Guardian UK: The US economy in the doghouse

[marmar]

The US economy in the doghouse
As Americans are squeezed by the housing crisis, more and more pets are being handed over to animal shelters

Alex Hannaford
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday July 9, 2008



It's not just homeowners suffering in the economic downturn: the rising number of home foreclosures has also seen the number of unwanted pets go up across the US. Animal shelters in Los Angeles claim the number of residents who cited "moving" or "landlord" as reasons for giving up their animals has increased by 21%.

Last month the Dallas Morning News highlighted this problem with a graphic editorial on euthanasia. The paper described the "small, sterile room" at the back of the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Centre, noting that in this room most of the city's stray and unwanted animals were given "needle stick after needle stick, 80 to 100 times a day.

"The man fills a syringe from a bottle of bright-blue liquid. The brand name on the bottle: 'Fatal-Plus'. It's sodium pentobarbital, and the city buys it by the case … almost instantly, goes limp in the woman's arms, eyes open but empty."

Around four million animals are put down each year in US shelters. It's tragic, but for me the tale is bittersweet. My wife and I adopted our dog, Scruff, just a month ago this week from the very same animal shelter. I wonder how long he would have been there before being put down in the same fashion.

Scruff is a terrier mix, about eight months old. Looking back it would have probably been more sensible to find an apartment and furnish it before acquiring a dog. But we had talked of adopting a mutt for the past three years and couldn't have one in our apartment in London. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/09/subprimecrisis.animalwelfare

[liberalmuse]

1. This just breaks my heart.

I'd live out of my car before I gave up my dog, but know entire families can't plausibly do that, especially if it's the dog or the kids having a roof over their heads. That's what is so heartbreaking. Animals have souls, and feelings, and FUCK BUSH. I'd also like to thank all the assholes who voted for him, especially those who voted for him TWICE. This, the deaths of millions in Iraq and thousands of our soldiers, the fucked up economy and world is all on your heads. But by all means, vote for the shithead you'd rather have a beer with, you soulless, stupid fucks.

[Michigan-Arizona]

2. Couldn't have said it any better!

[GOPBasher]

4. "vote for the shithead you'd rather have a beer with, you soulless, stupid fucks."

:rofl:

I'm pretty sure I'm going to quote that for years. :thumbsup:

[liberacci]

3. It took this long for Guardian to realize our economy sucks

Wow.

[comtec]

5. no, jsut this long for the overlords to OK admitting it

WE'VE know it for 8 years now :(