The Debut of a New Species – The Foreclosure Pet
In the animal world a new terminology has made its debut to announce the arrival of a novel species – the Foreclosure Pet.
When foreclosure victims leave with bag and baggage, more often than not they leave behind their pets. Realtors and those engaged to haul junk come across more and more pets left behind in closed houses. Animal lovers are trying to find a solution. The evicted persons often do not bother to call the animal care societies. Some just leave ripped open a packet of dog food, a bowl of water and a prayer.
The Humane Society has engaged two Harris County constables to handle cases of animal cruelty. The two have their hands full tackling cases of Foreclosure Pets. There are so many cases that it takes a long time for the duo to respond to the calls. The first to arrive after the departure of the ex-owners are the junk haulers, real estate personnel, bank representatives and curious neighbours. They lack neither the will nor the interest to do something about the hapless quadrupeds.
The evicted owners try to justify their movements by saying that they would be coming back for the pets the following day. Society has to step in when a living creature is kept locked in without any means of survival – without being given a chance to survive.
Animal related problems have always been there but the latest foreclosure issue has made the situation go out of hand. The animals are found either chained or running around loose. People are suffering financially but that cannot excuse this sort of horrendous cruelty to those who share the planet with man.
The Humane Society and the two constables have not been able to keep track of the numbers found in foreclosed houses. These are simply listed as abandoned. It is difficult to prove that there was malice involved in this sort of behaviour. No charges could be brought against owners who left their boxer chained to a tree in the backyard and another who kept a Labrador tied to a water tap. Constable Timmers had found 15 dead animals; they must have died a slow death. In each of those instances cases were successfully filed.
Most of the pets found are in poor health condition. Efforts are made to nurse them back to normalcy and arrange for adoption. Nevertheless the problem is so acute that about 15% have had to be euthanized.
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