| Facing foreclosure on your home can be | | | | become prey. Dogs and cats last only three to |
| frightening; typically, the initial response is to panic | | | | four weeks without food and only a few days |
| as your basic instincts will dominate your senses | | | | without water, even less in extreme cold or heat. |
| and override your reason. In times of crisis, most | | | | When they are left in the backyard or in the |
| people will do anything to save themselves to the | | | | house, they are forced to eat anything they find |
| point of abandoning their pets. However, when | | | | including furniture. Abandoning pets is a cruel thing |
| you've lost your home, you don't need to leave | | | | to do and may even be illegal. Those who |
| your pets behind; there are ways to still keeping | | | | abandon their pets may be faced with criminal |
| your pets during hard times. | | | | charges or criminal investigations for neglect. |
| The importance of keeping pets | | | | Options for a new home |
| Pets do a lot to bring us comfort when we are | | | | If you can't bring your pets with you after you |
| sad or stressed. They have therapeutic benefits | | | | vacate your home, you can find a safe place |
| to our psychology and emotions. The more that | | | | where your pets can stay temporarily until you |
| we have them, the more they become attached | | | | find a new residence or permanently if they have |
| to us and us to them that they become part of | | | | to. You can ask people that you know starting |
| the family. | | | | with your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues, |
| Pets that are left behind | | | | if they can take care of your pet for you while |
| Some pet owners who are forced to abandon | | | | you relocate or if they are willing to adopt your |
| their homes end up leaving their pets behind or | | | | pet. You can also ask local breeders if they know |
| leaving their pets somewhere in the hopes that | | | | any willing foster parents who can take care of |
| someone will find and care for them. However, | | | | your pet. Another possible place for your pet to |
| most of these pets end up dead due to lack of | | | | stay is with your veterinarian in urbane scrubs or |
| water or food. Domestic pets are used to being | | | | a boarding kennel. In most cases, these places will |
| cared for by humans and to abandon them for | | | | charge you for boarding costs. If you still can't |
| even a few days can make them utterly helpless | | | | find a safe place for your pet, you can contact |
| and defenseless. Unlike street or wild animals, they | | | | reputable animal rescue organizations or animal |
| have not developed the same instincts for | | | | shelters where your pet can be cared for |
| survival and won't be able to live on their own. | | | | temporarily or permanently. Make sure that you |
| Out in the streets or in the wild, they have to | | | | placing your pet in a "No Kill" shelter where your |
| compete with fiercer and more experienced | | | | pet will not be sold to laboratories, put to death, |
| animals, and more often than not, they easily | | | | or exploited. |