Hard times forcing more families to give up pets

Hard times forcing more families to give up pets
The couple brought everything with their two dogs -- beds, food, even favorite toys. "I just felt for these people. They were having a hard time," said Gloria Thomas, director of the West Volusia Humane Society. "You could tell they were devastated they had to give up these two little pets."

By NICOLE SERVICE
Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH -- The couple brought everything with their two dogs -- beds, food, even favorite toys.

"I just felt for these people. They were having a hard time," said Gloria Thomas, director of the West Volusia Humane Society. "You could tell they were devastated they had to give up these two little pets."

As Thomas tells the story, the couple didn't have much choice. Their home was being foreclosed on and they were about to lose everything, which now included their beloved pets.

Shelter workers and volunteers throughout Volusia and Flagler counties tell similar stories about people faced with foreclosure, unemployment, or falling wages being forced to surrender their pets.

"You can always tell who they are," said Lynda Mays, a board member with Southeast Volusia Humane Society in New Smyrna Beach. "They are the people who sit and cry in our office for an hour. They feel they are not living up to their responsibility. It is terribly sad."

Bobbi Gibson with the Flagler County Humane Society said that facility has been getting one or two such pets per day -- about five a week -- from people who admit they have to surrender their pets because of financial problems.

Amy Beliman, a board member and volunteer, said the Flagler facility had five such surrenders on Monday alone.

"It is a sign of the times," she said. "Unfortunately, there are people who can't take care of their animals."

She said the influx of abandoned or surrendered pets is putting animal shelters into a financial bind, too.

"We are in dire need of funding," Beliman said. "People are hurting and the economy is tough, but we need to remember that the animals really need the help right now, too."
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