Foreclosure Pets

Economy and pets

Dogs are known as mans best friend. But what happens to this best friend when the man loses his job and is looking at foreclosure? The dog is no longer viewed as an asset to the humans’ way of life. Desperate humans don't look at a pet as living, breathing creature incapable of fending for it self. They see a pet as property, no different than a worn sweater with holes thrown into the garbage for others to take away. Recently there have been reports of animal cruelty where owners who are in foreclosure move out of the home and leave their pet behind. Pets who are the casualty of foreclosures are often left indoors, without food, water or the comforts of a temperature-controlled environment. Experts say a dog will become dehydrated within 24 hours without water and could die in extreme heat within a few days. Like humans, dogs and cats can go for a long time without food but will quickly die without water.
What are the causes of such cruelty and how can we as a society help this growing problem?



Works Cited
Grier, Katherine C. Pets in America a history. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 2006. Print.
Hirshey, Gerri. "In Animal Shelters, Reminders of the Economy." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 11 May 2008. Web. 03 June 2009. .
M., Allen. Kindred Spirits How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way We Live. New York: Broadway, 2001. Print.

Yellow Tassel

As I sit and ponder my life and what’s to come, my fingers separate each nylon string. Yellow strings all tied neatly together by a silver ring, each one delicately woven to mark a special occasion.
As I separate the strings by two, I think of what has happened. How many years I have spent working towards this day? I hear in my mind all of these voices and all of the words. I’m no superman. I don’t have all of the answers. I have all of the same questions about where I’m going and what I’m going to do from this point on. What does this mean? The mark of the end of an era? The start of a new day? A new beginning? A new me? What are the expectations? I hear in my mind all of these voices telling me what I’m supposed to do and what is expected from others.
32 strings counted….looks about half of the strings. Half. Halfway. Am I half way there? Where is there? Should I know all of the answers now or only half of the answers?
Am I going to disappoint some or all by my decisions or am I going to disappoint myself in the end?
Today marks a significant day in my life and the lives of those who have been struggling by my side. We are to rejoice in knowing that we have accomplished something and look towards the future. My chest tightens and my breathing quickens when I think that this is it. This is supposed to be my day to shine, yet I still have no answers to the questions that lie before me. I should be elated and join in the celebration outside the door but my fear takes hold of me.
I finish counting the 64 strings of yellow colored nylon secured with the silver ring and smile. This yellow nylon tassel with the numbers 08 marks my passage into the next chapter of my life. I take a deep breath, stand and walk towards the future.