100 per kitten by selling
them on after their born, and
a cat can easily produce an average
of six or seven kittens per litter,"
she said.
Click here to watch a video of the abandoned kittens and cats
Rose said they have had dozens
of expectant cats dropped at the
centre who were so ill they had to
be spayed, killing the litter of
unborn kittens.
"We hate having to do that and
the vets don't like it either. But
some of the cats we have seen
have been used to provide so
many litters they are exhausted
and ill, and they just can't cope
giving birth to another," she said.
"We have another centre in
Portsmouth and we have had
more than 400 cats," she added.
"We are supposed to be rehoming
these pets but we get so many
that we can't do that. Instead we
have become a rescue centre for
sick animals which we can't
afford to do that because vets bills
are just so expensive."
Animal charities in the UK are
urging pet owners to seek help if
they are struggling to pay for
costly vet bills or the expense of
keeping a pet before abandoning
them. The Blue Cross, who have
11 centres in the UK including
one in West End, say they have
seen a 52 per cent rise in the number
of abandoned animals compared
to last year.
At least 30 per cent of abandoned
pets were dumped because
owners could no longer afford to
care for them. Louise Lee from
the charity said: "It's really difficult
for some pet owners to cope
at the moment but if animals are
being left at shelters we need to
talk to their owners to discuss
their health and behaviour.
"Otherwise they will take
longer to be re-homed and we
won't know if there's anything
wrong with them."
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA
said he had no recent figures to
back up fears the credit crunch
was responsible for pets being
abandoned. Animal owners
should contact them before giving
up on their pets if they could no
longer afford to keep them.
9:34am Saturday 19th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Bicenntenial Man, Who knows? on 10:28am Sat 19 Jul 08
This piece starts
[italic]"SCORES of pet owners are abandoning their cats and dogs because the credit crunch means they can no longer afford to care for them."[/italic]
and then finishes:
[italic]"A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said he had no recent figures to back up fears the credit crunch was responsible for pets being abandoned."[/italic]
All in all a completely pointless story. Fairly typical of the bulk of the Echos 'news'.
This piece starts
"SCORES of pet owners are abandoning their cats and dogs because the credit crunch means they can no longer afford to care for them."
and then finishes:
"A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said he had no recent figures to back up fears the credit crunch was responsible for pets being abandoned."
All in all a completely pointless story. Fairly typical of the bulk of the Echos 'news'.
Posted by: paul b on 10:33am Sat 19 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Bicenntenial Man[/bold] wrote:
This piece starts
[italic]"SCORES of pet owners are abandoning their cats and dogs because the credit crunch means they can no longer afford to care for them."[/italic]
and then finishes:
[italic]"A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said he had no recent figures to back up fears the credit crunch was responsible for pets being abandoned."[/italic]
All in all a completely pointless story. Fairly typical of the bulk of the Echos 'news'.
[/quote] So a statement by the RSPCA outweighs the first hand evidence from the animal shelter?
Bicenntenial Man wrote:
This piece starts
"SCORES of pet owners are abandoning their cats and dogs because the credit crunch means they can no longer afford to care for them."
and then finishes:
"A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said he had no recent figures to back up fears the credit crunch was responsible for pets being abandoned."
All in all a completely pointless story. Fairly typical of the bulk of the Echos 'news'.
So a statement by the RSPCA outweighs the first hand evidence from the animal shelter?
Posted by: paul b on 11:10am Sat 19 Jul 08
Actually I would just like to say how important I think it is that issues as this must be raised for debate in the public.
People should put more consideration into the possible implications of investing in a pet. It is not simply a case of having something cuddly around the house.
They take time, money and devotion. They are not soft toys.
I applaud the Echo for addressing this matter.
Actually I would just like to say how important I think it is that issues as this must be raised for debate in the public.
People should put more consideration into the possible implications of investing in a pet. It is not simply a case of having something cuddly around the house.
They take time, money and devotion. They are not soft toys.
I applaud the Echo for addressing this matter.
Posted by: Andy, In My Pants on 11:51am Sat 19 Jul 08
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa....
Headlines we have recently include - [quote]"food prices soar"[/quote] and [quote]"number of abandoned pets on the increase"[/quote]
Am I the only one to spot the obvious solution? Southampton Second Chance animal centre have seen a 200% increase in abandoned animals.... why can't they be passed on to local Chinese and Indian restaurants who can then sell food at reduced prices.
The result? Several actually...
