Is anybody paying attention to the effect the economy is having on our pets?

The economy is one of the reasons I haven't found the right home for Monica. 2 of the 4 families I turned down simply would have had to do more stretching financially than I feel comfortable with in order to afford what I consider adequate care. While I don't demand people raw feed I do want them to feed a high quality food and I don't want them skimping on vet care if its needed. Sure, I could have sold her and then ended up taking her back if they couldn't keep her, but by then it would have been harder to integrate her back into my pack and she may have learned bad habits.

There are a lot of things in my life that would be cut out long before my dog's care (including dogs returned if that happened) would be affected. I'd probably quit being so lazy and go to the meat wholesale place more often... more dogs means it would be easier to deal with 40 lb boxes of meat.

Will it affect my breeding plans... we'll see. There's a 10 year old male Bernese I'd like to breed to before he stops producing... whether I breed has more to do with what my housing situation is at the point where my b*tch would be ready to breed than anything else. I'm trying to talk his owner into freezing semen... even offered to pay for it.

My puppies are always welcome to come back as well. I have had only one litter in the last two years, and there were only two. But, I must say that I did select families from the waiting list that have the most "stable" careers!!!!! I am not planning on breeding much in the coming year, for many reasons....the economy included.

The shelter I work at is WAY over-full and getting calls like never before. I am sure that after this holidays puppies and kittens grow up, there will be many more needing help but there is only so much each shelter can do. Euthanasia is going to be on the increase. I think in the past, people have thought they could "try" a dog or cat and if it didn't work out, a shelter would be there to take it in. That is just not the case anymore. If you get a pet and find you cannot keep it, you may have to make the hard decision on your own.

The rescues and shelters are definitely taking on an extra burden from increased owner surrenders. Unfortunately, most breeders (puppy mills and byb's) don't care much about what happens to their dogs after they get the cash anyway, and they aren't going to start now. In fact, more ignorant and greedy people are likely to start breeding as a way to get extra cash when out of work. If they can't make the connection between what they are doing and 5 million dogs being killed in shelters any other year, why would they make the connection that their precious pups will get surrendered and have the same fate because of the economy? Why would they care?

I'm really not worried about the responsible breeders contributing to the problem. Not only are they few and far between, they have contracts that require a dog be returned to them if the new owners can't keep it at any time in it's life.

The economy has not changed the way I treat my pets. I have done a lot of research on animal food and I only feed my pets organic food from a private pet store (no I don't mean Petco). I spend about $30.00 per month on my dog (about 10 pounds) and my cat. The food that is provided in the grocery store is not always top quality and you need to look for key ingredients. The higher up the ingredient, the more of it that is in the food. You want to avoid a high does of anything that says "by-product" and "meal" - these are cover up words for ground up bones, hooves, brains, etc. that are put into your animals food. The foods that should be first on the ingredient list is "chicken, corn, rice, etc." - real stuff that you would eat! It is understandable that not everyone can afford the organic food, however, people need to think about weather they want to dish out the money now, feed the animals a good healthy diet (which also changes their mood, coat, and energy), but also makes them live longer and avoid costly vet bills in the future. - yes - pets are going to the vet because of the food that you feed them - this can all be prevented by feeding them a healthy diet. Just think about you eating fast food every day compared to steak, fruits, veggies and salad. You will be much healthier and happier by spending a little more money on the good stuff! Overall, the treatment of a pet does not cost a thing, if you can't give your pet "your time"- which is free, then you should not have it in the first place. Oh - and please don't buy your pets from malls - adopt or find a reputable breeder. They are cute and fuzzy, but they come from "puppy mills" - deplorable conditions - they cost more - you will most likely have higher vet bills, and they usually do not last very long. When you buy them, you are supporting the puppy mills and they will just keep making more. :*(

I was thinking about this the other day, sadly i'm afraid. The shelter were i volunteer is flooded, and has been on the rise for owner turn-ins for the last 6 months.

We have more turn-ins than adoptions, it's really bad. We need foster homes more than ever, and i've already volunteered to take on more fosters than i usually bring home. I usually deal w/abandoned litters or mommas that are pregnant, or just stray young pups, getting them potty trained, fattened up and socialized. So lately instead of maybe 2 litters (of 4-6 pups each) i am taking on 4 and last month 5 litters (and/or stray pups) at a time.

currently not including my own 4 dogs, i have 3 litters right now, 3 in one, 4 in another and 6 in the other. only 2 from these litters will be going to a new home after the new year. the others still wait...they are 20 wks.(almost 6 months).

the rate at which we can rescue from kill-shelters is also decreased. we just don't have the space, or the funds.

people are donating less.

and the amount of dogs euthanized at the local kill shelter has almost doubled in the last year.

I'm very scared for dogs and cats right now.

and even farm animals such as horses, goats, sheep etc. I live in Texas, livestock is suffering here as well.

I am not a breeder, but I know that the REPUTABLE breeders have contracts stating that they will take back the dog.

It's not so much the reputable breeders as it is the Puppy mills and Bybs. They could care less if the economy is in the down low right now. They just want there $money$.

Yes, I have seen an increase of the shelter population. It seems like every week we are getting more and more dogs in. It's horrible.

Well in our contract it states that at any time that you cant handle the dog any more the dog is suppose to come to us. We have screened people and found the best owners for our previous pups. Government people, lawyers, doctors just some of the people that have gotten one of our dogs.

Its not responsible breeders faults for the increase in shelter dogs its the bad byb and puppy mill breeders that have up to 30 litters a year or more.

Shelters cant really tell a responsible breeder to do that cause its not against the law to breed your dog. But i agree most shouldnt breed.

I suppose shelters have seen an increase in dogs. I really dont know there isnt one close enough to me to see. My uncle works part time at a no kill shelter and its always full there.

This wont last forever the new government will put us back on track.

Edit- I personally have a litter right now, they are in no way near being ready to go to homes. But when they are we will screen people just like we have before.

First off there is no such thing as profit for a dog breeder. Any money I make goes back to the dogs..even if everyone is fit and healthy, there is always room for improvement, be it an even better dog bed than they already have or stocking up on toys and treats.

But yes, I don't breed my dogs often and I have even slowed that down, I have also given away some dogs to exceptional homes,and I always take my puppies back if I am needed to. That's my rule, I don't have to sell them they can stay right here with me forever.

Unfortunately, the only breeders filling up rescues are those that could not care less if their puppies end up homeless or not as long as they get their cash at the time of sale. I doubt anyone can get them to tone it down as long as they are making their money. And even more unfortunate is that rescues are feeling the state of the economy too. We are full to capacity, turning dogs away and getting less and less donations. The rescue I volunteer for had enough money to support 20+ dogs at this time last year but due to foster homes dropping off and donations falling, we only have 7 dogs and even that is stretching the budget. Even I am personally finding it challenging to take on more than my one foster due to loss of income.

It's unfortunate, the dogs seem to always be the first to suffer. We actually got a dog in not too long ago that was found left locked in the pantry after its family moved due to foreclosure. We already had a huge amount of dogs in need of homes, I fear it's just going to get worse for good breeders and rescues.

Yes there has been an increase in shelters and at the same time I have taken in yet another dog. Whatever it takes to make sure that they have their meds and same food I will do. If one of my pups doesn't get sold or has to come back to live I will accept that pup with loving arms. I hope that the people buying and/or taking pups are completely ready to accept every responsibility that comes with owning a dog. That would certainly help to keep those numbers down at the shelters. I'm done preaching now, Happy New Year to all of you responsible and happy pet owners.