Dogs are latest victims of the credit crunch

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MAN’S best friend has become a victim of the credit crisis – with hard-up families in areas across the country abandoning their dogs or having them put down.
Rescue centres in Cornwall have reported an increase in the number of animals handed in by owners who have either been evicted from their homes or are struggling with rising interest rates and fuel and food prices.
Animals are also facing neglect because their owners are having to take second jobs or work over-time to meet costs.
And with summer approaching, sanctuaries are dreading the influx of strays when families abandon their pets rather than pay for boarding kennels.
Cambourne-based Sue Smith, who runs one of the county’s canine campaigning groups, said: “People are looking within their families to reduce their outgoings, and non-necessities and dogs are becoming the invisible victims.
“It’s soul-destroying. To some people dogs are their family, their life and their passion and they are pleading with us and desperate.”

Waiting list

Only last weekend her group, Canine Crusaders, received eight requests to rehome dogs.
The Cornish Animal Rescue Centre (CARC) in Hayle saw the number of dogs on its waiting list double in size.
And if owners cannot hand over their animals to a charity they are turning to vets to put them to sleep.
In addition to this, more people – either those evicted due to non-payment of mortgages or those who have had mortgages refused – are living in rented accommodation which do not allow pets.
CARC manager Louise Barker said: “There’s very little rented accommodation which allows pets – partly because property owners fear noise or their house being damaged.
“Animals then have to be found new homes, and when friends and family say no we are the last port of call.”
The RSPCA said one of its biggest rescue centres, Stubbington Ark in Fareham, Hampshire, was currently trying to cope with nearly 600 animals.
A spokesman for the charity said: “When faced with rising costs of living, pets seem like an easy way to cut back.”