1. Cheaper food for the masses
2. Strays taken off the streets
3. Money saved by (ex) pet owners
4. Money saved by pet charities who no longer have to feed animals
5. Money saved by do-gooder who donate to said charities because the charities will no longer need as much.
I can't promise to save the economy, but at least I can do my bit.
Kitten Chow Mein anyone? Tastes like chicken, allegedley
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa....
Headlines we have recently include -
"food prices soar"
and
"number of abandoned pets on the increase"
Am I the only one to spot the obvious solution? Southampton Second Chance animal centre have seen a 200% increase in abandoned animals.... why can't they be passed on to local Chinese and Indian restaurants who can then sell food at reduced prices.
The result? Several actually...
1. Cheaper food for the masses
2. Strays taken off the streets
3. Money saved by (ex) pet owners
4. Money saved by pet charities who no longer have to feed animals
5. Money saved by do-gooder who donate to said charities because the charities will no longer need as much.
I can't promise to save the economy, but at least I can do my bit.
Kitten Chow Mein anyone? Tastes like chicken, allegedley
Posted by: hoo flung dung, southampton on 5:41pm Sat 19 Jul 08
DON'T KNOW WHY THIS COMMENT WAS REMOVED BUT I'LL TRY AGAIN?
these animals just need to be put down, job done. no more expense and no more bleeding hearts!
DON'T KNOW WHY THIS COMMENT WAS REMOVED BUT I'LL TRY AGAIN?
these animals just need to be put down, job done. no more expense and no more bleeding hearts!
Posted by: c on 6:40pm Sat 19 Jul 08
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.
Posted by: Drown 'em all, Hythe on 7:14pm Sat 19 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Andy[/bold] wrote:
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa....
Headlines we have recently include - [quote]"food prices soar"[/quote] and [quote]"number of abandoned pets on the increase"[/quote]
Am I the only one to spot the obvious solution? Southampton Second Chance animal centre have seen a 200% increase in abandoned animals.... why can't they be passed on to local Chinese and Indian restaurants who can then sell food at reduced prices.
The result? Several actually...
1. Cheaper food for the masses
2. Strays taken off the streets
3. Money saved by (ex) pet owners
4. Money saved by pet charities who no longer have to feed animals
5. Money saved by do-gooder who donate to said charities because the charities will no longer need as much.
I can't promise to save the economy, but at least I can do my bit.
Kitten Chow Mein anyone? Tastes like chicken, allegedley[/quote] I could add a 6th benefit: fewer cats cr*pping in my garden.
Andy wrote:
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa....
Headlines we have recently include - "food prices soar"
and "number of abandoned pets on the increase"
Am I the only one to spot the obvious solution? Southampton Second Chance animal centre have seen a 200% increase in abandoned animals.... why can't they be passed on to local Chinese and Indian restaurants who can then sell food at reduced prices.
The result? Several actually...
1. Cheaper food for the masses
2. Strays taken off the streets
3. Money saved by (ex) pet owners
4. Money saved by pet charities who no longer have to feed animals
5. Money saved by do-gooder who donate to said charities because the charities will no longer need as much.
I can't promise to save the economy, but at least I can do my bit.
Kitten Chow Mein anyone? Tastes like chicken, allegedley
I could add a 6th benefit: fewer cats cr*pping in my garden.
Posted by: hoo flung dung, southampton on 12:06am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]c[/bold] wrote:
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.[/quote] here we are, a bleeding heart!
the cats will suffer stress and duress kept in a pen with loads of other cats!
cats are reasonbly solitary creatures and will not enjoy the environment, put them down now!
save some money, and act on the inevitable!
they are just cats, not people! if no one wants them destroy them, or you could have them of course?
c wrote:
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.
here we are, a bleeding heart!
the cats will suffer stress and duress kept in a pen with loads of other cats!
cats are reasonbly solitary creatures and will not enjoy the environment, put them down now!
save some money, and act on the inevitable!
they are just cats, not people! if no one wants them destroy them, or you could have them of course?
Posted by: gristle, soton on 12:07pm Sun 20 Jul 08
More Echo rubbish for the gullible.
Every week we get reports from the likes of the Sport / Sun / Echo / Beano etc. about pets being abandoned because it's too hot or cold, too rainy or dry, or because it's easter or Xmas.
Total tripe.
More Echo rubbish for the gullible.
Every week we get reports from the likes of the Sport / Sun / Echo / Beano etc. about pets being abandoned because it's too hot or cold, too rainy or dry, or because it's easter or Xmas.
Total tripe.
Posted by: now in the north, bolton, from southampton on 1:41pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Or perhaps its just that time of year. People get pups/kits in the spring and abandon them when they either grow ouut of the cute stage or start chewing after endless hours shut in the house. It happens every year and every year it gets worse because society is becomeing more and more selfish. The credit crunch will have an effect on rehoming as people who want to rehome will be more cautious (even though its **** near impossible to adopt anyway due to rules and regs, and its usually cheaper to take on a free to good home than pay an adoption fee which now more of a price depending on breed!) The difference between the RSPCA findings and the shelter findings is obvious. People dont contact the RSPCA (in many instances people see them with the same negative fear as the social services!) in most incidences when they dump pets on a shelter!!
Or perhaps its just that time of year. People get pups/kits in the spring and abandon them when they either grow ouut of the cute stage or start chewing after endless hours shut in the house. It happens every year and every year it gets worse because society is becomeing more and more selfish. The credit crunch will have an effect on rehoming as people who want to rehome will be more cautious (even though its **** near impossible to adopt anyway due to rules and regs, and its usually cheaper to take on a free to good home than pay an adoption fee which now more of a price depending on breed!) The difference between the RSPCA findings and the shelter findings is obvious. People dont contact the RSPCA (in many instances people see them with the same negative fear as the social services!) in most incidences when they dump pets on a shelter!!
Posted by: now in the north, bolton, from southampton on 1:46pm Sun 20 Jul 08
As for pets being dumped due to lack of money, what a crock!! People will make a zillion excuses but when you translate them into the real language every one of them means 'we were rash/irreponsible and we cant be bothered/cope and today is a throw away society, well get a NEW dog/cat next year".
Heard these? cant afford the bills, kid is allergic (now its not a pup), its destructive (bored), it bites (when they carry it by the neck), its aggressive to other dogs (doesnt get walked), its dirty indoors (doesnt get let out for 9 working hours of the day)....
As for pets being dumped due to lack of money, what a crock!! People will make a zillion excuses but when you translate them into the real language every one of them means 'we were rash/irreponsible and we cant be bothered/cope and today is a throw away society, well get a NEW dog/cat next year".
Heard these? cant afford the bills, kid is allergic (now its not a pup), its destructive (bored), it bites (when they carry it by the neck), its aggressive to other dogs (doesnt get walked), its dirty indoors (doesnt get let out for 9 working hours of the day)....
Posted by: bored of 'c' on 6:59pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]c[/bold] wrote:
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.[/quote] Yawn. Stop coming here if you're just going to get all upset by everything all the time. Poor, sensitive wee soul!
He's entitled to his opinion. Or are you afraid of opposition?
c wrote:
You heartless b*****D thats why it was prob removed.
Yawn. Stop coming here if you're just going to get all upset by everything all the time. Poor, sensitive wee soul!
He's entitled to his opinion. Or are you afraid of opposition?
Posted by: bored of 'c' on 7:01pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]now in the north[/bold] wrote:
As for pets being dumped due to lack of money, what a crock!! People will make a zillion excuses but when you translate them into the real language every one of them means 'we were rash/irreponsible and we cant be bothered/cope and today is a throw away society, well get a NEW dog/cat next year".
Heard these? cant afford the bills, kid is allergic (now its not a pup), its destructive (bored), it bites (when they carry it by the neck), its aggressive to other dogs (doesnt get walked), its dirty indoors (doesnt get let out for 9 working hours of the day)....[/quote] Exactly! Most of the excuses are really band-aids over the same old "The novelty wore off. I just thought it was cute, I never realised there'd be actual work involved". See also: a huge proportion of single mums
now in the north wrote:
As for pets being dumped due to lack of money, what a crock!! People will make a zillion excuses but when you translate them into the real language every one of them means 'we were rash/irreponsible and we cant be bothered/cope and today is a throw away society, well get a NEW dog/cat next year".
Heard these? cant afford the bills, kid is allergic (now its not a pup), its destructive (bored), it bites (when they carry it by the neck), its aggressive to other dogs (doesnt get walked), its dirty indoors (doesnt get let out for 9 working hours of the day)....
Exactly! Most of the excuses are really band-aids over the same old "The novelty wore off. I just thought it was cute, I never realised there'd be actual work involved". See also: a huge proportion of single mums
Posted by: louise, sholing on 2:01pm Tue 22 Jul 08
dont beleive this story for one minute.. all they want is a load of food to be donated i have come across this before. i use to work for a cat charity for years and they come out with allsorts just to get free food.
dont beleive this story for one minute.. all they want is a load of food to be donated i have come across this before. i use to work for a cat charity for years and they come out with allsorts just to get free food.
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